UNC Basketball

Let the new era of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball begin.

The Tar Heels held their Midnight Madness event Friday at the Dean E. Smith Center and welcomed the start of the 2021-22 basketball season by introducing fans to the members of the men's and women's teams.

There was also a scrimmage for the men's team, and Armando Bacot and Caleb Love spearheaded a 60-45 victory for the Blue Team over the White Team.

The biggest storyline surrounding North Carolina this season is the start of the Hubert Davis era for the men's side after legendary head coach Roy Williams retired in April. Williams led the Tar Heels for 18 seasons after coaching the Kansas Jayhawks for 15 and built one of the best resumes in college basketball history.

All he did at UNC was win three national championships, reach five Final Fours, capture nine ACC regular-season titles and win three ACC tournaments.

The legacy continues 🙌#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/5pBSTyYJf4

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 16, 2021

Those are big shoes for Davis to fill, and fans got to meet his new team Friday. They also had the chance to return to the famous Dean E. Smith Center without many of the attendance restrictions that were in place last season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The support system we have is something unmatched—it's like our fans are a whole second family," Malu Tshitenge, who is a forward on the women's team, said, per the athletic department's official website. "I'm so excited to have the fans back in the stands."

Big man Armando Bacot echoed that sentiment:

For me it's gonna be like a blast from the past. But for a lot of the newer guys who have not gotten a chance to play in the Smith Center with fans, I told them this will be the most people you have ever gotten to play in front of in your whole life, so soak it in. I'm glad to have gotten a feeling of it earlier versus getting thrown out there in games and playing in front of all those people. It's going to be fun.

Here is some of what those fans saw Friday:

Carolina Basketball is 𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 😏#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/H1jKYr0geD

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) October 16, 2021

Tar Heels know how to make an entrance 😏#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/aaFVq66bo2

— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 16, 2021

Late Night has begun pic.twitter.com/574fBgRzEd

— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) October 15, 2021

🤩 Squad Goals 🤩#GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/1M49UiH3Ev

— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 15, 2021

“He’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever known in my life, but on top of that he’s one of the most intensely competitive.” – Roy Williams in a video message talking about Hubert

— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) October 16, 2021

Hubert getting emotional as the fans cheer him. Standing at center court, waiting for the roar to stop. He needed to because he appeared to be choking up.

— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) October 16, 2021

“Tonight is about you guys, tonight is about the unbelievable Carolina fans. And tonight is about UNC basketball.” - Hubert

— Tar Heel Illustrated (@HeelIllustrated) October 16, 2021

🌊 🌊 🌊 #GoHeels | #InPursuit pic.twitter.com/mSVg9HSCoH

— Carolina Women's Basketball (@uncwbb) October 16, 2021

There was some competitiveness on the floor as well, and RJ Davis caught fire during the three-point contest and drained 19 triples from the top of the key in 45 seconds.

Davis also did his best to lead the White Team in the scrimmage with 14 points, but his side was overmatched in the loss to the Blue Team. Bacot and Love each scored 18 for the victors.

It isn't particularly surprising Bacot and Love led the way considering they were the Tar Heels' top two scorers last season.

Bacot averaged 12.3 points and 7.8 boards per night, while Love averaged 10.5 points and 3.6 assists per game.

They will both be critical if North Carolina is going to bounce back from last season's disappointment when it lost by 23 points in the first round of the NCAA men's tournament in a showdown with No. 9-seeded Wisconsin.

The men's team starts the new season Nov. 9 against Loyola (Md.), while the women's team opens the campaign on the same day against North Carolina A&T.

Power forward Jalen Washington committed to the University of North Carolina on Friday. 

Washington told On 3 Recruits about his decision:

2022 five-star Jalen Washington has committed to North Carolina, he tells @On3Recruits. pic.twitter.com/GT63whKTkS

— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) July 9, 2021

In addition to the Tar Heels, Washington had offers from Michigan State, Indiana and Stanford, among others. 

247Sports composite ranks Washington as a 5-star prospect, the No. 1 player in the state of Indiana and the 21st-best player in the country in the class of 2022. 

The 6'9", 210-pounder also held offers from Louisville, Purdue, Illinois and Duke.

