Roy Williams probably had reasons for the soft statements.

Carolina fans reacted strongly to the video of a team party after the win over Duke. Only Armando Bacot and Day’Ron Sharpe were in the video, but a statement from players and managers said it was supposed to be a closed event that other students and friends attended, and that they did not bring it up at practice Sunday.

The culprits apologized and admitted it was a mistake, and Williams did the same in his own statement, saying those who messed up will pay a significant price. We will see what that is if the full team travels to Virginia; that is, if there is a game at UVa.

Reading between the lines, including a short statement by athletic director Bubba Cunningham about efforts will be made to reschedule the Miami game, you get the idea Carolina really wanted to play and  it was the U that felt uncomfortable and went home.

It sounds a little like what happened when Clemson traveled to Tallahassee for its football game with Florida State, and a Clemson player tested positive. The Seminoles refused to play, and the game was never rescheduled.

Clemson apparently told FSU that it would test every player, coach and personnel on the trip Saturday morning, but the game was still called off.  Carolina tested everyone Sunday and all results were negative. Two hours before the game, it was Miami that bailed.

So how much blame is there to pass around? The football Seminoles were struggling and were probably headed for a big loss to the Tigers, who were coming off a bye week and had Trevor Lawrence returning. Miami is 3-10 in the ACC hoops standings and going nowhere despite upsetting Duke the week before.

Should the Heels not get the postponed Clemson and now the Miami game back, it will hurt their NCAA seeding if not their chances to make the tournament. At Virginia and home against Virginia Tech and Louisville are after that, three games that will have a big say in it.

Was it an egregious mistake by the post-Duke partiers, or will it turn out that the penalties don’t fit the crime?

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