What in the blazes is going on at the University of North Carolina?
UNC, led by second-year Tar Heel coach and former KU assistant Matt Doherty, is 0-3 for the first time since 1928.
A loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday would give Carolina its worst start in school history.
“You shouldn’t be surprised about anything that goes on in college basketball,” said KU coach and Carolina grad Roy Williams. “It’s a program with such great tradition and he had such a great year last year that people just don’t see those kind of things coming. Coaches do see those kind of things coming.
“Matt lost five of his top seven players. He can say that 100 times in front of 100 sets of media and 100 sets of media and 5 million sets of fans aren’t going to listen to him because it says ‘North Carolina’ on the jersey.”
Williams phoned Doherty to lend moral support several days ago.
“It’s a tough time period for him,” Williams said. “I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to coach. I told him my first year we lost eight in a row so he’s a long ways from that. Back then I had people calling the house making sure Wanda (Williams’ wife) hid the knives. Matt is not at that stage yet.”
Recruiting wars: Williams and Arizona’s Lute Olson have butted heads in recruiting for some top players the past decade or so.
Olson, whose Wildcats play host to Williams’ Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon in Tucson, had hoped to see Scot Pollard, Raef LaFrentz, Aaron Miles, Nick Collison and some others in Wildcat uniforms. Williams had hoped to see Jason Gardner, Hassan Adams, Dennis Latimore and some others wearing KU blue.
“We’ve recruited against them quite a bit,” Williams said. “This year for Hassan and last year for Aaron. We recruit against Arizona, UCLA and Duke probably those three schools more than any others. It’s comfortable to me because I know they (Wildcats) recruit the same way we do. I trust them. I know they do things ethically.”
Olson returned the compliment.
“It’s good competition,” Olson said. “The only people you don’t remain friendly with are those who don’t follow the rulebook. I know Roy will follow the rulebook.”
Bosom buddies: Williams and Olson are close friends.
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for him. It’s really been over the past four or five years we’ve become good friends. You’re touched by the tragedy,” Williams said of the death of Olson’s wife, Bobbi, last year. “Everybody knows that cancer took my mom also.”
Williams and his wife, Wanda, dined with the Olsons in Hawaii two summers ago.
“Bobbi was always great to Wanda and myself,” Williams said. “One year Lute and I worked Michael Jordan’s Fantasy Camp together. We were co-coaches and won the championship. The good news was probably that I left before the championship game so Lute felt I should only get half a ring rather than a whole one. He’s a great person.”
Simien out: Williams reiterated Thursday that 6-foot-9 freshman forward Wayne Simien will not play Saturday at Arizona. He could play Tuesday against Wake Forest. He had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15.
“If they allow him to practice Sunday and Monday he’ll play Tuesday. If that doesn’t happen, if they don’t feel comfortable releasing him, then he won’t,” Williams said. “I think everyone needs to understand we said two to weeks to begin with. Today is two weeks from the date of the surgery.
“Everything is in good shape and right on schedule. He’s having no pain. I said last night in front of the doctors and parents that if it were NCAA Tournament time, I think he would have played last night. But it’s not, so we need to be careful.”
Williams quipped about recent statements that the 6-9 Simien might yet reach 7-foot.
“One of the doctors taking X-rays said his growth plate hasn’t formed completely together yet. I’ve found 5 million people like that and they haven’t grown one frickin inch. They still think I’m gonna be 7-foot-2.
“I’ve never understood that a doctor says his growth plate isn’t together yet. Parents think their guy is gonna grow up to be Hakeem Olajuwon. The guy grows up to be a jockey. I’ll get the doctors mad at me. Two years from now if he’s 6-11 you guys can all remember this press conference.”
Shoulder pain: KU junior Nick Collison said Wednesday night he’s had some shoulder soreness off and on since high school.
“He’s OK. He’s had a nagging thing a couple years. It gets weak on him at times,” Williams said.
Grid coach to be named?: Williams was asked about reports KU’s new football coach will be introduced at halftime of Tuesday’s KU-Wake basketball game. “I have no idea. … Just being honest,” he said.
What in the blazes is going on at the University of North Carolina?