National basketball analyst Brian Snow saw plenty of potential in Washington and believes he'll be able to stretch the floor in college:

"Has ideal combination of size, length, skill and athleticism at the forward position. Has a huge wingspan and great hands, A new age power forward with tremendous upside. Can make shots from three, score down low or create off the dribble, A do-it-all player. A tremendous rebounder and someone who should be able to defend all over the court. He has to continue to get stronger and more consistent with his motor, but the physical tools and skills are there for him to be an elite prospect."

Tar Heels fans can expect him to make an instant impact and contend for key minutes right away, if not earn a role in the starting lineup.

Washington's commitment is an excellent indication that new North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis won't have any problems continuing the school's storied history of recruiting elite prospects. 

Davis is taking over for Roy Williams. The 51-year-old knows the Tar Heels well, playing for the program from 1988 to 1992 and spending the last 10 seasons as an assistant under Williams.

Adding Washington to the roster in 2022 is a strong first step to ensure North Carolina will be a big factor in the always competitive ACC.

A jersey Michael Jordan wore at North Carolina during the 1982-83 college basketball season received a winning bid of $1.38 million at auction Friday night.

Darren Rovell of the Action Network provided details of the Heritage Auctions sale:

$1.38 million: Price paid tonight at @HeritageAuction for a Michael Jordan jersey worn by MJ from the 1982-83 season at UNC pic.twitter.com/CwResj9WLE

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) May 8, 2021

Jordan, who'd already helped lead UNC to a national title in the 1982 NCAA tournament, averaged 20 points and 5.5 rebounds while shooting 53.5 percent from the field in 1982-83. It marked his second of three seasons with the Tar Heels before his Hall of Fame pro career.

"I wonder sometimes myself if it isn't all a dream. I expect to wake up sometime," MJ said during his emergence as a superstar at North Carolina.

While he's now generally accepted either as the greatest basketball player in history or at least a significant part of the GOAT conversation, that level of dominance wasn't easily predicted out of college.

Jordan wasn't selected until No. 3 overall in the 1984 NBA draft. Hakeem Olajuwon and Sam Bowie were picked before him, with Charles Barkley and John Stockton among the other members of that year's star-studded draft class.

Jordan went on to win six NBA championship and earn the MVP award five times along with numerous other accolades during his 15-year career.

His lasting impact on the sport combined with the sports memorabilia boom over the past year has caused a lot of Jordan items to skyrocket in value, and the game-used UNC jersey is just another example.

New North Carolina men's basketball coach Hubert Davis signed a five-year, $10 million contract that includes an expense allowance and compensation from program partners Nike and Learfield.

According to the Associated Press, the school released the contract terms Tuesday. The deal, which runs through the Tar Heels' 2025-26 season, features up to $1.1 million in potential annual bonuses from UNC.

Davis' incentives include potential payouts for winning the national or ACC Coach of the Year awards, along with a bonus if the team's NCAA academic progress rate (APR) is above 975, per 247Sports' Greg Barnes.

He also earns bonuses for regular-season or postseason ACC titles, for reaching the NCAA tournament and for each round of advancement during March Madness.

The 50-year-old former UNC guard returned to his alma mater in 2012 to serve as an assistant coach following a 12-year NBA career and seven years as an ESPN basketball analyst.

The program elevated him to the role of head coach last week following the retirement of Roy Williams, who'd led the Tar Heels coaching staff since 2003 and won three national titles.

"I am honored and humbled to be given the opportunity to lead this program,'' Davis said. "I would not be here without Coach Dean Smith, Coach Bill Guthridge and Coach Roy Williams; they taught me so much—and I'm eager to walk their path in my shoes and with my personality."

Davis' starting salary of $1.8 million for 2021-22 ranks 61st on USA Today's list of known college basketball coaching contracts.

North Carolina was one of the nation's top programs throughout Williams' tenure, including seven seasons with at least 30 wins and five Final Four appearances. However, UNC went 14-19 during the 2019-20 season, its first losing campaign in 18 years, and was eliminated in the first round of the 2021 NCAA tournament to finish an 18-11 season.

Davis will be tasked with getting the Tar Heels back into perennial championship contention.

North Carolina found its next men's basketball coach, as the Tar Heels promoted assistant coach Hubert Davis to replace the legendary Roy Williams.

Hubert Davis: "I'm 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗱, 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 of being your new men's basketball coach for the University of North Carolina."#CarolinaFamily pic.twitter.com/Lev1CwyTQD

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) April 5, 2021

Davis is the first African American to lead the men's basketball program, per Holden Kurwicki of CBS 17.

