New York ? Matt Doherty confided he really didn’t know what to do, not after his North Carolina basketball team had dissected No. 2-ranked Kansas and his former boss, Roy Williams.
“It’s uncomfortable after the game is over,” Doherty said. “You don’t know what to say, how to act.”
Then Doherty harked back to that NCAA Final Four semifinal back in 1991 in Indianapolis, when Williams had turned the tables on his mentor, Dean Smith.
“His first game, he coached against coach Smith,” Doherty said, “and his team beat coach Smith’s team.”
This wasn’t the Final Four. This was just the Preseason NIT Four, and it’s a long, long way from late November to early April.
“I know coach Williams is happy for me,” Doherty said. “As we move forward, this will just be one game on that record : I think he’s just proud and happy for me. I know that’s how he feels in his heart.”
Williams did say he loved Doherty. At the same time, Williams was not loving how his players failed to respond to Carolina’s attacking offense and withering defense.
Doherty praised his players, of course, but he knew his youthful team had the mental advantage on this night.
“I thought our defense was very good,” Doherty said, “and obviously it was not Kansas’ best night. I think they were a little out of synch.”
Carolina had a big crowd ” the Tar Heels’ basketball pep band was even on hand ” and the players responded to the home-like atmosphere. A 121â2-point underdog, Carolina took it right to the Jayhawks.
“It’s easy to play when you’re the underdog,” Doherty said. “When you have that No. 2 tag on you, that’s tough. Kansas is a great team and have great players. But they were a little out of synch.”
Carolina caused most of the Jayhawks’ woes, but Doherty re-emphasized the mental factor.
“Again, it’s an easy game for us to play because they are the ones that are No. 2 in the country,” the Tar Heels’ third-year coach said. “They are the ones with the expectations, and I’ve been there as a player. I’ve been there as a coach. It’s easy to come in with nothing to lose.”
North Carolina will meet Stanford in the title game at 8 p.m. Friday.
“They didn’t hand out any championship rings tonight,” Doherty said. “We are fortunate, very fortunate to beat a very, very talented, well-coached Kansas team. But now, if we don’t get our minds right for Stanford, we’ll be saying, ‘Well, you didn’t play well against Stanford.'”