PHILADELPHIA
Roy Williams learned to appreciate the journey long ago, back in 1990 during his second season at Kansas. The first one ended, after all, with no trip to the NCAA tournament amid a postseason ban – punishment for misdeeds before Williams arrived.
“I’ve always appreciated every single day in the NCAA tournament,” Williams, the North Carolina coach, said Saturday. “To each level you go, the stakes get a little higher, you get a little more excitement, a little more intensity level in your practices, a little more attention from the players.”
This is the 12th time Williams has led a team at least this far in the NCAA tournament.