The 50-year-old is a former North Carolina player and has been on Williams' staff since 2012.

Jeff Goodman of Stadium provided further insight into the coaching search:

Bubba Cunningham swung for the fence and took the temperature of a bunch of the big boys, but none willing to make the move.

UNC assistant Hubert Davis is now on the verge of succeeding Roy Williams, source confirmed. Keeping it in the Carolina family. https://t.co/slUweRMeOM

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 5, 2021

Goodman also noted Davis was "Williams' choice to succeed him and that went a long way" in terms of determining the hire. However, Goodman noted "there were multiple former players in the Carolina family that felt as though Wes Miller was the better pick for the job." 

The position became vacant after Williams announced his retirement on April 1 following 33 years as the head coach of the Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks. His departure meant whoever was the next coach would be following in the footsteps of one of college basketball's most successful and enduring figures.

Williams went 418-101 with the Jayhawks and won nine regular-season conference crowns, four conference tournament titles and two Big 12 Coach of the Year awards while making four Final Fours.

He then took over at his alma mater starting with the 2003-04 campaign and went 485-163 in 18 seasons with three national championships, five Final Fours, nine ACC regular-season championships and three ACC tournament crowns.

Williams was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Replacing such a successful head coach isn't the only reason Davis will be under the microscope following this hire.

North Carolina is among the top jobs in all of men's college basketball as a program with six national championships and 20 Final Fours. Some of the sport's most notable former players, including Michael Jordan, James Worthy and Tyler Hansbrough, have laced it up for the Tar Heels, and there is a tradition of excellence that can be matched by few.

However, the program has not lived up to its lofty expectations of late and went 14-19 during the 2019-20 campaign and lost by 23 points to Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA men's tournament following an up-and-down 2020-21 season. 

The recent struggles will only serve to dial up the pressure on Davis, who will look to successfully follow a giant and return the program to its expected level of greatness as a consistent championship contender.

While he doesn't have any head coaching experience to fall back on while attempting to do so, Davis is familiar with what it takes to succeed at North Carolina from his time as a player under Dean Smith.

He also played in the NBA from 1992-2004.

Now he will look to find immediate success at one of the most prominent positions in all of college basketball. 

Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse is a candidate to succeed Roy Williams as the head coach at North Carolina, according to the News & Observer's C.L. Brown.

Stackhouse played for the Tar Heels for two seasons, helping the program reach the Final Four in 1995.

Brown reported current UNC assistants Steve Robinson and Hubert Davis were also interviewed, as were Monmouth coach King Rice and UNC Greensboro coach Wes Miller.

It appears existing ties to the program are a prerequisite to entering the race, and Hall of Famer Larry Brown went so far as to say he wants Williams to make the final call.

"In my gut, I hope Roy Williams picks his successor, and I hope it's someone from the Carolina family," Brown said on Packer and Durham (via ESPN). " ... I know what Coach [Dean] Smith would want, I know what Coach [Frank] McGuire would want. ... Keep it in the family, and let's move forward."

At 46, Stackhouse is also somebody who could occupy the role for many years.

Vanderbillt is 20-37 in Stackhouse's two seasons. While that's not an impressive record to date, the Commodores had 21 wins in the two years before he arrived, and making any judgments based on the 2020-21 season is somewhat foolish because of how much the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everything around the game.

Stackhouse's coaching stock rose quickly after he joined the Toronto Raptors' staff ahead of the 2015-16 season. He moved on to coach Raptors 905, Toronto's NBA G League affiliate, and guided them to a G League title in 2016-17.

His move to Vanderbilt came after he worked under J.B. Bickerstaff for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2018-19.

Almost as soon as North Carolina confirmed Williams was retiring, Davis and Miller emerged as the top favorites.

Source in the industry on North Carolina’s opening: "Let’s be honest, it’s Wes (Miller) or Hubert (Davis) if they decide to stay in the family."

— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) April 1, 2021

To me, there are two names for the UNC job:

Hubert Davis and Wes Miller.

Maybe I’ll be wrong, but I’d be very surprised if anyone else succeeds Roy Williams.

— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) April 1, 2021

Both played for North Carolina. Davis had been an assistant to Williams since May 2012, while Miller is 185-135 with the Spartans and took UNCG to the NCAA tournament twice. Even more so than Stackhouse, the 38-year-old Miller could feasibly coach the Tar Heels for decades if he thrives right out of the gate.

