Per The Daily Tar Heel: <a href="http://www.dailytarheel.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2002/04/11/3cb58aaeead63" target="_blank">Players call on Doherty to alter approach</a>

This sheds a little light on some of the things that we all either knew or suspected was going on behind the scenes. Personally, I think it was good for them to have these discussions. And, Doherty seems to be taking it well (by calling it "constructive criticism").

I wish these hadn't been reported, though -- it will only stir up more Doh-bashing. I think that's a shame, if only for the reason that it seems like both the players and coach are taking steps in the right direction now. I actually think Doherty started toning it down a bit by the end of last season, judging from Jawad's comments and how much better the team was playing at the end of the year.

Thoughts?

-JD

<small>[ April 11, 2002, 11:43 AM: Message edited by: JD Heel ]</small>

Change, my ass!

Treating people with respect is basic. Not saying that he doesn't, but who wants to bust their butt for someone who treats you like a dog? (Bobby Knight). As someone stated earlier, Doherty has had good role models as coaches. I think he will get it straightened out.

...this is either a monumental, positive stage in the rebuilding of the UNC program
OR
...it is annother event that shows UNC's program is cruising straight downward.

I really was wondering how long you would take. <img border="0" alt="[snore]" title="" src="graemlins/snore.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Malaysak1982:
He needs to resign . <img border="0" alt="[Cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/cheers.gif" /> </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">No he doesn't. Doherty will not resign, because he has Carolina-blue-blood flowing through his blood, and he will do anything to get this program back to the top.

Doherty obviously is a younger coach, who is unexperienced, and is in a very tough situation with a very big, well known basketball program that is his alma mater too.

Doherty is making steps in the right direction:

In the final game this season, our team actually had a game plan and executed it against Duke. We may have won, but Doherty proved that he and his staff can devise and strategy and get the team to use it. On the job, Doherty will learn more like this and it will make him a better coach.

Doherty has recruited top notch players that will help bring the talent level of the team up and hopefully our winning total too.

Doherty and his players have talked, and he now knows the rift that existed (and maybe still exists) between him and the players. Now atleast he is aware of how his players feel, and will understand why these transfers, etc. are happening. Maybe this will cause Doherty to take a different approach to his coaching style, and if not, atleast he has a better understanding of where he, his players, and the UNC basketball program stand.

I hope that Boone's transfer is the end of the bad stuff that has happened to the program lately, because I don't know if our program can take anymore.

I guess y'all know this wasn't his first job as a head coach at a major university don't you? I wonder what his demeanor was with his players at Notre Dame? Were they tough enough to take it? I never heard of any ND players taking their ball and goin' home. Are the Tar Heel players a bunch of prima donnas that think they deserve special treatment (or a better coach)?

I live in Chapel Hill and I am a diehard fan. I hear and see EVERYTHING (newspaper, radio, TV) regarding UNC basketball; here in Chapel Hill there are really mixed opinions about Doherty, but everyone is excited about the freshmen and our sophmores.

I agree with you, that they need to get Ford on the staff. He would definetly help this program a lot in many different ways. I'd like to get him as an assistant for this upcoming year, but I just don't see how we can get him on the bench since none of the other assistants are going anywhere.

Do you really think Doherty would want Phil Ford on the bench with him? Ford may be a good coach but Doherty would lose his credibility and authority with Ford on the team. After the way Ford was treated, it would be hard for him to come back. He's just like anyone else, why would he want to step into this mess? Carolina dumped Phil Ford when he was down, he doesn't owe them anything.

I don't think he had much credibility BEFORE he came to Chapel Hill! Carolina was desperate for a coach. He was, after all, their 6th choice for coach. They are trying to keep an embarrassing situation under the rug. I wonder how Ray Felton feels, seeing the team heading down the highway, hearing the reports about how hard it is to get along with Coach Doh? NBA, money,women,cars,money,women,cars,NBA,money,women,cars.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Coach Doh:
I don't think he had much credibility BEFORE he came to Chapel Hill! Carolina was desperate for a coach. He was, after all, their 6th choice for coach. They are trying to keep an embarrassing situation under the rug. I wonder how Ray Felton feels, seeing the team heading down the highway, hearing the reports about how hard it is to get along with Coach Doh? NBA, money,women,cars,money,women,cars,NBA,money,women,cars.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">What are you trying to say? Felton is not skipping college; trust me on this one, Felton will be a Tarheel for atleast 1 year. UNC has the sky blue jersey and the starting PG spot waiting for him on a silver platter.

