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The Dagger

Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:13 am EST

Roy Williams second-guesses his own scheduling skills

By Eamonn Brennan

North Carolina has a very difficult preseason schedule. There is no debating this. Five of the Tar Heels' next eight games will come against ranked foes, a list which includes Ohio State, either Cal or Syracuse depending on tourney play, Michigan State, Kentucky and Texas. For last year's UNC team, that slate would be a breeze. For this year's, a team relying on a bevy of youngsters, things seem considerably more daunting.

Which is why Roy Williams is having a sudden crisis of scheduling confidence. Roy, say it ain't so:

North Carolina coach Roy Williams admitted he might have over-scheduled his young team. The last game he took was the Dec. 19 game at Texas in the first college basketball game ever at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

“As it gets closer, I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t have done that,’’ Williams said Monday.

Of course, that game will be the first ever college hoops game played in Jerry Jones's billion-dollar pleasure palace. If I may, I think it's safe to say Williams is experiencing the same sort of buyer's-remorse-y feeling you get when you buy yourself a bottle of very expensive gin. It seems like a good idea at the time, but it ends up doing more harm than good.\

Related: ACC Basketball

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49 Comments

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  1. Brandon
    1. Posted by Brandon Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:43 am EST

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    There should'nt be any excuse for Roy williams and the defending National champions the Associated press should know that the Carolina Tarheels are a calibor team. What coach Roy needs to do is to stop complaining and get on the Fastlane Expresway.There goal for this season now this is just my opinion "become the number one team"
  2. hotblinly
    2. Posted by hotblinly Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:12 am EST

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    I found a HOTTEST club -----"MixedConnect C om"----- for black Women and white Men, or black Men and white Women, to interact with each other. Interracial is not a problem here, but a great merit to cherish!
  3. Chris J
    3. Posted by Chris J Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:40 am EST

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    I think hotblinly has a point. HAHA.
    No seriously, I love the Heels and I love the schedule even more. Playing this ridiculous non-conference schedule should make the youngsters stronger down the road. They may lose three or more of those games but they will be hell around tournament time.
  4. sigma982
    4. Posted by sigma982 Wed Nov 18, 2009 10:30 am EST

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    I agree with Chris. It's not the ideal schedule in terms of getting wins, but this isn't NCAA football. If they could split between the Ohio St, Texas, Kentucky, and Mich. St games, it should be a positive. Kentucky had troubles with Miami (OH), Mich. St. had trouble with Gonzaga, so their potential dominance as powerhouses aren't as big as originally thought. Not saying that Carolina is a shoe-in, but there's hope. Either way, though, given how young the team is, it's a good wake-up call for them, and gives them GREAT prep for the ACC regular season. It also helps a LOT with their Strength of Schedule, which may come into play with seeding come Tourney Time, considering they'll probably be anywhere from a 2- to 5-seed.
  5. Charles
    5. Posted by Charles Wed Nov 18, 2009 6:47 pm EST

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    This reminds me of Ol' Dean Smith saying how nervous he is to be playing Slippery Rock. But on the inside he was smiling because he knew his team will kick butt. Roy is doing the same thing, he has to be excited about his team and getting a chance to see what they can do against the other top teams.
  6. D B
    6. Posted by D B Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:00 pm EST

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    This just gets the guys ready for ACC play. Roy will have a good idea of what to expect from the team by then. Just need to get the freshmen to settle down and play within the game a little. Love to see Watts getting some time in. Good size guard they will need down the stretch.
  7. Nathan B
    7. Posted by Nathan B Wed Nov 18, 2009 11:59 pm EST

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    Charles - he did learn to set the bar of expectations low from Dean Smith, though he does it with a bit more honesty. I think he's just prepping the pollsters / media for the potential losses; and I agree that he's just fine with it on the inside - not because they'll win them all, but because he knew exactly what he was doing when he scheduled these games. The ACC schedule won't be so bad when you've played pretty much the Top 5 teams in the country (minus Kansas) and a couple more in the top 25.
    Meanwhile, Duke plays mostly patsies until ACC play. We'll see who's better prepared in January / February.
  8. jjg1576
    8. Posted by jjg1576 Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:41 am EST

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    I applaud coaches like Roy, Izzo, Self and Mark Few for not being afraid to go out and play tough competition in the non-conf. schedule. If you look at the tourney results for these teams in recent years, I think it's a good move.
  9. Robert E
    9. Posted by Robert E Thu Nov 19, 2009 10:05 am EST

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    I would not get out all the hankies and start crying, yet. I'm going to take a "Let's wait and see what happens in March" attitude.
  10. DookieSince1973
    10. Posted by DookieSince1973 Thu Nov 19, 2009 12:37 pm EST

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    Nathan #7: What do you mean Duke plays mostly patsies....deal with FACTS here man. Duke plays Radford, Garner-Webb, Long Beach State and Pennsylvania all BEFORE the start of the ACC season. Sheesh.
    Gotta give it to Roy though. That is one hell of a schedule. But given the youth, not sure if he's a genius or a fool. They are going to have to grow up fast. Hope you kick some OSU butt tonight.
  11. DookieSince1973
    11. Posted by DookieSince1973 Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:01 pm EST