University of North Carolina assistant Hubert Davis is reportedly considered the frontrunner to become the next UNC head men's basketball coach.

Andy Katz of Turner Sports reported the news Saturday, adding that UNC leadership has consulted with TNT NBA analyst and former Tar Heels player Kenny Smith about who should be hired. Smith reportedly may be a candidate for the job as well.

Dana O'Neil of The Athletic reported that Villanova head coach Jay Wright is not interested in the UNC job despite being mentioned as a potential candidate.

The North Carolina job became available Thursday when Roy Williams announced his retirement after 18 seasons as the Tar Heels' head coach.

Davis has been an assistant under Williams since 2012, and he played college basketball for the Tar Heels from 1988 to 1992 before the New York Knicks selected him with the No. 20 overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft.

In four seasons as a player at UNC, Davis averaged 11.8 points per game, including 21.4 points per game as a senior. For his collegiate career, Davis shot 43.5 percent from beyond the arc.

Davis went on to spend 12 seasons in the NBA with the Knicks, Toronto Raptors, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and New Jersey Nets.

In 685 regular-season games, Davis averaged 8.2 points and shot 44.1 percent from three-point range, which is the second-best mark in NBA history.

During Williams' 18 seasons as head coach of UNC, the Tar Heels enjoyed a great deal of success, reaching the Final Four five times and winning three national championships.

The past two seasons have been more of a struggle, though, as UNC went just 14-19 in 2019-20 and then lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament this season.

Legendary NBA and college basketball coach and North Carolina alum Larry Brown expressed his hope Friday that Williams would have input in selecting the next coach. He also hoped it would be someone "from the Carolina family."

Since Dean Smith's retirement in 1997, North Carolina has had three different head coaches. Bill Guthridge, Matt Doherty and Williams all either coached or played at North Carolina before landing the job.

Davis would continue that trend, although he would be a first-time head coach at any level.

Someone like Wright, who has coached Villanova since 2001 and won a pair of national championships, may be the ideal candidate, but if he isn't interested in the job, hiring from within may be North Carolina's best option.

On the day that the men's Final Four tips off from Indianapolis, North Carolina Tar Heels legend Tyler Hansbrough reflected on his historic college career. 

During his four years with the Tar Heels from 2005 to 2009, Hansbrough was a three-time first-team All-American, the consensus National Player of the Year as a junior and capped off his college career with a victory over Michigan State in the 2009 national title game. 

Hansbrough stopped by B/R for an AMA session to answer questions on a variety of topics, including his run at North Carolina, playing for Roy Williams and much more. 

The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.

         

@Steve_Perrault: What is your favorite March Madness moment that you were a part of?

It’s gotta be winning the ’09 championship in Detroit my senior year against Michigan State. To end my college career with that was great. I felt like I was under a lot of pressure that year so it meant a lot. I had gotten hurt at the beginning of the year and I had just turned the NBA down, so it felt like the worst possible thing at the time with the injury. I had to miss some games and preparation so I felt a lot of pressure in my mind since I had just turned down a great opportunity. But we had a very talented team.

       

@D0ugBr0wn: What was your first reaction to the news that Roy Williams retired?

I thought this was an April Fools joke. I got a phone call from a friend in the program and he's close with Coach Williams. There’s nobody I can think of that has invested more in the program than this man Eric Hoots who works for the basketball program and he hit me up and he was very emotional. From my perspective as a player I didn't really process it because he’s meant so much to me in my life and I wasn’t ready to process him leaving. I hung up and was like ‘it’s got to be April Fools’ joke’ so I called him back to be sure. Coach Williams meant a lot to me in the program. There wasn’t one moment where he didn’t give it everything he had and coached to the best of his ability. It was tough for me to see him go. He’s made being around the UNC program for former players so easy. It was a little sad seeing what he said in his press conference because to me, Coach Williams will always be the right person for that job.

      

@stlcardinals519: Who’s your all-time starting 5 of UNC players?

Man that's tough. Phil Ford, to me one of the all-time greats who set the foundation for the current program. Michael Jordan. Antawn Jameson. Myself. And either Ty Lawson or James Worthy. Let’s go with James Worthy.

