ACC Titles in Last 13 Years: Roy Williams 8, Coach K 2

[Joneslab]

IMO Williams might be the most underrated coach in the game. Everybody seems to think he stinks, at least if you talk to Kentucky fans.

[Matt Dillon]

A lot of UK bb fans think everyone stinks except for Cal.

[DA#23]

"Daggum it I never knew any UK Fans liked me...."

[Lighthouse]

I'm a Kentucky fan who happens to think Roy Williams is overrated. I believe he has done less with more superior talent than about any coach there is. He was worse at Kansas than he has been at UNC, But that's how I feel about him.

[Joneslab]

I think Roy is a lot like Cal. Both have had very good teams that came up a little short in the NCAA Tournament, but they've also had some pretty significant recent tournament success that made people re-think the "will never win a national title" mantle both got foisted on them before winning a title.

Neither coach is going to scheme you to death, but both sort of lets their athletes get out and make plays. Sometimes to a fault...for example, I remember the game when Carolina was thumped in the Final Four by Kansas. They kept trying to run like crazy, and Kansas just smashed them at their own game. Williams said at halftime that he wouldn't slow it down, and it cost him. I think Cal is a lot like that. You roll the dice with what got you there and then you just ride the talent for 40 minutes, good or bad. Very few adjustments or wrinkles or re-inventing the wheel during the game.

[BJD]

I think Roy is a lot like Cal. Both have had very good teams that came up a little short in the NCAA Tournament, but they've also had some pretty significant recent tournament success that made people re-think the "will never win a national title" mantle both got foisted on them before winning a title.

Neither coach is going to scheme you to death, but both sort of lets their athletes get out and make plays. Sometimes to a fault...for example, I remember the game when Carolina was thumped in the Final Four by Kansas. They kept trying to run like crazy, and Kansas just smashed them at their own game. Williams said at halftime that he wouldn't slow it down, and it cost him. I think Cal is a lot like that. You roll the dice with what got you there and then you just ride the talent for 40 minutes, good or bad. Very few adjustments or wrinkles or re-inventing the wheel during the game.

Couldn't disagree more. Cal is as good an X&O guy as there is in the game. You don't see it so much here because there's only so much you can show freshmen. Go back to his UMass days. He won more there than anyone ever did or ever has there. And that school had Dr J play there.

If people don't agree that our '96 team was the best of all time they certainly agree that it's in the discussion. Who beat that '96 team? A 38 year old Cal with one NBA player.

Then he turned Memphis from an also ran into a national power. Even before he adopted the supposed DDMO and started getting the top players in the country.

Roy Williams can't come close to Cal in coaching acumen.

Of course the press is not going to say it that way. But I would think a UK fan with an ounce of basketball sense could see through the media smokescreen.

[Spiritof96]

IMO Williams might be the most underrated coach in the game. Everybody seems to think he stinks, at least if you talk to Kentucky fans.

He is accurately rated... he stinks!



I mean, he is good at crying when his team gets bounced in the tourney.

[Westtncat]

I'm a Kentucky fan who happens to think Roy Williams is overrated. I believe he has done less with more superior talent than about any coach there is. He was worse at Kansas than he has been at UNC, But that's how I feel about him.

So how do you feel about Cal? Cal has had much more talent in a much weaker league.

[Lighthouse]

So how do you feel about Cal? Cal has had much more talent in a much weaker league.

I don't have the needed stats to compare them, but I think Cal has been to more FF's and has the same NC's as Williams. My opinion on Williams is more about his time at Kansas than UNC,.

[Blue Heaven]

Some years back, Presbyterian played UNC in Chapel Hill. A Presbyterian fan was heard shouting "Miss it!", when UNC went to the line. Roy had him thrown out. Then post game, goes on a rant about bringing in teams on their (UNC's) dime and not being respected. I didn't like Williams before that. I REALLY din't like him after. He is a crybaby, whiny loser. I can't stand dUKe, but give me Coach K any day over Ole Roy. Williams may have him in ACC Titles, but he wishes he was half the coach as Krzyzewski.

[KevinHall]

I don't have the needed stats to compare them, but I think Cal has been to more FF's and has the same NC's as Williams. My opinion on Williams is more about his time at Kansas than UNC,.

WIlliams has two championships to Cal's one. Not sure about the Final Fours but its close. IMO they are about even. Both have missed out on great chances to separate themselves from other coaches with championships. Some of it is on them and some of it is just pure bad luck too.

[Joneslab]

Williams has gone to 7 Final Fours.

Regarding the point above about Calipari and UMASS: that's undoubtedly true, but I was talking more about the North Carolina Williams and the Kentucky Calipari. They're both probably better X's and O's coaches than they get credit for, but for the most part they're "mano y mano" types. Line them up and let the chips fall. That's not a criticism and were I a coach who could get big-time talent it's how I would play it.

Interestingly, Carolina fans have become increasingly frustrated at Roy Williams' inability to get five-star talent. But the obvious reason for that are the sanctions that are hanging over Carolina. And yet even without that elite talent Carolina was a buzzer beater away from a title last year and IMO he has the best team this season.

[KevinHall]

Williams has gone to 7 Final Fours.

Regarding the point above about Calipari and UMASS: that's undoubtedly true, but I was talking more about the North Carolina Williams and the Kentucky Calipari. They're both probably better X's and O's coaches than they get credit for, but for the most part they're "mano y mano" types. Line them up and let the chips fall. That's not a criticism and were I a coach who could get big-time talent it's how I would play it.

Interestingly, Carolina fans have become increasingly frustrated at Roy Williams' inability to get five-star talent. But the obvious reason for that are the sanctions that are hanging over Carolina. And yet even without that elite talent Carolina was a buzzer beater away from a title last year and IMO he has the best team this season.

Wiki had 8 Final Fours for WIlliams. Six for Cal. If one team is starting to pull themselves away from the field this year its UNC. They have been running up some big scores lately in the ACC.

[Joneslab]

The win over Carolina at a neutral is one of the best wins of the year for anybody and might be the ammunition Kentucky needs to get a 2 seed.

[catfaninin]

The win over Carolina at a neutral is one of the best wins of the year for anybody and might be the ammunition Kentucky needs to get a 2 seed.

Heard Lunardi say over the weekend that "Kentucky's win AT UNC is the best win anyone has." Wish he was accurate. That would really help.