Kansas Overcomes Tough Obstacles, Shows Resilience

It ended with Kansas coach Bill Self meeting North Carolina’s Roy Williams to give him a friendly handshake, and then he chortled and smiled with his players near mid-court. It ended with Williams walking out of the tunnel, long after his players and assistants, long after a Kansas party erupted in the Sprint Center. It wasn’t bad, couldn’t have been to hear from a fan base that still appreciates Williams, who can tell us plenty of stories about his Kansas days.

Much to Williams’ chagrin, who is 0-3 lifetime against Self and Kansas since taking the UNC coaching job in 2003, the Tar Heels lost a comfortable lead by the second half. All around him, fans kindly stood and praised the former Jayhawks coach. But an emotional Williams, as usual whenever UNC can’t beat the Jayhawks in the NCAA tournament, sits at the podium during news conferences and congratulates Kansas, while he talks about a disappointing end of another season.

It started with sloppy plays for the top-seeded Kansas Jayhawks on both ends of the floor. Early on, things were bad enough and couldn’t get any worse for Kansas, a team many national experts picked to make the Final Four. The game was boring and slow, uneventful and uninteresting in the first half. The coach’s stare was edgy. Self was hysterical and uneasy, and he nervously walked back and forth on the sidelines, without even sitting and having a drink to settle down.

With Kansas struggling early, Self was gesturing to his players and encouraged them to loosen up and find a rhythm. The gutsy 70-58 win late Sunday afternoon against eighth-seeded North Carolina was followed by the ballsy victory over No. 16 Western Kentucky in the first round. And like most successful teams, resilience just makes the Jayhawks stronger as a team. The depth and talent has been working to Kansas’ advantage, a senior-laden team pursuing the ultimate goal, which is to win a national title. If they win a trophy and cut down the nets, it would be Self’s second national title.

Kansas, however, might be the most dangerous team in this tournament and certainly is up for the task, realizing that another trip to the Final Four is at stake, along with potentially another back-to-back national title appearance. The rulers of basketball are the Jayhawks — a perennial national power of college basketball, winning five of the last seven Big 12 tournaments, despite falling victim to the biggest upsets in tournament history to both Northern Iowa and VCU.

Great teams overcome adversity. Great teams grind out victories and endure to the end. Great teams find ways to rally and show that resilience is the result of success and building late momentum. That’s exactly what Kansas was able to do against the Tar Heels. With each victory, the Jayhawks have become stronger and more efficient. It was not Kansas’ best game, I assure you, but it was enough to survive and beat North Carolina for the second straight year, and the Jayhawks will advance to the Sweet 16 and will face No. 4 Michigan in Arlington, Texas, on Friday.

It wasn’t pretty that seven-foot center Jeff Withey, the nation’s best shot-blocker, was not intimidating and a factor inside the paint to start. There were simply too many turnovers and missed shots. They were lucky to be within striking distance and not trailing by many by the end of the first half. They couldn’t make a jump shot in the opening 20 minutes against North Carolina. It took them about 22 minutes to snap out of a shooting drought, and Kansas had the worst shooting percentage in a half, only shooting a staggering 25 percent.

By assuming that the slow start scared thousands of panic-stricken fans, though fans were confident and hopeful the Jayhawks would turn it around in the second half, one could only wonder whether or not Kansas was on the verge of a disappointing ending. The Jayhawks were sluggish, torpid and clumsy, turning over the ball 17 times, barely settling for put backs and a couple of dunks. Surely, you saw the Jayhawks’ best player Ben McLemore finish 2 for 14 from the field in two tournament games. He’s one of Kansas’ top scorers, but he wasn’t playing like it, scoring like it, and mostly, he was missing shots by taking ill-advised ones. And surely, you saw Kansas guard Elijah Johnson shoot 2 for 12. There was a universal sense, both for national experts and Kansas’ fans — that Johnson was not a five-star player — that he’d oftentimes struggle and receive unwarranted criticism from thousands of critics.

Self wasn’t too happy and pleased with what he saw in the first half. So then he followed his team into the locker room and, without a doubt, delivered a message to his players. His team’s lack of effort and poor ball execution had been formidable, but whatever he said to his players during the half, it was enough to wake up everyone. By that, he gave them one of his halftime speeches, a coaching strategy Self exercised, especially when Kansas failed to play effectively in the first half of a contest. At halftime, Kansas trailed by nine points and the night was so nerve-racking, so excruciating and then it was so tantalizing.

And perhaps most incredibly, Kansas finally drilled jump shots. The first three-pointer of the tournament, after 13 consecutive misses over two games, was buried by Travis Releford and it was a game-changing shot and might have given the Jayhawks momentum in what turned out to be dramatic. Had it not been for Releford the Jayhawks could have been eliminated in the Round of 32, but he made the team’s first three-pointer after Kansas had gone without a three for the first time in 201 games against Western Kentucky. As it happened Withey, whose toughness and confidence soon became contagious, grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds.