         

@brandonpate3: What did it feel like when you got your jersey hung in the rafters in Dean Smith Center?

That was a great moment for me. I knew I met the criteria after I was done, it was a big moment for me and my teammates, to be up there with so many players I looked up to. To be in that category was unbelievable, I'm still humbled.

        

@RuFromTheU: Did you embrace being a hated player?

There's a couple different aspects. Talking a little junk was fun during the games but it always fueled me. But also you have the other piece that takes it to the outside life, that kind of made me a quiet person because I didn’t know what they thought of me. When someone says something to me, my mentality is to go back at them and prove a point.

       

Top interaction with MJ?

I think it was my senior year he was at Top of the Hill, a nice restaurant in Chapel Hill. There were a ton of people around, they had security. I dropped by and said “You can't come in my spot like this, no one cares about me now!” When I signed with the Hornets him welcoming me to the team and seeing his mentality from a business aspect was cool too.

         

@Dana_Grey: Break down the SleepHawk Worldwide podcast, what’s it all about?

It’s a podcast with a college body and a golf buddy of mine. They call me Hawk and I call him Sleep. He’s a journalism major and I kind of like to talk about the UNC games. It was something to do and now it’s gotten some wheels and taken off. We just did the latest episode covering Roy’s retirement. We cover March Madness even though we haven’t gotten one pick yet right this year! We talk TV shows, even the Bachelor! It’s not just UNC based, we listen to our audience.

         

@Nostrand_Liquors: Where did the name Psycho T come from?

I get asked that a lot. It was UNC’s strength coach. I used to put in a lot of work with him and my freshman year I was a very shy kid but I used to get really into these workouts and start yelling and screaming. He’s like man you’re psycho and so he started calling me Psycho T. 

          

@ChaseMoretz: If someone had a tough decision between schools and UNC was one of them and you had to describe your UNC experience in one word what would it be?

Phenomenal 

      

@goatfernandes: How did it feel to get elbowed in the face by Gerald Henderson?

For me I was shooting a free throw and got my rebound. I go up and then all of the sudden I'm on the floor in a pool of blood. I got and went after Demarcus Nelson and I was getting held back. And i was trying to get to him and lay him out but he wasn't the one who hit me. When i was going off the court i was so upset because it was a cheap shot. He admitted on a podcast later it was a cheap shot, I don't know how you justify that. Emotions can get the best of you. I’ve been in this situation before. One day maybe I will get Gerald back in a pick up game. In the NBA I always wanted to get him back. I still have this voice inside me ‘You need to get his ass back’

    

@AJb3ller: Do you have a favorite memory as a Pacer?

Playing with my brother Ben was a big moment for me. Coming from a small town with no nba players so for both of us to be representing Poplar Bluff, Missouri. But also when we made it to the ECQF in game 7 against the Heat against LeBron. I’ve had a lot of good memories with the Pacers.

        

@ripcity3: What was your favorite ACC arena to visit?

Duke, we won every time we played there. It meets the expectations. You talk about Kansas and Duke are the two toughest to play at. They would chirp me at Cameron for sure. They used to have this guy dressed up in underwear who would wear a speedo during free throws. The student section would always give us crap for stretching.

       

@avery13: What made you pick the Tar Heels over everyone else?

Coach Williams, when he started recruiting me i felt like he recruited me harder. I felt like UNC was the best place. It was the best decision of my life, becoming a part of this family.

            

@JoeyBiceps: What was going through your head before you dunked on Kenny George?

Kenny was killing us and blocking everything so I was pissed off. The best way to counteract a great shot blocker is to go right at him.

         

@DekeGeek: What’s your advice to young ballers?

In basketball or in life is to earn everything. Don't expect anyone to give you anything. Have a great work ethic and prepare to be great. When I was growing up, you worked harder and earned those achievements. Show respect, be on time and don't expect anyone to give you anything.

     

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite movie ever?

I really like Braveheart and Hook. Love Robin Williams.

       

Favorite sneakers?

The Jordan 1s. The mids. Obviously I like the Carolina blue ones. Jordan 11s as well. I was never a big sneakerhead until i left school which makes me mad because i had the access and now is when I care about them.

        

What has been your favorite moment from this NCAA tourney?

The unpredictability. Gonzaga has been a sure lock. Baylor’s been great too, but we’ve seen a lot of upsets and the unknown is something I really like. Also I like seeing how the coaches prepare the teams because this is such an unusual year.

