BREAKING NEWS: Former Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams Makes Shocking Statement — Says Tar Heels “Won’t Win Any Championship This Season”
Chapel Hill, NC – July 4, 2025
In a stunning and uncharacteristically blunt statement, legendary former North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams made headlines Thursday afternoon by declaring that the current Tar Heels team “will not win any championship this season.” The statement came during an impromptu Q&A at the annual “Carolina Legends” charity golf tournament in Pinehurst, where Williams was speaking alongside other UNC greats.
The 74-year-old Hall of Famer, who retired in 2021 after 18 seasons with the Tar Heels, didn’t mince words when asked about UNC’s chances for the upcoming 2025–26 season.
“I love Carolina basketball with all my heart, but this group — they’re not ready,” Williams said. “You don’t win championships on talent alone. And right now, this team has a lot of flash but not enough fight.”
While some in the crowd chuckled, assuming the legendary coach was speaking in jest, Williams continued with a tone that silenced the green.
“I’ve seen championship teams. I’ve coached three of them,” he added, referencing his 2005, 2009, and 2017 NCAA titles. “This current squad doesn’t have the maturity, the leadership, or the commitment to defense you need to cut down nets in March.”
The remarks sent shockwaves through the Tar Heels fanbase and across college basketball social media. Within minutes, #RoySaidIt was trending on X (formerly Twitter), with fans and analysts debating whether Williams was giving tough love — or airing real concerns about the trajectory of head coach Hubert Davis’s program.
One longtime assistant, who requested anonymity, told ESPN, “Roy’s not the kind to throw shade for attention. If he said it, it means he’s worried. And honestly, he’s not wrong. There are chemistry issues in the locker room right now.”
The Tar Heels enter the 2025–26 season ranked No. 8 in most preseason polls, with star forward Malik Thompson returning for his junior year alongside a promising group of freshmen, including 5-star recruit Devin Law. However, the team has faced criticism for inconsistent play last season and an early exit in the Sweet 16, despite high expectations.
Coach Hubert Davis, Williams’s successor, responded to the comments during a press availability later that afternoon.
“Coach Williams is a legend, and I respect his opinion,” Davis said. “But I believe in this group. They’re growing every day, and they’ve got something to prove. We’ll use every bit of criticism as fuel.”
While Davis remained composed, sources close to the program said players were “shocked and frustrated” by the comments, especially given Williams’s stature within the Carolina family.
Still, not everyone was upset. Former UNC guard Joel Berry II, now an analyst with ACC Network, said the comments could be just what the team needs.
“Coach Roy knows how to motivate,” Berry said. “He might be calling them out, but maybe that’s exactly what they need. He’s setting a bar — and daring them to reach it.”
As for Williams, he hasn’t walked back his comments — and doesn’t seem interested in doing so.
“You can prove me wrong,” he told WRAL afterward. “I’d love nothing more than to eat my words in April. But until I see the toughness I’ve seen in past championship teams, I’m not holding my breath.”
Whether his words will inspire or unravel this season’s squad remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the spotlight on Chapel Hill just got a lot hotter.
Reporting by: Amanda Ricks | Tar Heel Times Newsroom
Filed under: UNC Basketball, Roy Williams, NCAA 2025–26 Season
