From a reliable source: Roy heard from Dean Saturday night.
When Roy Williams finally went to sleep after he passed his mentor for all-time wins, Dean Smith made contact with his protégé. Here is how that conversation went.
“Roy, great that you got to 880, but you didn’t have to wait so long,” Dean said. “Like you, I never paid much attention to that, it was Woody who kept track of my numbers.”
“Coach,” Roy responded, “I never want my name mentioned in the same sentence with yours. We’re not in the same zip code, country or solar system as basketball coaches.”
“I told Kansas before they hired you that you would be one of the great coaches,” Dean went on. “In fact, I am so mad at my alma mater for what’s going on, I feel like telling someone. But there’s nobody left at Kansas who even knows me anymore.”
“Coach, I am really sorry that Brandon is averaging more than 20 points lately because I know what they say about you and Michael,” Roy apologized, “but, frankly, B-Rob’s the only one who can shoot the dad-gum ball from outside.”
“Well, he’s a senior,” Dean explained, “you know when Charles was a senior, I MADE him shoot 40 times a game because that was our only chance to win. You know, Fogler and Delany were his classmates, and neither of them… well, never mind. If Brandon keeps it up, maybe we can get him drafted by an NBA team. I can certainly reach down to Mitch. Brandon’s not like a few guys that I had to tell, ‘If you don’t shoot, I have a better chance convincing GMs that you can!’”
“By the way, give me Brandon’s number, a young guy up here showed me how to text, and I might want to thank him for always pointing to the passer.”
“Sure, Coach, one more thing. We go to State Monday night, they’re pretty good and will be laying for us. Any advice?”
“Just go play your game. They know you won Saturday and I’ll remind Keatts that your record against State is 35-4. That should make them plenty tight by the time you get there.”
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