UNC, led by second-year Tar Heel coach and former KU assistant Matt Doherty, is 0-3 for the first time since 1928.
A loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday would give Carolina its worst start in school history.
“You shouldn’t be surprised about anything that goes on in college basketball,” said KU coach and Carolina grad Roy Williams. “It’s a program with such great tradition and he had such a great year last year that people just don’t see those kind of things coming. Coaches do see those kind of things coming.
“Matt lost five of his top seven players. He can say that 100 times in front of 100 sets of media and 100 sets of media and 5 million sets of fans aren’t going to listen to him because it says ‘North Carolina’ on the jersey.”
Williams phoned Doherty to lend moral support several days ago.
“It’s a tough time period for him,” Williams said. “I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to coach. I told him my first year we lost eight in a row so he’s a long ways from that. Back then I had people calling the house making sure Wanda (Williams’ wife) hid the knives. Matt is not at that stage yet.”
Recruiting wars: Williams and Arizona’s Lute Olson have butted heads in recruiting for some top players the past decade or so.
Olson, whose Wildcats play host to Williams’ Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon in Tucson, had hoped to see Scot Pollard, Raef LaFrentz, Aaron Miles, Nick Collison and some others in Wildcat uniforms. Williams had hoped to see Jason Gardner, Hassan Adams, Dennis Latimore and some others wearing KU blue.
“We’ve recruited against them quite a bit,” Williams said. “This year for Hassan and last year for Aaron. We recruit against Arizona, UCLA and Duke probably those three schools more than any others. It’s comfortable to me because I know they (Wildcats) recruit the same way we do. I trust them. I know they do things ethically.”
Olson returned the compliment.
“It’s good competition,” Olson said. “The only people you don’t remain friendly with are those who don’t follow the rulebook. I know Roy will follow the rulebook.”
Bosom buddies: Williams and Olson are close friends.
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for him. It’s really been over the past four or five years we’ve become good friends. You’re touched by the tragedy,” Williams said of the death of Olson’s wife, Bobbi, last year. “Everybody knows that cancer took my mom also.”
Williams and his wife, Wanda, dined with the Olsons in Hawaii two summers ago.
“Bobbi was always great to Wanda and myself,” Williams said. “One year Lute and I worked Michael Jordan’s Fantasy Camp together. We were co-coaches and won the championship. The good news was probably that I left before the championship game so Lute felt I should only get half a ring rather than a whole one. He’s a great person.”
Simien out: Williams reiterated Thursday that 6-foot-9 freshman forward Wayne Simien will not play Saturday at Arizona. He could play Tuesday against Wake Forest. He had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15.
“If they allow him to practice Sunday and Monday he’ll play Tuesday. If that doesn’t happen, if they don’t feel comfortable releasing him, then he won’t,” Williams said. “I think everyone needs to understand we said two to weeks to begin with. Today is two weeks from the date of the surgery.
“Everything is in good shape and right on schedule. He’s having no pain. I said last night in front of the doctors and parents that if it were NCAA Tournament time, I think he would have played last night. But it’s not, so we need to be careful.”
Williams quipped about recent statements that the 6-9 Simien might yet reach 7-foot.
“One of the doctors taking X-rays said his growth plate hasn’t formed completely together yet. I’ve found 5 million people like that and they haven’t grown one frickin inch. They still think I’m gonna be 7-foot-2.
“I’ve never understood that a doctor says his growth plate isn’t together yet. Parents think their guy is gonna grow up to be Hakeem Olajuwon. The guy grows up to be a jockey. I’ll get the doctors mad at me. Two years from now if he’s 6-11 you guys can all remember this press conference.”
Shoulder pain: KU junior Nick Collison said Wednesday night he’s had some shoulder soreness off and on since high school.
“He’s OK. He’s had a nagging thing a couple years. It gets weak on him at times,” Williams said.
Grid coach to be named?: Williams was asked about reports KU’s new football coach will be introduced at halftime of Tuesday’s KU-Wake basketball game. “I have no idea. … Just being honest,” he said.
What in the blazes is going on at the University of North Carolina?
