CHAPEL HILL -- Most of the tickets for UNC's 80-73 win over Nevada on Sunday night were sold, a team spokesman said.
But the Smith Center appeared to be less than three-quarters full, and only half-full at tipoff, a rather embarrassing turnout for coach Roy Williams' 600th victory.
And Williams noticed.
"Six hundred wins, I've been very lucky,'' Williams said. "I've been at two great institutions, I've been at places that really are passionate about basketball. I wish some of our fans who weren't here tonight would get a little more passionate and get their rear ends here. That was discouraging at the start of the game. But I love those, the ones that were here. The other ones, I think I should take a camera shot, and anyone who wasn't here tonight — stop them at the door if they try to come in for Michigan State [on Tuesday]. Tell them I sold their dad-gum ticket."
LOSING THE TIE: Williams may have to go back to the mock-turtleneck look for the next month or so, until he can get rid of the sling on his left arm that he had to start wearing after his Tuesday shoulder surgery. He began the game in his customary shirt-and-tie, but had lost the neckwear by halftime, probably because it was bugging him with the hefty arm contraption.
-- Robbi Pickeral
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14 comments:
you lost me on that Roy. Your team is young and dumb and your head is getting too dad gum BIG biatcha.
If Coach Williams wants full seats then he should consider a few things.
1. Quit scheduling games when students are not there. Last night's game was when they were returning from Thanksgiving, and I bet them and other ticket holders were stuck in holiday traffic on I-85 and I-40.
2. Cut the ticket price for the cupcakes. $50 for every seat in the house from Ram Club member sideline to the last row of the upper deck is ridiculous. At least the Black Friday sale the ticket office had was an attempt at filling some seats that will be empty during Christmas break (see point 1).
Shame too, the Heels put on such an awesome performance in beating NEVADA by 7. Wouldn't wanna miss that if I were a UNC fan...
Roy....we saw they guys play Syracuse. After that, we thought we would take a few weeks off. You coach the team, leave the attendance to us! Maybe we were out buying your book.
I don't understand why Coach Williams would be mad about the attendance when the game is scheduled on a Thanksgiving weekend with students gradually coming back on campus. He needs to chill... I like Roy but sometimes he acts like a butthead.
Hey Coach....I have sent a ton of money to Chapel Hill. Shut up and coach the team. That is your ONLY job. If we need a Marketing Director, we will let you know.
Part of the tipoff problem could have been that the schedule and the ticket stub stated that the game was to begin at 645 but the tipoff actually happened at 630. I was on the way to my seat when the tipoff occurred. Many people were walking in at 630.
I understand why Roy would be frustrated with a less-than-full house. But I think the above poster (blpadge2) hits it right on the head - ticket prices are too high for these cupcake games. Charging $50 for even the last row of upper deck seats is simply too much for these cupcake games.
There are plenty of fans who would like to attend a UNC basketball game, but they can't afford to spend several hundred dollars to bring out their family. It's one thing to charge those prices for a Michigan State or an ACC game, but it seems to me that UNC has overpriced its tickets for these warm-up games.
Why in the world would I pay $50 for a ticket to see UNC play Nevada when I can watch it on TV... Besides, with Christmas coming up, and with the family budget being tight, spending $50 on a UNC/Nevada ticket isn't a high priority.
I am sympathetic to blpadge2's comments, especially about the pricing of tickets. Although I would imagine that if this was the Kentucky game, it wouldn't have mattered that it was Thanksgiving weekend.
However, as a Ram's Club member, I disagree wholeheartedly that Roy's only job is to coach the team. In fact, coaching is just part of his basketball responsibilities (recruiting is another major part). But Roy is also an ambassador for the university and the athletic department as seen by his constant presence at football games, at the College World Series, etc, etc. And I think he has earned the right to expect a full house whenever his team plays. This is an imperfect analogy but Alabama football (another elite program) can get 70,000 for a scrimmage.
roy finds a way to whine win or lose...he probably shed some tears over this.
UK or Duke would be 100% full any time any game no matter how bad the program was doing or if the game was on a holiday.
nice game against 'cuse by the way.
Typical Roy. Nevada. and you barely beat em. Good luck this year Drew. THe greg Paulus of UNC HAHAHAHAHAH
I agree with Roy 100%. As a student, its ridiculous that we have to show up 2 and a half hours early to get good seats to a game while the "money" gets to wander on in (and out) whenever..if they even show up! If they want to go to the good games, they should have to go to the cupcake games!
Just wait until after Saturday...you can count on the seats at Rupp to be full. We'll show you how real fans support their team. Go CATS!!
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