Roy Williams on Tennessee: ‘They’re gonna hit us right between the eyes’

The Tennessee men’s basketball team has a huge game on Sunday. They’ll welcome the defending national champion North Carolina Tar Heels to Thompson-Boling Arena, looking to prove that they can play, and beat anyone in the country.

North Carolina head coach Roy Williams knows all about Tennessee. He knows what is coming. Check out what he had to say about the Vols on his weekly radio show. (H/T to GoVols 247 for the quote.)

“You’re gonna win some games, just like (Western Carolina), when we were just more gifted,” Williams said. “I think you have to understand that, and you have to try to prepare for the really good teams. We’re gonna face a challenge on Sunday. It will hit ‘em right in the mouth, right from the start of the game. I’m really anxious, really interested and anxious to see how we’re gonna play, because they’re gonna hit us right between the eyes, and are we gonna lay down in the floor in a fetal position and start yelling for mama, or are we gonna play basketball?

“I told ‘em that I think some of ‘em are gonna probably lay down in the middle of the floor in a fetal position and start yelling for mama.”

Roy sounds like he was cut from the same cloth as Rick Barnes. I’m sure this is a motivational ploy from Williams, but I think he’s spot on here. The atmosphere in Knoxville is going to be electric on Sunday. The Tar Heels are going to get a stiff test, I believe.

Tennessee has already proven that they can play with the big boys, beating Purdue in overtime and giving current No. 1 Villanova a run for their money in the Bahamas. The Vols have gutted out tough wins over N.C. State and Georgia Tech, adding to their already impressive resume.

They’ve got a shot to really throw themselves into the national picture with a win this weekend. Let’s see how they respond to the opportunity.