This kind of thing happens in March and that’s excitement and thrills, such was Kansas running the Tar Heels out of the building by scoring 31 points in nine and half minutes. It came down to who had the most energy and who was the strongest and hungriest. Turns out it was Kansas. With a Sweet 16 berth at stake, Kansas shot the ball efficiently, limited turnovers and played smart, perpetuating a 35-12 run and turned the game into a pep rally for the crowd.

The Kansas seniors, including the rest of the team, are well coached, to be sure, and don’t want to go home empty-handed. At the right time, Releford, who is a defensive specialist, was on fire, scorching the nets and finishing with 22 points. It’s time for all of us to realize that Kansas is a tough out. Before we discount KU, realize they have size with Withey, who blocked five shots and had a double-double, giving him a total of 43 swatted shots in his NCAA career, second all-time behind Tim Duncan in the postseason.

Holy smokes.

Now that the top-seeded Kansas has shown it can overcome obstacles, Self’s team is definitely a dangerous out.

Bad Timing, but the Firing of Butch Davis Is Right

The relationship was just a blemish for one of the up-and-coming football programs in the nation by the time the season ended in shambles at Chapel Hill. A few years ago, when North Carolina hired Butch Davis as their head football coach, the people running the institution witnessed a man with an enthusiasm, a charisma and love for football.

There was a lot of trust in Davis during his arrival in Chapel Hill, with a spotless image after protecting the identity of an elite program when he restored aspiration at a probation-saddled Miami. Not long after Davis walked onto the campus and through the door, he was welcomed in with opened arms by athletic director Dick Baddour, revered anywhere in the building, on the practice field and even on Saturday afternoons when the Tar Heels won multitudes of games.

It is close to the beginning of a fresh season and this is a rarity to fire a well-known coach late in the summer as we are nearing the fall. We knew this was coming, but we never expected Davis to be canned as training camp looms quicker than ever, and seemingly, he endured the most dangerous moments of the NCAA investigation into improper benefits and academic infractions within a scummy North Carolina program. The timing couldn't be worse, although it was a shrewd decision to rid the controversial coach, for North Carolina to dismiss Davis when it could have happened much earlier.

“I know that the timing is terrible. I have been hopeful for the past year that we could work to make this right and restore confidence to the football program," North Carolina's Holden Thorp said. "Making a change of this magnitude eight days before the start of practice is disruptive, expensive and will be hard on our players. But it is the right decision."

The university, after all, has taken a drastic plunge in being the next excellent program in the Atlantic Coast Conference, stemming from the duplicity of sins with nine alleged violations involving academic fraud and superfluous benefits. The general belief of these allegations, smearing the image of convincing program filled with promise, as if someone accepted the toughest task to turn around the mediocre Tar Heels, is that Davis was aware of the academic improprieties that harmed the school's prevalence.

“This has been weighing on me for the last several weeks. I spent a lot of time consulting with a lot of people," Thorp said. I completed that consultation yesterday when I told the Trustees where I was headed."

North Carolina's chancellor, Holden Thorp, understands Davis was fairly unaware and vetoed in taking the initiative of nurturing or protecting the university's name in its entirety. Yet he earned much support for leading a team battered by sanctions, recruiting elite players, winning eight and a bowl victory, the adoration never lasted too long after the mess surfaced and the investigation became a reality. He needed to be fired for allowing the university to degenerate, but earned eulogy of trustees and the university with certainty that he'd be back for a fifth season.

It was visibly vital to North Carolina, a program with a relieved psyche since the latest dismissal, to restore the smoothest renovation that repairs the disoriented athletic department. Until now, he had seen enough, and because the university is scheduled to appear before the NCAA's committee on infractions on Oct. 28 to address the issue and offer an explanation, Thorp is embarrassed as allegations are brought forth and causes too much damage.

Though he was 28-23 in four seasons in Chapel Hill, perhaps impressive, he was no longer the coach everybody wanted around. Davis succeeded, however, in his tenure that eventually turned into a poisoned assignment with all the infractions destroying his livelihood. His refusal to demand answers for all the allegations giving the school an unbearable name partly cost Davis his job on the fact he was unaware of the pending violations in Chapel Hill and it mostly now formulates a ruckus as training camp begins next week with no long-term coach.

“Let me start off by saying something to our student-athletes on the football team: You have already been through a lot this past year, and I know this is adding to that," Thorp said emotionally. "I want you to know that the university is behind you and we are totally committed to your success and to a successful program. Thank you for putting on a Carolina uniform and representing our university. We’re going to name your interim head coach soon. Dick Baddour and I are meeting with the candidates this afternoon and we will make an announcement in the next few days."

