M. Basketball: Behind the scenes in Memphis

MEMPHIS Tenn. — North Carolina coach Roy Williams has a well-documented history of picking something to harp on during the NCAA Tournament.

Two years ago he complained about having to pour his drink into an NCAA-sponsored Dasani drinking cup. Last year he had a beef with the giant NCAA logo stickers plastered on the courts.

This year" Williams was irked about the lack of tasty treats in the FedExForum.

""I think as much money as we're making off this tournament" we ought to be able to afford more than one freakin' cookie back in the room there" Williams said in his opening statement during Saturday's press conference. I think NCAA can afford more than that.""

The comment prompted chuckles from reporters in attendance"" and embarrassment from the NCAA moderator.

And who was the lucky Tar Heel to eat the cookie?

""Nobody got the cookie" junior Ty Lawson said. I was about to take it but everybody was looking at it" and I didn't want to be selfish. So I just left it there.""

""Cookie-Gate"" only lasted one day" though. After the Tar Heels defeated Oklahoma to advance to the Final Four" Williams informed the media that the issue had been resolved.

""I congratulate the NCAA for having cookies back there today"" Williams said Sunday. And they're good. We're making progress.""

Message delivered

The Tar Heels tried almost everything to slow down Oklahoma's Blake Griffin on Sunday.

Included among all the double and triple teams against Griffin was a little New York-style trash talk.

In the second half as UNC readied to shoot two free throws"" senior Danny Green smiled and whispered a message in Griffin's ear.

""I was like" ‘Let's go big guy' or something like that. ‘Let's see what you got big boy"'"" Green said.

Green's comments didn't draw much of a response from Griffin" not that the Sooner forward is known for a gregarious court personality.

UNC made both free throws" proving the entire effort to rattle Griffin fruitless.

""It didn't even make a difference"" Green said. I was just messing with him.""

Detroit has more than hoops

One of the popular stories this week will be North Carolina's return trip to Detroit and Ford Field after playing there in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge in December.

But Lawson isn't just anxious to return to the court where UNC trounced Michigan State by 35.

Sunday in the post-game locker room"" he told reporters that he was ready to return to the casino in the UNC team hotel.

""I went down there and won about $500"" Lawson said. So I'm liking Detroit right now.""

Lawson said that his game of choice is craps" and that poker is too slow for him. Evidently there's a small contingent of gamers on the Tar Heels" though Lawson said that Green isn't one of them.

""Danny's Mr. Tight Pockets. He don't play that much.""

When asked about Lawson's desire to roll the dice"" Green laughed.

""(That's) something Ty would say" Green said. Ty's a gambling man. NCAA says" don't bet on it.

""Hopefully after the game he can do all his gambling.""



Contact the Sports Editor at sports@unc.edu.