OT: Is Roy Williams turning into Izzo 2.0?

Submitted by Human Torpedo on

UNC is loaded AGAIN next year with elite veterans. Most Outstanding Player of the tourney is already coming back in Joel Barry II. This is like the third year in a row UNC is returning big time players after a phenomenal. Which the begs the question: Why are all these McDonald's All-Americans and top 25 recruits starting to stay more than one year? Also, could North Carolina be on the verge of a dynastic run of championships?

http://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/article/2017-05-03/college-bask…

Tater

May 5th, 2017 at 12:49 AM ^

For all of the ring-kissing Izzo gets from the media, he has the same amount of NCAA Championships in 23 years as Steve Fisher did after six games: one.  He had the entire state and much of the region to himself for recruiting, thanks to the Ed Martin scandal and ten more years of Michigan self-destruction, and still only closed the deal once.

Even after embracing the "dark side" after his blowout loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament, he still can't win championships with the players he has bought the last couple of years.

Overrated...

Stringer Bell

May 4th, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^

Why not come back to school? It's not like they have to go to class, and they're getting paid a hefty salary already. They're pretty much professionals already, no hurry to get to the NBA.

Ty Butterfield

May 4th, 2017 at 1:21 PM ^

No way. Izzo is the most overrated coach in any sport in my entire lifetime.

uncle leo

May 4th, 2017 at 2:11 PM ^

Give me a break. 

(Obligatory I'm a Michigan fan so I hate MSU comment)

The guy's a freaking hall of fame coach. If he had been the Michigan coach for the last couple of decades instead of the guys we've had (Beilein's very good, not great), he'd have a statue on campus.

sasmjjsly

May 4th, 2017 at 6:24 PM ^

This guy won tittle damn-near twenty years ago and you clowns act like he's John Wooden. Let me repeat: he won ONE title in 2000. His track record of getting kids to the league is dismal; his record against the true Blue Bloods is pathetic. If you say one word bout damn Final Fours, I'll reach through the internet and slap you. FINAL FOURS are NOT championships. You're friggin' runner-up. So save it about the lil angry midget. He's a self-serving lil prick, who is an AVERAGE coach.

sasmjjsly

May 5th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^

Since 2000:
Coach K (2001, 2010, 2015)
Jim Calhoun (2004, 2011)
Roy Williams (2005, 2009, 2017)
Billy Donovan (2006, 2006)

That's 4 coaches that accounted for 18 of the last 18 titles. Let's not forget John Wooden, Bobby Knight, Dean Smith, and Coach K who all won titles before 2000. Add Rick Pitino who in 1996 and 2013. And tack on another for Jim Calhoun in 1999.

So yeah, about coaches winning multiple titles...

tspoon

May 4th, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^

Roy tends to get high 4*s, not 5*s (at least not the tip-top 5*s). So they are more likely to come back than the Calipari Specials.

I read not long ago that the last top five overall guy UNC got was Harrison Barnes, and that was like 7 years ago.

Granted, their recruiting has been more than fine ... but they don't get as many of the one-and-done super elites as people might think.

 

cletus318

May 4th, 2017 at 6:44 PM ^

Interesting enough, UNC hasn't had a one-and-done on over a decade, so it's not surprising they keep experienced teams. For whatever reason, UNC has for whatever reason always been this way. It's long been rumored that Dean Smith basically called Jordan and Worthy to his office and told them they were going pro. That being said, there has been some drop off in their recruiting in the midst of their very much self-inflicted academic troubles, something that has been a source of consternation for its fanbase.

Mr. Yost

May 4th, 2017 at 7:02 PM ^

Roy Williams is always bitching about how he never has any McDonald's All-Americans.

Also, how is it Izzo 2.0 just because he doesn't have a bunch of 1-and-done kids?

Is Coach K a mixed between Cal and Izzo since he has guys like Greyson Allen and Amile Jefferson who play 12 years of college basketball, but he also has a 1-and-done like Taytum?

This is the weirdest rant I've seen in awhile. I think Williams should be commended for finding guys who can play quality college basketball and play 3-4 years at Carolina. But you should do some homework before calling all of them McDonald's All-Americans.

See where UNC ranks in recruiting every year...it may surprise you.

The Baughz

May 4th, 2017 at 8:00 PM ^

Roy Williams does not bitch about not having any McDonalds AA because he had a whole team full of them. Hicks, Berry, Jackson, Bradley, Pinson and Meeks were all burger boys. Recruiting has slowed down for them but maybe you should do some homework before you post something like that.

FatGuyTouchdown

May 4th, 2017 at 7:30 PM ^

are very coveted prospects. None of them really have a shot in hell at the lottery, and only one, Justin Jackson, was a first round lock. Williams recruits this way specfically. He's always relied more on juniors and seniors than 1 and done guys. 

UM Griff

May 4th, 2017 at 10:31 PM ^

But it will be interesting to see if there are any repercussions for UNC with their decades long academics scandal. Paging NCAA........