KU coach Roy Williams talked about his mentor, Dean Smith, attending Saturday’s game. Longtime North Carolina coach Smith was honored as Kansan of the Year on Friday night in a ceremony in Topeka.
“I had a chance to visit with him before the game, but when I went out for warmup, I really did not think too much about it. He would have been disappointed with me if I did not worry about what I was doing and that was getting my team ready for the game,” said Williams, who attended Friday’s awards function.
Williams said Smith was brought to Williams’ office in Parrott Athletic Center after the game so the media could not interview the coaching legend.
“I didn’t want him in the locker room to listen to what I might have to say,” quipped Williams, who was not enthused with the Jayhawks’ play the second half. “He’s waiting for me upstairs. I told him it’s one place I could hide him out from you guys.”