It looked like Thorp waited too late to terminate Davis, and eventually, it may come back and haunt the Tar Heels. And all of the sudden he decided that Davis was the reason of the illicit findings, though none of the allegations sent directly to the school, charting potentially major violations, found him at fault, which means North Carolina could be placed on probation, stripped of scholarships and victories for someone else's actions.

“The last year has been extraordinarily difficult for the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, not only for our staff, coaches and student-athletes, but for our alumni and fans as well," Thorp said. "From the beginning, I told you we would take all accusations seriously and that we would face issues head-on. We apologized and have pledged that the athletic department at the university would be stronger as a result of the NCAA investigation."

Perhaps under these circumstances -- such as the fingers pointing of Davis who allowed the program to become a rogue in his presence after turning around the inferior program but finally deteriorated as a man once diligent enough to bring confidence to a university which was on the verge of a spiteful scandal -- he couldn't bring a national championship. He blew it and knows he blew it at North Carolina. And, in all, it was impossible to salvage his job.

Had he retained his coaching gig, it would have been a stunning development basically for being the center of a scandal that seems too overwhelming. Granted, he accepted the job to serve as a cure for a tawdry program of mediocrity -- the man in line who was anticipated to make a huge difference. In the midst of it, Davis accepts full responsibility for what occurred and even pledged to repair the damages. So was the firing premature or ideal timing? To me, it was poor timing, a point in the offseason when the season is almost upon us. This is enough to draw disruptions and cause the Tar Heels to fall out of contention early in the 2011-12 season.

"Look, you can't minimize what happened and I deeply regret that it happened on my watch. I'm the head football coach. I accept responsibility," Davis said. "My job now is to do everything I can to make sure that all of the facts get out. My job is to work with our administration to identify the problems and to make sure nothing like this happens again."

At this point, he tried to present the case to salvage his job, maybe blamed for someone else's wrongdoings. So now, he's without a job for the desecrations of his players who were suspended after violating NCAA rules -- and with the lack of reliability within himself -- ominously he could be a heavy burden if he's ever hired by another university to coach football. Earlier in the week, he had a meeting with Thorp and Baddour.

That being said, it was only a matter of time before he'd be terminated, and by Wednesday, he met with UNC Board of Trustees. The decision for North Carolina, as it seems, was based on Thorp's judgment even if the board advised or took part in the final choice. For the past 12 months, the Tar Heels have suffered from much destruction and the trustees gave Davis the benefit of the doubt, and carefully deliberated his future with the program.

"Our academic integrity is paramount and we must work diligently to protect it," Thorp said in a statement released by the school. "The only way to move forward and put this behind us is to make a change."

It may not matter, but he does have a good side. That was most relevant over the last few seasons. At least it may have mattered when North Carolina simply hired Davis to bring in superb talent, and he has done exactly what he was asked. Did he accomplish it legitimately?? Who knows?

In the grand scheme of things, which of the nine players he groomed, were selected in the 2011 NFL Draft. But the wonderful talent he installed within the program was overshadowed by the series of national embarrassments. The more noticeable incident was John Blake, Davis' lead recruiter, charged of luring some of North Carolina's top players to an agent by the name of the late Gary Wichard. It's not the best thing to hire someone you've known for over 30 years sometimes, but Davis hired a longtime friend and it jeopardized his profession.

This was all a real shame for Blake, who had worked for Wichard prior to working under Davis, when he was charged with receiving payments from an agent. No disrespect to what turned into, respectively, one of the most hideous scandals of academia, but Davis had to be fired after learning that Jennifer Wiley, a former tutor, was charged with paying off parking tickets for players and had been accused of academic fraud.

On that, Davis needed to be fired. Then again, maybe he wasn't the problem as his name was not leaked to any of the allegations but still he was the coach. Ninety percent of the time, of course, the coach or quarterback takes much of the blame and Davis certainly has taken much of the abuse in the past 12 months.

All of this is similar to the Ohio State scandal, when Jim Tressel was fired for hiding the truth of violations involving his star quarterback and boldly lying to his bosses. It happened shamefully in the South as well, when ex-Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl lied to NCAA investigators about minor infractions. But worst of all is North Carolina, at least for what it seems, a school undermined by all the turmoil that holds the entire university liable.

That's why Thorp wanted a change to abolish the stench.

North Carolina No Longer Loom a Threat in College Hoops

If there are outrageous vibes wondering inside the minds of committed basketball lords on Tobacco Road and near Chapel Hill, it’s for all the unforeseen transitions ensuing among an elite program.


