Anytime a girl has told me she just wanted to be friends (hard to believe that?s ever happened, I know!), I?ve opted to be enemies instead. On the court or playing field, if you?re not with me—then you?re against me. Which is all to say Kansas fans, I feel your pain? and in due time yours too Illinois. So consider this your one-time invitation to begin rooting for the good side of the instantly renewed/recharged Duke-Carolina rivalry, and join me in saying, “Go to hell Carolina, go to hell!!!”

Three summers ago Roy Williams agonizingly turned down an opportunity to replace Bill Guthridge at the University of North Carolina—his alma mater. At the time, he said he couldn?t leave his players (namely Drew Gooden, Kirk Hinrich and Nick Collison), and that “the next press conference I will ever be involved in will be the one that either I?m fired or I retire, because this old boy?s never going through this the rest of his life.”

Instead Roy went back on his word and has managed to alienate a good portion of both schools? fan bases he claims to hold so near and dear—Kansas and Carolina, and a third school will come to hate him as well.

Many fans in North Carolina were pissed that Roy rejected them in 2000. Those people would have just as soon Matt Doherty been given another year to right the ship, or that the job be offered to Larry Brown—never mind that Larry left each of his last two colleges on probation (UCLA and Kansas). But at least Larry was on record as saying he wanted to be there. He probably even would have worn a powder blue tie to his press conference. It took Ol? Roy a week to convince himself that the “right thing to do” was head home, and he announced it in crimson neckwear.

But judging from last night?s press conference, he?s still not 100% comfortable with his decision. Whether you believe him or not, he claimed seeing a picture of Omar Wilkes on his desk last week was almost enough to turn down Carolina a second time. As recently as Saturday, just spending the day with Nick Collison at the Wooden Awards nearly keep him at Kansas. Roy has awfully thin skin and doesn?t accept criticism too well, and he?s definitely got his work cut out convincing the wine-and-cheese crowd that stroll in to the Dean Dome that he really does give a shit about North Carolina. Or at least as much as they do.

Left behind are Kansas fans that have slowly developed an annoying superiority complex over the last 15 years, due in large part to making the NCAA Tournament 14 of those seasons, including four Final Fours and two Championship Game appearances. In 1989, Roy inherited a team fresh off a National Championship and immediately began recruiting and landing talented kids of strong character. His teams were consistently at the top of the Big 8, then later the Big 12 conference, and aside from not always playing to seed in March, K.U. fans had little to complain about. Well except maybe for the Lester Earl Years.

But why remember the good times, when you can focus on the bad? Which is exactly why many fans are upset that a Kansas native (Dean Smith) would thieve their head coach. Kansas University took a chance on an unproven Roy Williams in 1989, a guy with no head coaching experience—-and this is how he repays them? No National Championships, and two weeks out of their lives (in 2000 and 2003) spent fretting over the future of their program. Thanks for nothing!

Kansas is no longer a school that has to make the longshot hire. Illinois? Bill Self is the clear front-runner, and as a four-year player and assistant at Oklahoma State, as well as an assistant at Kansas under Larry Brown during the 1985-86 season, he brings a proven track record and an intimate understanding of the Big 12 conference. I believe he?s a superior recruiter to Roy, who should have an even easier time recruiting to a basketball school with Kansas? tradition then he has in the Big Ten. But whether it?s him or Gonzaga?s Mark Few, or former K.U. assistants Neil Dougherty (now at TCU) or Dr. Joe Holiday, the new coach will inherit a team with a chip on their shoulders. Not only are the players that choose to stay fresh off two straight Final Fours, they?re also pretty sick and tired of hearing how great Kirk (Hinrich) and Nick (Collison) were. If Roy?s relationships with his players were so dad-gummed important three years ago, then what are you thinking if you?re Keith Langford, Wayne Simien and Aaron Miles?

Keith has long said he?s not sure he?d stay at Kansas without Roy. He?ll be one of the better juniors in the nation next year, and he?d have to (get to) shoulder the scoring load that Nick and Kirk take with them to the NBA. Wayne has wanted to play for Kansas since he began attending Roy?s summer camps in the 6th grade and he complained that he literally gave his right arm for the man, referring to the shoulder he dislocated twice during the year that required season-ending surgery. Aaron Miles said the Jayhawks were going to win the National Championship next year, regardless of who was coaching them. That?s the spirit!

They could be joined by parts, or all, of a stud recruiting class. Ironically big-man David Padgett chose Kansas over North Carolina, in large part due to perceived coaching stability. If the University was to grant any player his release—this would be the one, who would then likely attempt to follow Roy to Carolina. Next is David?s good friend from summer ball, big guard Omar Wilkes. Omar chose Kansas over his dad?s (Jamal) alma mater—UCLA. J.R. Giddens is the flashiest, and judging from his shoplifting arrest also the craftiest, player in the class. Supposedly they?re joined by the finest 3-point shooter Roy has ever recruited in Jeremy Case. With the NCAA?s unfair sanctions on players attempting to transfer after being lied to by a coach who promises to be with them during all four years of their college eligibility, odds are that all four of these guys stay. Though don?t be surprised to see a couple of two-and-dones out of Padgett and Giddens.

Collectively this team is actually deeper than their Tar Heel peers. Which means this time Roy?s decision was all about family—-both blood and basketball. Now he finds himself in a conference (the ACC) where he?s not the only Williams (see: Maryland?s Gary that owns a 2-0 record against Roy), but he is the only Williams without a Championship. And seven miles away there?s a certain Hall of Fame coach at his rival school that he owns just a 1-3 coaching record against, and an even more lop-sided recruiting record against, having landed only one recruit (Collison) that both he and Krzyzewski/Duke were after.

All that said, I expect and welcome Roy?s success at Carolina. Carolina is a much easier sell then Kansas with greater financial support and resources. I firmly believe both Mike Dunleavy, Jr. and Shavlik Randolph would have chosen Carolina over Duke, had Roy been at the helm during their recruiting. Which just means the Duke coaching staff will have to work that much harder to maintain their ACC dominance. Besides, a win over Carolina will always be more rewarding when they?re rated in the top 5, then when they?re working towards an 8-20 season. I just hope someone gets to Roy and warns him that there?s no crying in the ACC.

Next week: The Illinois? Vacancy
The week after: The Marquette Vacancy