Malaysak1982:

Why do you keep ranting and raving about Doherty? He may not be a great coach, but he is our coach and I am gonna support him. Doherty obviously has problems with his players, and part of that is because neither likes losing. But the thing is that, players are gonna play at UNC even if he is there. What do you think, there is going to be a player boycott or something? If that happens, then I would go and play, because it is UNC and I love it. We understand you don't like Doherty... that's great, who cares? If you are waiting for somebody to tell you that you are right since you don't like Doherty or whatever, keep waiting, because that may be your opinion, but us UNC fans are gonna support him and our team even if they have faults.

Honestly, I could care less if you are foreign or how long you have been in the US. That doesn't affect what you are saying about Doherty.
</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">In a way, they are "my" team. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">And what in the **** is this supposed to mean? They are not your team; you may be a fan, but it is Doherty's team. I may not like Doherty and his ways so far, but I like his recruiting. I am gonna give this guy a chance. Obviously, like UCLA after Wooden, we are not going to remain a powerhouse like we were. I accept that fact, and that is why I don't slam Doherty. No matter what you say, Doherty is going to be the coach whether you like it or not. He may not be the best coach, but as a true Heel, I am going to support him and what he is doing. Do you think that Doherty is trying to bring down this program? He isn't. His heart and soul is in UNC basketball. Doherty is not a quitter and I plan to support him when he is our coach even when we aren't winning, unless something further changes my opinion.

<small>[ April 11, 2002, 10:37 PM: Message edited by: hoops13 ]</small>

I believe Ford was not hired because of some flaws from his past involving drinking. Ford is a great coach and a great man having met him numerous times. He needs to be hired as an assistant very, very soon.....if not NOW!

Malaysak1982: Let me ask you this -- do you really think Roy Williams wouldn't have brought his coaching staff with him here if he were our coach? Any coach we would have hired (except Phil Ford... I'll give you that) would have brought their own coaches with them. It's called loyalty to the guys who helped get you the job.

Another thing -- I doubt you were "talking about this problem" when we were riding high beating Duke at Cameron and whipping Maryland twice last year. Nobody was. The criticism started when the losing started. Trust me, we all knew there were some internal problems (starting with Doherty and Forte last year). But, some of us chose not to hit the panic button. I still think Doherty can work those issues out. I'll at least give him the chance to show if he can or not.

My personal opinion is that Doherty is suited to coach a great team of talented players. He isn't the type that is going to win championships with a team lacking in talent. That doesn't make him such a terrible coach, though. Coach K isn't that type of coach either -- evidenced by his first few seasons at dook and that little stretch in the mid 90's when he was Dean's whipping boy.

And I understand that every coach is going to look better with more talent, but I think there's more to it than that. Some coaches just don't know how to deal with losing and don't know how to make it stop with a bad team. But, they really excel as a coach when they're in charge of a talented team.

I just think we should give Doherty the time to get the talent level back up. Once that happens, I think he will lose the deer-in-headlights look and start making some things happen.

-JD

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Malaysak1982:
Don't worry about Gut's recruits, they've all transferred out. At least he can't take the blame for the fiasco now. </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just because Gut's guys are gone, doesn't mean that he didn't have anything to do with the downfall of the program. Gut coached for 3 years and recruited very, very little. The one player that he recruited that was awesome was Forte, who as you know was a star, but the others were below the regular talent level that we at UNC are accustomed to. It is Gut's fault that we didn't have some better talent in there when Doh came, and the main problems Gut left us with was a team WITHOUT A CENTER or a TRUE POINT GUARD! These are very very big problems that were going to lead to losses eventually. Gut played a big part in this no matter what.

Now that Doherty has most of his players in there, we should begin to see some progress. Doherty wanted these guys to play at UNC and they want to be their playing too (or more than the players did that were recruited by Gut). With a true point guard in Felton, we may begin to see some progress, but we are still lacking a big, talented center.

I have only been in this country 6 1/2 years. I learned to speak english watching the Heels on TV. My American parents are both Heel fans and basketball coaches. In a way, they are "my" team. For a foreigner, I am a basketball junkie

you are also full of **** <img border="0" title="" alt="[Roll Eyes]" src="rolleyes.gif" />

Rammer, Phil Ford did more than take an occasional drink. It was his second DUI and he had an open bottle in the car. His alcohol level was at least twice the legal limit. He is a recovering alcoholic. He was a full blown alcoholic for years. He has been in recovery, but will always be considered a recovering alcohlic. You have to wait a few years before you give him a second chance.
--------
Mom

This just in: the Associated Press obviously believed that Matt Doherty can coach, naming him the best coach of last year.

I don't think this is a guy who is totally clueless out there. He has made some mistakes and pushed the wrong buttons, and that's unfortunate. Give him a chance to right those wrongs, though.

As for Peppers's not playing this past season -- Doherty did not run him off, or anything of the such. Peppers would not have played for any coach this past year. I was amazed that he came as close to playing as he did.

Maybe Curry didn't play because of Doherty... who knows. I don't think that changed the whole season, though.

-JD