Photo: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Roy Williams is far from cutting down the nets this season.


Who would have thought UNC basketball would become synonymous with "cellar dweller" in less than 12 months? A week ago, the defending national champions fell out of the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ Top 25 poll for the first time since January 2006. Following Sunday night’s 75-60 loss to Virginia, the Tar Heels (13-8, 2-4 ACC) find themselves in 10th place (of 12 teams) in the ACC standings. Now would be a good time for Roy Williams to tuck his team into bed and read them a few chapters from his book, Hard Work: My Life On and Off the Court. Milk and cookies are optional.

Coming off UNC's worst home loss in over seven years, Coach Williams was left searching for answers. "How can you go any lower," Williams asked after the game. "Be honest: How can it be any worse than it is right now?" Is this a viable complaint from a coach who won national titles in both 2005 and 2009 with the Heels? We're not sure, but we're going to answer each question and let you be the judge.

To answer Part I (how can you go any lower?): This is how you can go lower: Exhibit A, Exhibit B and Exhibit C. Roy, you're the king of the crouch-down-and-get-fired-up dance.

Part II is a little more complex, so we've compiled a list of ways we think it could get worse for Roy and his Heels:

- Williams won a national title in only his second year in Chapel Hill. Jerry Sloan has been coaching the Utah Jazz since 1988 and has yet to win an NBA championship.
- Based on their struggles this season in Division I , UNC could be forced to move to Division III like the University of New Orleans.
- Williams could be coaching Alcorn State or Bryant University who are a combined 0-44 this season.
- UNC could play in the Big East where four teams - Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova and West Virginia - are currently ranked in the top 10.
- Williams could be without his 7 McDonald's All-American's that make up almost half of their 16 man roster.
- Instead of those awesome powder-blue uniforms they could be wearing those Broncos throwbacks.
- Roy Williams could be like that other Roy Williams, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys: titleless.

UNC plays its remaining 10 games in the ACC, including two versus Duke. We're about to find out if things can in fact get any worse for Roy Williams and the Tarheels.