UNC, led by second-year Tar Heel coach and former KU assistant Matt Doherty, is 0-3 for the first time since 1928.
A loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday would give Carolina its worst start in school history.
“You shouldn’t be surprised about anything that goes on in college basketball,” said KU coach and Carolina grad Roy Williams. “It’s a program with such great tradition and he had such a great year last year that people just don’t see those kind of things coming. Coaches do see those kind of things coming.
“Matt lost five of his top seven players. He can say that 100 times in front of 100 sets of media and 100 sets of media and 5 million sets of fans aren’t going to listen to him because it says ‘North Carolina’ on the jersey.”
Williams phoned Doherty to lend moral support several days ago.
“It’s a tough time period for him,” Williams said. “I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to coach. I told him my first year we lost eight in a row so he’s a long ways from that. Back then I had people calling the house making sure Wanda (Williams’ wife) hid the knives. Matt is not at that stage yet.”
Recruiting wars: Williams and Arizona’s Lute Olson have butted heads in recruiting for some top players the past decade or so.
Olson, whose Wildcats play host to Williams’ Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon in Tucson, had hoped to see Scot Pollard, Raef LaFrentz, Aaron Miles, Nick Collison and some others in Wildcat uniforms. Williams had hoped to see Jason Gardner, Hassan Adams, Dennis Latimore and some others wearing KU blue.
“We’ve recruited against them quite a bit,” Williams said. “This year for Hassan and last year for Aaron. We recruit against Arizona, UCLA and Duke probably those three schools more than any others. It’s comfortable to me because I know they (Wildcats) recruit the same way we do. I trust them. I know they do things ethically.”
Olson returned the compliment.
“It’s good competition,” Olson said. “The only people you don’t remain friendly with are those who don’t follow the rulebook. I know Roy will follow the rulebook.”
Bosom buddies: Williams and Olson are close friends.
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for him. It’s really been over the past four or five years we’ve become good friends. You’re touched by the tragedy,” Williams said of the death of Olson’s wife, Bobbi, last year. “Everybody knows that cancer took my mom also.”
Williams and his wife, Wanda, dined with the Olsons in Hawaii two summers ago.
“Bobbi was always great to Wanda and myself,” Williams said. “One year Lute and I worked Michael Jordan’s Fantasy Camp together. We were co-coaches and won the championship. The good news was probably that I left before the championship game so Lute felt I should only get half a ring rather than a whole one. He’s a great person.”
Simien out: Williams reiterated Thursday that 6-foot-9 freshman forward Wayne Simien will not play Saturday at Arizona. He could play Tuesday against Wake Forest. He had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15.
“If they allow him to practice Sunday and Monday he’ll play Tuesday. If that doesn’t happen, if they don’t feel comfortable releasing him, then he won’t,” Williams said. “I think everyone needs to understand we said two to weeks to begin with. Today is two weeks from the date of the surgery.
“Everything is in good shape and right on schedule. He’s having no pain. I said last night in front of the doctors and parents that if it were NCAA Tournament time, I think he would have played last night. But it’s not, so we need to be careful.”
Williams quipped about recent statements that the 6-9 Simien might yet reach 7-foot.
“One of the doctors taking X-rays said his growth plate hasn’t formed completely together yet. I’ve found 5 million people like that and they haven’t grown one frickin inch. They still think I’m gonna be 7-foot-2.
“I’ve never understood that a doctor says his growth plate isn’t together yet. Parents think their guy is gonna grow up to be Hakeem Olajuwon. The guy grows up to be a jockey. I’ll get the doctors mad at me. Two years from now if he’s 6-11 you guys can all remember this press conference.”
Shoulder pain: KU junior Nick Collison said Wednesday night he’s had some shoulder soreness off and on since high school.
“He’s OK. He’s had a nagging thing a couple years. It gets weak on him at times,” Williams said.
Grid coach to be named?: Williams was asked about reports KU’s new football coach will be introduced at halftime of Tuesday’s KU-Wake basketball game. “I have no idea. … Just being honest,” he said.
What in the blazes is going on at the University of North Carolina?
UNC, led by second-year Tar Heel coach and former KU assistant Matt Doherty, is 0-3 for the first time since 1928.
