Jayhawks awaiting decision

By Gary Bedore Apr 11, 2003

Michael Lee isn’t glued to the computer all day, checking for the latest Internet rumors concerning the future of Kansas University basketball coach Roy Williams.

Lee, the Jayhawks’ sophomore forward from Portland, Ore., isn’t reading the papers, listening to talk shows or scouring the 10 o’clock TV sports reports.

“I like to hear it from the source. When the time is right, he’ll tell us,” Lee said of Williams, who next week likely will decide if he’s staying at KU or bolting to North Carolina to replace Matt Doherty.

Lee, who has not spoken to Williams about the Carolina rumors, said he was “not worried” Williams would the answer the call of his alma mater and coach in the ACC, not the Big 12 Conference, next season.

“I expect the best,” Lee said. “I give him respect for his space. I am not in his shoes. I will not speak what he should do now. I respect coach Williams, and any decision he makes I will respect that, too.”

Lee says he will stay at KU even if the coach bolts.

“I’ll still go to school. I still have my education to think about,” Lee said. “If he would leave I wouldn’t do anything different. I’d be upset, but I wouldn’t change anything.”

Not all the Jayhawks can say the same.

KU sophomore guard Keith Langford, who says he’s very optimistic Williams will stay, nonetheless would ponder leaving if Williams leaves.

“I just want to play basketball. Hopefully I can continue to play here for coach Williams. I can’t see myself playing for anybody else at this school,” said Langford, a native of Fort Worth, Texas. “Coach (Neil) Dougherty last year and coach Williams … for two people to leave that I trust in that relationship and have them both gone in two years would be hard.”

Neil Dougherty recruited Langford and coached him a year at KU before leaving to take the head-coaching job at Texas Christian. Langford was asked if he’d head to TCU if Williams departs.

“No comment, man,” he chuckled. “I am not worried at all. I’m confident coach will be back next year.”

Recruits await word: KU assistant coach Joe Holladay has spoken to KU’s incoming recruits about the situation.

“I’m sure there is (concern) with some of them. I just tell them the truth,” Holladay said. ” North Carolina asked for permission to talk to coach, and our athletic department granted permission, and I assume they’ve talked to him, and he has a decision to make.”

What will Williams do?

“We’ve finished the season, so I’m sure he’ll take some time to think about it,” Holladay said.

Good news for now: Holladay’s son, Matt, a U.S. Army paratrooper, sent an e-mail to his mother Thursday. Matt joked in the e-mail he missed his mother’s cooking and said he felt sorry for his dad and the Jayhawks for falling three points short of a national title.

“He’s safe right now, and that’s what’s important,” Joe Holladay said. “We’re hoping he continues to stay safe and serve his country, do what he’s been trained to do.”

Real, not paper, roses: Williams carried a big bouquet of red roses to his car as he walked with reporters after leaving Allen Fieldhouse after 5 p.m. Thursday.

“Somebody sent them to me,” Williams said. “I’m going to change the name and give ’em to my wife, ’cause I’ve lost points (with her). I can use some points.”

Williams said he would not discuss the happenings of a wild Wednesday. That’s the day KU chancellor Robert Hemenway fired athletic director Al Bohl.

Bohl then blasted Williams, saying it was the coach’s fault Bohl was dismissed.

“I have no comments whatsoever,” Williams said. “Yesterday was not one of my best afternoons ever, that kinda thing.”

As he entered his vehicle, Williams quipped. “Take care guys. See, I didn’t even curse.”

He was jokingly referring to his cursing to CBS reporter Bonnie Bernstein when asked about the Carolina situation in a live interview after the Final Four loss to Syracuse.

Noel wants Roy: UNC player David Noel was asked Thursday if he wanted Williams as coach:

“Yeah, that would be fine with me. The things he did at Kansas are great,” Noel said. “I know it’s going to be hard for him to leave that legacy behind. Hopefully he will come, but if he doesn’t, hopefully somebody else great will come.”

Many sources in Carolina have been quoted in the various papers saying Williams-to-Carolina is a done deal that will be completed early next week.

“I think he is, but I’m not sure,” Noel said. “I know it’s a hard decision that he’s going to have to make, but I’m going to leave that up to him. But I do think he’s coming? I think it’s still hard to turn North Carolina down. We’ve been through a lot this season, but at the same time it’s still Carolina basketball. Once you have the opportunity to come and coach in an organization like this, I think it’s going to be hard for him to turn it down twice. He had a great chance three years ago.”