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    The really interesting game is going to be Kentucky. You have super baby heels versus super baby wildcats. That game will probably come down to the best coach. Give Roy the advantage there.
  12. Cheers 4 Beers
    12. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:02 pm EST

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    Looks like a typical UNC schedule.It just so happens that the "bigs" they play this year are all highly ranked.They can only benefit from it.Gotta know what needs fixin before its too late to fix it.
  13. Cheers 4 Beers
    13. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Thu Nov 19, 2009 1:42 pm EST

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    Kentucky is at home.No advantage in that.UNC has blasted them 4 years in a row and the hope is that they wont shoot free throws well because I can guarantee you they will be on the line the whole game.Seen this scenario a bunch over the years.Of course, all UNC games are called fair for each opponent at the DEAN DOME.LOL.......
  14. scott
    14. Posted by scott Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:20 pm EST

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    Nobody is worried about Kentucky being at the line and shooting well. There are two things Coach Cals teams are known for; Drible Drive ( Street Ball ) and Blowing Games at the Line ( Missing Free throws ). As for the schedual, Who wouldnt be nervious about it ! Nowbody in the Top 25 has this kinda guantlet to run. March wont see this tough a schedual. Screw the Pre Season Rankings. More teams should follow suit so we all can really guage where everyone RANKS ! ! Not to mention accually having a good game to watch; UNLESS THERE SCARED .......
  15. Chris
    15. Posted by Chris Thu Nov 19, 2009 4:49 pm EST

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    This may be the first time in a decade that UNC will actually step outside of the conference and play somebody (with the exception of the ACC-Big10 challege that they play every year). and just when i want to maybe think Roy W finally became a man with his scheduling he brings up all this BS about over scheduling. always an excuse with carolina. go take care of business if your as good as you advertise yourself to be. and when the vastly overrated ginyard gets hurt again (which he will) suck it up and play. i dont hear duke or maryland whining about injuries.
  16. Cheers 4 Beers
    16. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:11 pm EST

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    Whos whining? Ginyard overrated? Its apparent that you have no idea what you are saying.UNC plays a tough schedule every year you clown.They open everybodys new gym and this year they go to the new Cowboy stadium to play Texas.UNC backs down from nobody and I think they prove that every year.Dook plays nobody, thats why they watch Carolina on tv in April...Decade? You are a moron...
  17. David H
    17. Posted by David H Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:16 am EST

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    I just wish SEC football would take a page from Roy and actually play someone worth playing out of conference.
  18. Cheers 4 Beers
    18. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Fri Nov 20, 2009 12:43 am EST

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    You have to play good teams early.I like that approach better than a lot of other teams.Michigan St. is a good example.Kentucky plays good teams early too along with Kansas.
  19. red
    19. Posted by red Fri Nov 20, 2009 1:54 pm EST

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    good schedule look at the chumps duke are playing this schedule will help in the long run.
  20. JC
    20. Posted by JC Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:48 pm EST

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    15 you obviously have no clue. Duke beats Seton Hall at MSG every year and calls it a "tough road game", while Carolina has played Kentucky every year for 5 years and UConn for 4 years prior, as well as having the toughest game in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge every year. Get a clue.
  21. JC
    21. Posted by JC Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:50 pm EST

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    15 you obviously have no clue. Duke beats Seton Hall at MSG every year and calls it a "tough road game", while Carolina has played Kentucky every year for 5 years and UConn for 4 years prior, as well as having the toughest game in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge every year. Get a clue.
  22. JC
    22. Posted by JC Fri Nov 20, 2009 2:51 pm EST

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    #10 I really hope that is sarcasm. I think it is..?
  23. kj7
    23. Posted by kj7 Fri Nov 20, 2009 5:05 pm EST

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    Oh ok i get it "free speech" is only free speech outside of yahoo sports comments. Thanks for tellin me yahoo sports. Well, i'll tame it down and not be vulgar. NE ways, typical UNC fans! Think they're really something even when they're really not. Consider yourselves lucky to beat OSU, cuz Cuse is coming for ya. #21 JC: yeah Unc did play Uk the last 5 years but you know what Uk hasn't been good in the last 5 years. This year Duke plays Az. St, UConn, Wisconsin, Gonzaga and G'Town. Last year they played a undefeated Xavier team and blew them out, they played Purdue last year, Michigan twice, G'Town and Davidson. The year before that Illnois, Wisconsin, Marquette, Pittsburgh. Yeah yall are right Duke doesn't play anybody. It's not going to matter though who yall play this year cuz you're still going to get beat down by Duke twice this season. So, go ahead and start talkin about next year!!!
  24. Cheers 4 Beers
    24. Posted by Cheers 4 Beers Fri Nov 20, 2009 10:03 pm EST

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    Dook? Twice? Betcha my house you clown

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