North Carolina Tar Heels: the Roy Williams Formula (Sort Of)

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Nov 23, 2016; Lahaina, Maui, HI, USA; From left to right North Carolina Tar Heels coach Roy Williams, guard Joel Berry II (2), and forward Kennedy Meeks (3) speak at a post game press conference after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the Championship Game of the Maui Jim Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

The North Carolina Tar Heels have won three titles since 2005. What holds these three disparate teams together?

With the 2017 title, the North Carolina Tar Heels have won three national titles under Coach Roy Williams. Oddly or perhaps appropriately enough there are some underlying currents and now we can break the code on how the Tar Heels win under Roy. These are things that the 2005, 2009, and 2017 teams have in common and the 2008 and 2016 teams did not. So let’s look at the formula that emerges.

Win the Maui Invitational

The Tar Heels cycle through the various preseason tournaments, but Maui is central to all three title teams. In 2008-9, the Tar Heels lost Tyler Zeller in Maui, which resulted in the increased growth of freshman Ed Davis. Davis would be a key player down the stretch. The 2017 Tar Heels played some of their best ball in Maui, back when we were surprised to see Joel Berry blowing the roof off.

Secondarily, the point guard needs to win the Tournament MVP, something that Raymond Felton, Ty Lawson, and Berry all did.

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