Perspective part 2

"How can you go any lower? Be honest: how can it get any worse than it is right now?"- Roy Williams, following the Heels' 75-60 loss to UVa on Sunday night

I'm glad that Oltz pointed out the major problem with Roy's quote...namely, that things CAN get worse and they can get MUCH worse. Oltz's post was right on in suggesting how everyone needs a dose of perspective.

I'd like to tackle another issue that Roy's quote brings up, which is this - why they heck is the head coach of the program making quotes like this? Not only does it sound desperate, exhausted and combative, it's just a poor example for the program's leader to set. There are lot of ways to interpret every quote that comes out of an athlete or coach's mouth, but this one certainly seems at least somewhat whiny.

I've written here before about how a lot of the blame for this season's ills falls on Marcus Ginyard and Deon Thompson and I still feel that way. But the struggles have stretched on enough to the point where Roy needs to examine himself and why he's not pressing the right buttons for team success.

Lastly, the head coach is the one who needs to be aware of the big picture, the long term, the grander scheme. And Roy's quote doesn't indicate any of that. When Michigan State played at UNC earlier this season (a HUGE win that gets huger every week for the Heels), I was struck at how desperately Tom Izzo wanted that win for his team. He knew that his program wasn't quite on the elite level and that they needed wins over elite teams to get there. The desire for that win burned in him, and when they didn't get it, it ate him up inside.

The point is, that's a coach who gets the big picture. He can see the forest through the trees. Roy has typically been that kind of coach in the past as well, and I think he was just a little worn down when making quotes like the above. But it would be nice if, next time, he gives himself a reality check.