Roy's Whine Isn't So Cheesy

Like many KU fans, I ignore most of Roy Williams' quotes since he left Kansas. But for once, I agree with the ol' boy.

Over the weekend, Roy recounted that his title seasons at North Carolina weren’t an enjoyable stroll. That they were an enduring grind, laden with a minefield of stress.

Usually, I tune out the Roy headlines, mainly because I’ve heard it all before. From the Barney Fife terms such as “this ol’ boy” and “the youngster” to referring to Allen Fieldhouse being at times a “wine and cheese crowd”. (Which is true more and more with the new seating arrangement and fans only cheering loudly during spurts).

But this time, I read the entire article about Roy’s inability to relish the title seasons. And I believe him.

Just look at this season for Kansas fans. From the moment Sherron and Cole announced they were returning and Xavier Henry committing to KU, the 2010 NCAA title was anointed as KU’s to lose. Anything less? Failure.

So far, they’ve accomplished nearly everything a team could under those circumstances. Just one loss. An undefeated run through the conference. A No. 1 seed in the tourney for certain.

Yet fans asked what’s wrong with Cole Aldrich in December.

Oh my goodness! Sherron’s had a few bad games in a row in early February.

Dog-gone-it! Kansas had a close game on the road in front of another sellout at a Big 12 venue. They better not play that way in the second round of the NCAAs, or else…

Are we serious? KU plays in front of sellouts every night, every court they step on. If the rest of the Big 12 teams played in that environment, night in and night out, they’d pee down their leg with a 7-9 Big 12 record. Instead, Kansas wins title after title.

They are 27-1. 13-0 in the Big 12. They will pass North Carolina on the all-time wins list by early March.

Enjoy it. Strut around with your chest out.

Instead, year after year, KU fans worry about what’s wrong instead of enjoying what’s right. They fret that a sluggish half at Nebraska equates to doom. That an overtime win in high altitude against a fired-up Colorado team forecasts the Jayhawks will fall flat in the second round against UNLV.

Folks, this is what winners do. They win. Championship teams find ways to win on off nights. They gut through a 35-game schedule. They survive the close calls. They win.

And by golly, come tournament time, they will dial it up another couple of notches. The KU team you see at Allen which lets a 20-point lead down to … oh no – a 12-point lead with 2:30 left! That will not be the same team and energy you see in the Sweet 16.

Okay, now I’m writing like Roy talks. Point being, “enjoy the ride” as Roy preached during KU’s 1996-97 memorable season. Only moment that lingers for me is the gut-wrenching loss to Arizona in the Sweet 16. We forget the preceding year of SI covers, ESPN hype, one mere loss entering the tournament. I should remember the fun of watching - and winning - games while I was in college. The country talking about KU and its incredible season.

Instead, I remember the one rain cloud on a shiny five-month sunshine-filled vacation.

So savor the season. Revel in the possibility of an undefeated Big 12 season. Gloat when Kansas is plastered atop the Big 12 and NCAA bracket lines.

Don’t determine your enjoyment in late March. By then, you will have missed the rest of a darn good season.

See, maybe Roy did know what he was talking about all those years.