          

Hansbrough had a seven-year stint in the NBA after leaving North Carolina. He was the No. 13 overall pick by the Indiana Pacers in the 2009 draft and spent four years with the organization. He also played with the Toronto Raptors and Charlotte Hornets. 

After a brief stint in the NBA Developmental League, Hansbrough spent four seasons playing in the Chinese Basketball Association. He also got to serve as a color commentator  for North Carolina's Feb. 18 game against Northeastern on the ACC Network. 

Legendary college basketball and NBA head coach Larry Brown expressed hope Friday that Roy Williams will be allowed to pick his successor as head coach at the University of North Carolina.

Appearing on ACC Network's Packer and Durham (h/t ESPN.com), Brown said: "In my gut, I hope Roy Williams picks his successor, and I hope it's someone from the Carolina family. ... I know what Coach [Dean] Smith would want, I know what Coach [Frank] McGuire would want. ... Keep it in the family, and let's move forward."

The 70-year-old Williams announced his retirement Thursday after spending 18 seasons as the head men's basketball coach at UNC.

Per ESPN, Williams said upon retiring: "I no longer feel that I am the right man for the job."

While Brown never coached at UNC, he played his college basketball for the Tar Heels, making him deeply rooted in the school's basketball legacy.

Like Brown, Williams is a North Carolina alum, and it was considered a huge deal when UNC hired him away from Kansas in 2003.

In 15 seasons at Kansas, Williams took the Jayhawks to the NCAA tournament 14 times, and he brought them to the Final Four on four occasions, including two appearances in the National Championship Game.

At UNC, Williams replaced Matt Doherty, who enjoyed little success in three seasons after taking over for Bill Guthridge, who was the replacement for the legendary Dean Smith.

Guthridge was an assistant under Smith before becoming head coach, while Doherty played his college basketball at UNC before taking over for Guthridge.

With regard to the current vacancy, UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said the program needs to take a "great deal of time" considering who to hire as Williams' replacement.

Cunningham added: "The history and tradition here is winning. We've had it in the family for a long period of time. That is important. But it's not the only factor in trying to make a decision like this."

North Carolina has won the NCAA tournament six times, and Williams was at the helm for three of them in 2005, 2009 and 2017.

In his 18 seasons at UNC, Williams went 485-163 and led the Tar Heels to the NCAA tournament 16 times.

Additionally, North Carolina won nine ACC regular-season titles and three ACC tournament titles under Williams and made it as far as the Final Four in the NCAA tournament five times.

It is unclear who will replace Williams or if he will have any say in the process, but given North Carolina's status as a blueblood basketball school, the decision-makers should have little issue finding a qualified candidate to take over.

Even legends worry about the future sometimes.

"I will always love [coaching] and I'm scared to death of the next phase," Roy Williams told reporters after announcing his retirement as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team Thursday.

"It's been a thrill... No one has ever enjoyed coaching like I have."

Coach Williams signs off on a legendary 48 year career.@UNC_Basketball | via @accnetwork pic.twitter.com/5gL9jj6tqe

— ACC Men's Basketball (@accmbb) April 1, 2021

Williams was on the sidelines for the last 48 years, including 33 years as the head coach of the Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks.

There is no doubt Williams is one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.

The 1972 North Carolina graduate was an assistant coach for the Tar Heels on Dean Smith's staff for 10 years from 1978 to 1988 until he took over the Jayhawks as the head coach. He went 418-101 with Kansas while winning nine regular-season conference crowns, four conference tournament titles and two Big 12 Coach of the Year awards.

He also guided the Jayhawks to four Final Fours.

Williams then returned to his alma mater and went 485-163 in 18 seasons. He won three national championships, made five Final Fours and won nine ACC regular-season championships and three ACC tournament crowns.

Only Mike Krzyzewski (1,170) and Jim Boeheim (1,083) have more career men's basketball coaching wins than Williams' 903.

The 70-year-old was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.

While Williams ponders what comes next, the upcoming hire will be a critical one for the Tar Heels. The program is accustomed to competing for national championships and regular Final Four appearances, but UNC went 14-19 in 2019-20 and would have missed the NCAA tournament if there was one.

It also finished a solid but unspectacular 18-11 in the 2020-21 campaign and lost in the first round of the Big Dance to Wisconsin by 23 points.