UNC Basketball: Why the Tar Heels have been so disappointing in 2019-20
By Karl Heiser
Roy Williams’ public comments about the Tar Heels have irreparably damaged team morale
Here we get to something that is undoubtedly Roy Williams’ fault. It’s one thing to have to make challenging personnel decisions in the midst of injuries. It’s another thing entirely to make public comments about how terrible your own team is:
Roy Williams was asked about his comment saying this is the least talented team he’s coached.
— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) January 9, 2020
His reply: I was being honest. pic.twitter.com/M2gyHrFQjm
There are some obvious problems with these statements from Williams. For one, as the person recruiting players to the program, the blame should fall on the coach for the talent or lack thereof of the resulting team. Secondly, talent and wins are not the same things. It seems as though Williams is saying that because his team is not winning, they are therefore not talented. More has been done with much less. A team doesn’t need multiple five-star recruits (which the Tar Heels do have) in order to win in March or win in general, especially not with a Hall of Fame coach like Roy Williams at the helm.
At the time Williams made these comments, the Tar Heels still had a winning record at 8-7 with plenty of time to right the ship. Since these comments, UNC Basketball is 2-8, slipping to last in the ACC. Williams’ remarks have clearly taken their toll on the team as the Tar Heels continue to play unmotivated basketball with a coach who has effectively thrown in the towel on this season.