North Carolina embraces coach Roy Williams’ quirky superstitions

Andrew Synowiez/US PresswireCoach Roy Williams and North Carolina are vying to reach the Elite Eight for the fourth time in the past five seasons. The second seeded Tar Hells play 11th seeded Marquette in the East Regional at the Prudential Center in Newark on Friday. On the table inside the locker room, there are three types of gum and adidas maniaadidas outlet only three types laid out for members of the North Carolina men basketball team to grab before the opening tip.

Like many of their rituals, the selection process surrounding Extra, Big Red and Juicy Fruit are individualistic for the Tar Heels. By this point, the selections are executed deliberately and without fail before every game.

Justin Knox always grabs two pieces of Extra, right after he takes a multivitamin with junior Stewart Cooper. They each place the supplement in a tiny paper cup and lift them up, clanking them together like it last call at the bar and down the contents.

At the same time, some of their teammates begin searching for their gum. Maybe it a piece of Juicy Fruit in the pregame, Big Red at halftime. Johnston does not know everyone penchant, but he knows it now second nature.

can imagine anyone as neurotic as we are, Johnston said, laughing.

Such is life for the 15 disciples of the quirkiest coach in Division I college basketball. Players come and go in Roy Williams system, absorbing the intricacies of the Heel Running Game a relentless transition offense that forces opponents into track meets they seldom win. It a style that has produced two national championships in the past decade and a berth in Friday night Sweet 16 matchup against Marquette in Newark. Those who never relied on superstition or protocol before find themselves embracing the aberration they created for themselves.

kind of contagious, Knox said. I first got here I was like, is it like this? But now I do it too. Just crazy stuff. something they feel is keeping them rolling throughout the NCAA Tournament. After missing out on March Madness last year for adidas maniaadidas outlet the first time since 2003, the Tar Heels hope their superstitions as well as their talent will land them in the Elite Eight for the fourth time in the past five seasons.

we winning, Johnston said, might as well keep doing what we doing.

Over time, the Tar Heels began to realize that their coach wears the same outfit to practice every day. The same sweater vest over the same collared shirt, with the same pair of jogging pants on the bottom.

And that was just the beginning. During the team huddle at the end of practice, Williams insists on being at midcourt. He always stands on the opposite side of the circle, across from the scorer table. His players have to be lined up in the same place every day as well.

Before games, when he walks into the locker room, he has to be touching a player shoulder.

During games, there always a piece of masking tape wrapped around the back of his chair.

At the whiteboard, where Williams diagrams the offense, the markers are always blue. None of his players remember seeing him write in another color. Then again, none of them remember a game where he worn a different pair of shoes.

don know why he does it, sophomore guard Leslie McDonald said. He said the players don tease Williams about it, nor do they ask why.