A loss to Georgia Tech on Sunday would give Carolina its worst start in school history.
“You shouldn’t be surprised about anything that goes on in college basketball,” said KU coach and Carolina grad Roy Williams. “It’s a program with such great tradition and he had such a great year last year that people just don’t see those kind of things coming. Coaches do see those kind of things coming.
“Matt lost five of his top seven players. He can say that 100 times in front of 100 sets of media and 100 sets of media and 5 million sets of fans aren’t going to listen to him because it says ‘North Carolina’ on the jersey.”
Williams phoned Doherty to lend moral support several days ago.
“It’s a tough time period for him,” Williams said. “I have a great deal of confidence in his ability to coach. I told him my first year we lost eight in a row so he’s a long ways from that. Back then I had people calling the house making sure Wanda (Williams’ wife) hid the knives. Matt is not at that stage yet.”
Recruiting wars: Williams and Arizona’s Lute Olson have butted heads in recruiting for some top players the past decade or so.
Olson, whose Wildcats play host to Williams’ Jayhawks on Saturday afternoon in Tucson, had hoped to see Scot Pollard, Raef LaFrentz, Aaron Miles, Nick Collison and some others in Wildcat uniforms. Williams had hoped to see Jason Gardner, Hassan Adams, Dennis Latimore and some others wearing KU blue.
“We’ve recruited against them quite a bit,” Williams said. “This year for Hassan and last year for Aaron. We recruit against Arizona, UCLA and Duke probably those three schools more than any others. It’s comfortable to me because I know they (Wildcats) recruit the same way we do. I trust them. I know they do things ethically.”
Olson returned the compliment.
“It’s good competition,” Olson said. “The only people you don’t remain friendly with are those who don’t follow the rulebook. I know Roy will follow the rulebook.”
Bosom buddies: Williams and Olson are close friends.
“I’ve always had a great deal of respect for him. It’s really been over the past four or five years we’ve become good friends. You’re touched by the tragedy,” Williams said of the death of Olson’s wife, Bobbi, last year. “Everybody knows that cancer took my mom also.”
Williams and his wife, Wanda, dined with the Olsons in Hawaii two summers ago.
“Bobbi was always great to Wanda and myself,” Williams said. “One year Lute and I worked Michael Jordan’s Fantasy Camp together. We were co-coaches and won the championship. The good news was probably that I left before the championship game so Lute felt I should only get half a ring rather than a whole one. He’s a great person.”
Simien out: Williams reiterated Thursday that 6-foot-9 freshman forward Wayne Simien will not play Saturday at Arizona. He could play Tuesday against Wake Forest. He had arthroscopic knee surgery on Nov. 15.
“If they allow him to practice Sunday and Monday he’ll play Tuesday. If that doesn’t happen, if they don’t feel comfortable releasing him, then he won’t,” Williams said. “I think everyone needs to understand we said two to weeks to begin with. Today is two weeks from the date of the surgery.
“Everything is in good shape and right on schedule. He’s having no pain. I said last night in front of the doctors and parents that if it were NCAA Tournament time, I think he would have played last night. But it’s not, so we need to be careful.”
Williams quipped about recent statements that the 6-9 Simien might yet reach 7-foot.
“One of the doctors taking X-rays said his growth plate hasn’t formed completely together yet. I’ve found 5 million people like that and they haven’t grown one frickin inch. They still think I’m gonna be 7-foot-2.
“I’ve never understood that a doctor says his growth plate isn’t together yet. Parents think their guy is gonna grow up to be Hakeem Olajuwon. The guy grows up to be a jockey. I’ll get the doctors mad at me. Two years from now if he’s 6-11 you guys can all remember this press conference.”
Shoulder pain: KU junior Nick Collison said Wednesday night he’s had some shoulder soreness off and on since high school.
“He’s OK. He’s had a nagging thing a couple years. It gets weak on him at times,” Williams said.
Grid coach to be named?: Williams was asked about reports KU’s new football coach will be introduced at halftime of Tuesday’s KU-Wake basketball game. “I have no idea. … Just being honest,” he said.
