After 33 seasons as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball team, Roy Williams is officially retiring. The Hall of Fame head coach leaves quite a legacy and big shoes to fill for the next leader of the Tar Heels, and Auburn basketball fans had a few things to say about it.
During the 2018-2019 season, the Auburn basketball team beat the North Carolina Tar Heels 97-80 in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, making the Tar Heels one of the three blue bloods that the Tigers took down on their March Madness run.
5-seed Auburn upset 1-seed UNC to advance to the Elite 8, and since then many Tiger fans claim that during their legendary Final Four run that Auburn “broke” UNC, and the joke is being taken to a new level with the news of Williams’ retirement.
The last good season Roy Williams had, he lost to Auburn in the Sweet 16. Haven’t been the same since. https://t.co/MXYdDfX4af
— Kyle (@AllAubarn) April 1, 2021
The other immediate reaction from Auburn fans?
OATS TO CHAPEL HILL https://t.co/ISZAgy9urB
— AUBURN SUPERFAN (@CFullman30) April 1, 2021
And how could we not be speculating about the possibility? While Alabama’s basketball team certainly had an outstanding season, it didn’t end the way they hoped it would. Nate Oats has quickly turned the Crimson Tide basketball team into a competitive program and as SEC coach of the year and the leader of a 2-seed in the NCAA tournament, there’s no way he isn’t catching the eyes of other programs.
“I have no interest in any other jobs besides Alabama” - Nate Oats pic.twitter.com/ITcd6xJ5Ee
— Auburn Memes (@AuburnMemes) April 1, 2021
The retirement of Roy Williams from UNC is huge–he’s leaving a lasting legacy at the Tar Heels program, and whoever they get to replace him will have big shoes to fill (whether it’s Nate Oats or not).