There are a lot of things wrong with Carolina basketball this year, but the one thing that is right about it is the reason there is at least some hope left in this season. What happens for the Tar Heels in the National Invitational Tournament, remains to be seen but observers of post season basketball can be sure of one thing. There is going to be some fight left in the men in light blue and white as long as Roy Williams is behind the bench.

Coach Williams said several things recently that tell the tale of this season. He first said he hasn’t been able to find all the answers as a coach. A little piece of news, if Coach Williams can’t find them, I am not sure the answers are out there.

The second thing he said speaks more of the season from my perspective. He said this year’s team hasn’t played with the intensity almost every other North Carolina team has. No kidding.

I had to do a double take while watching the Duke game last week. The last time I have seen that many mistakes at one time on a court I was a coach of ten-yearold girls! That is only a slight exaggeration. It was that bad on the court against the Blue Devils and it has been most times out for the Heels this year.

The number of loose balls, unexplained actions and just plain careless plays was incredible. It must have been a frustrating end to an incredibly frustrating year for one of the top five coaches in the country.

Coach Williams also said he refuses to “go through the motions” in practice, accepting that it’s just been a bad year. That is the mark of a good coach, already getting ready for next season. He is quickly showing that winning on the big stage in college basketball is a year-long process.

Funny thing but of all the things you have heard in media reports this year there likely hasn’t been much mention of replacing Coach Williams. The only thing less likely than that would be talk of replacing Coach “K” at Duke. Those guys will coach kids wearing blue uniforms, of one shade or another, just as long as they want to or until something natural causes them to stop.

Fans of N.C. State should learn a lesson. One only has to say the words Herb Sendek to make that point.

Hopefully they will remember the past and let Sidney Lowe at least have a chance to turn his boat around. If State fans would have had patience, the Pack would be enjoying the success of Arizona State, where Sendek now coaches and won coach of the year this year.

Don’t be surprised if there is something good left in the season for the Tar Heels. Don’t be surprised at a positive showing in the National Invitational Tournament. Whatever happens, one thing is for sure, and that is any team coached by Roy Williams will always have at least a chance to win. If Coach Williams can come up with the motivational tool that has eluded him, there could still be some joy in Mudville this year.

Nicklaus on the money

Jack Nicklaus was right about a few things when discussing the issue of Tiger Woods. Primarily he is right in that Tiger is getting ready for Augusta, whether or not he or anyone else wants to admit it. The best golfer in the world will not let the most prestigious tournament in the world go by without being part of it. Augusta will be the perfect place for his comeback because there the media is limited. The Augusta people are going to protect their event whether or not Tiger is there. They will not let it become a spectacle. Tiger knows that which is why the clubs are out of the bag and he is practicing again.
When he does step up to the number one tee box I will only say one thing, watch out. The man is going to prove to the world that his problems off the course can be put behind him while chasing the little white ball. He is going to prove what golf fans already know, he has one of the most powerful and most focused game day minds in history.
A call from The Corner, Tiger wins the green jacket going away.
Nicklaus is right about one other thing and that is Tiger's situation is no one's business but Tiger's and his families. We can focus on what goes on between the ropes. What goes on away from the course is irrelevant. Sports journalism should be about reporting scores and highlights, not the personal details of a player's life.