The North Carolina Tar Heels reached a point of frailty, in what has finally turned into reality, any time a talented class with competitive depth and zest departs to the NBA.

During a year of plights, what we’re watching is an underachieving program, but looking on the bright side a program with potential. In the meantime, North Carolina isn’t excelling as a team of defending champs, suffering rare defeats and being humiliated on their home floor in front of a zealous crowd.

These days, supportive residence and students are curious, even worried about the sudden relapses and flaws that don’t epitomize the history of Tar Heels basketball.

It’s a majestic program that has produced NBA stars, cultivated high school prospects, won five national titles, preserved 18 Final Four appearances, and amassed 43 ACC Championships.

But this is no longer the invincible or elite academic and athletic college we once knew, lacking much growth and experience to be equivalent to the powerhouse class of college hoops a year ago.

As the Tar Heels are facing a bizarre and abnormal stage, it’s good realizing no program is ensured of persistent legitimacy, though nostalgia marks solidity and grandeur forever. Because of blemishes and the derailing of a famous school that qualifies and dances in March Madness, gathering a clear perception that the (12-7, 1-3) Tar Heels are no longer villains or looms as a threat amid the NCAA tourney is thinking logical.


It’s a rarity when Carolina misses out on the Madness, and instead qualifies for the NIT—the National Inferior Tournament, I might add. That’s a path the Tar Heels are on, if they continue to shoot the ball poorly, miss ill-advised three-pointers and fail to protect the perimeter. As a result, Carolina has lost miserably in four of their last five games and plunged to No. 24, the lowest ranking in the Associated Press Top 25 since 2006.

Not much has changed on the coaching roster, the folksy head coach Roy Williams is there, and still coaches by his standard. His customary standards are, thoroughly, teaching the rhythmic of the game.

But of late he hasn’t been the popular coach in college hoops, as most of the attention has turned to schools like Clemson or Kentucky, programs that have climbed to the top of the basketball polls. Before we had tremendous respect for Carolina, a team that never backed down, a team opponents were afraid of because of their dominance.

But now no team is intimidated of overpowering a young and inexperienced program, of course guided by Williams, whose resume consists of a 2003 national title loss at Kansas. Not long following his departure, he was scolded for wearing a Jayhawks button after they had smothered the Tar Heels.

In 2009, his national title win defied excellence among one of the greatest classes in Carolina history. Minus the savvy ingredients, the Tar Heels are depleted and futile.

The loss of Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington, and Danny Green is unfortunate and omitted the brand name as vulnerability has enlarged unbelievably.

It’s portrayed as a helpless school and hopes to rise back to the top, even though Ellington was a jump shooting machine and Lawson was a floor general and directed traffic with his incredible play-making and smarts to maneuver an up-tempo style as his speed created advantages.

But more intimidating was the interior game of Hansbrough, whose upper body strength couldn’t be stopped. So for a program that relied much on his inside presence, Hansbrough is missed greatly for the post presence, ability to rebound and startle all opponents in the middle.

Most were unsuccessful defending the dominant force inside, leading all of college basketball a year ago, which makes lots of sense on why he was given the name Psycho-T. If generous enough to acknowledge his achievements, he broke the all-time ACC scoring record. And his ability to produce points was an integral feature.

Nonetheless, every team must experience up and down transitions to rebuild into the legitimate contender. That’s exactly what the Tar Heels are dealing with.

And wouldn’t it happen to be the longest losing streak since dropping five straight under Matt Doherty in 2002-03. The latest loss came against Wake Forest at home, where the Tar Heels were embarrassed but braced by the crowd, dressed in Carolina Blue.

Many still believe, but time is running short. Time is continuously ticking, as the madness looms ever so closer. If there is hope left, they have to move forward and forget about a demoralizing 82-69 loss to the Demon Deacons on Wednesday night, a pounding that will either make or break down the Tar Heels.

In retrospect, Carolina is sluggish at the guard position and struggles greatly, ever since Lawson and Ellington left early for an upstart.


During their regimen, no weaknesses were signs of innovations, but seeing all the flaws at a significance position is a problem in their back court and needs to be upgraded. Will Graves is flexible and finesse, but not quick enough. Larry Drew is good, but not great. Tyler Zeller is banged up. And, well, Ed Davis isn’t at full strength.

This season the Tar Heels are being outraced, a weakness Wake Forest exploited constantly and outplayed them in the transition game. Each moment reveals a scare in a program that has suddenly dwindled.

And with the exception of arising ACC schools, Carolina isn’t even a favorite to clinch the ACC title. Not when there’s Clemson and Georgia Tech, two power conference teams that have already caused trouble for a languishing program we once knew as defending champs.

Nobody fears the title of defending champs. Nobody sees the Tar Heels as a threat.