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GLENDALE, Arizona — The 66-year-old Hall of Famer with the surgically repaired knee walked gingerly along the black carpet that led to North Carolina's locker room.
For the first time all evening—and likely all weekend—Roy Williams was alone.
Less than 30 minutes earlier, thanks to the Tar Heels' 71-65 victory over Gonzaga in the NCAA title game, Williams had become just the sixth coach in history to win at least three national championships.
Any attempt to reflect on the accomplishment vanished, however, when Williams' silent postgame stroll was interrupted by North Carolina guard Theo Pinson, who issued a warning to his coach as he sprinted past him in the concourse.