Unfortunately this happened the same day as UNC releasing the notice of allegations concerning the football program so it got put on the back burner.
Roy Williams had his annual summer press conference which also included media availability for the players as well. As expected there was not anything revelatory covered. Inside Carolina has a full transcript. Here are the highlights.
- When Harrison Barnes called Roy Williams the call dropped momentarily just as Barnes was about to reveal his decision. Roy was a little stressed for a few moments. Roy also said Barnes wrote the press release himself. Impressive.
- The expectations question was asked which sounded just like the one that was asked in the summer of 2008. Roy said something many people forget and that is the best teams don't always win the title. His advice for UNC fans? Enjoy the games and the season. If everything breaks the right way at the end of the season, we can all enjoy it even more.
- Roy talked about Kendall Marshall saying having the roles defined for him and Dexter Strickland will make things easier. He also alluded to the possibility of using Barnes and McDonald with the ball in their hands to create shots. Marshall needs to improve his shot and his defensive quickness. Roy called Strickland's performance versus Kentucky one of the finest defensive efforts he has seen from a guard. Strickland's niche is clearly on defense according to Roy but he said they would not prohibit him from shooting.
- On the injury side, Reggie Bullock is running and shooting but not doing any cuts. The progress has been slow but intentionally so just to make sure the knee is fully rehabbed. Strickland did not require surgery for his knee and it was an injury that had occurred before. Strickland toughed it out then as he did last season.
When asked about the football scandal Roy gave an interesting answer on how the basketball team handles social media.
The only way I’ve used the football stuff is because it’s been so pertinent, it’s been here. I haven’t picked on the football team. I tell them all the time, you get your name in the paper easily. I did that 24 years ago too. Now what goes on in college athletics, with the social media, there’s no secrets, you have to be on guard all the time. Several years ago at the Jimmy V classic, I’m doing something for charity and the Hooters girls come over and want me to give an autograph, I do it and it ends up on Facebook. I don’t even know what the crap that was, still don’t. So I’m in a restaurant in Wilmington, and there are three couples there celebrating somebody’s anniversary and the girls want to have their picture made with me – I make them sit their drinks down. I had no idea if it was 7-Up or straight vodka, but you have to do those kinds of things. It’s that part that you have to understand, there’s not much privacy in the world. We talk about that, we talk about Twitter and Facebook, that you have to be concerned with what you say and how it can be represented. Regardless of your inflection or your tone when you say something, it doesn’t come out all the same. But, it’s the day that we’re in. I don’t like it. I used to go into somebody’s home and feel like I made a great presentation and we really connected and it was just me and the family. Now I come home, spoiled rotten on a private plane and Wanda tells me everything that happened in the home visit because it’s already on the internet.
It’s what we live in. Youngsters, it’s their world. It’s not my world and for the most part, looking around, it’s not your world. What they do now is so much different from the rest of what we did. We have to understand that part. But, you have to be careful, there’s that old saying not too many good things happen after 2 a.m. I think there’s not a lot of good things that happen when you get very personal on Twitter or Facebook.
The question about former Wisconsin AD Pat Richter tossing flaming bags of crap in the media came up. Now read this quote and tell me if you think Roy was prepped for it.
Former athletic director? Former athletic directors don’t have enough to do? The fact of the matter is, Wisconsin had home games two-straight years. The fact of the matter is, I’ve been here eight years and we’ve played three true home games, and Illinois in Greensboro and three true games, and Michigan State in Detroit, so you could say four in four. The fact of the matter is in 12 years we’ve had six and six, the fact of the matter is Wisconsin in 12 years has had six and six. The fact of the matter is, I call and say, ‘Who are we going to play?’ I’ve never told them I want to play anybody - never told them I don’t want to play anybody. They have more important things to do than think about what the dickens I want to say anyway. The fact of the matter is that I was on the rules committee and said the style of play in basketball was getting too physical. The fact of the matter is I’m very good friends with Dick Bennett and Tom Izzo. The fact of the matter is, I don’t care what somebody else says
Your money quote from the whole press conference.
Coach, speaking of Duke, how do you see…
I’d rather not...
Inside Carolina also has quotes from the players which can be found here. All of them are good reads.