1. Coaching connections between the two schools
For many years, Roy Williams was the most hated man in the city of Lawrence. He stabbed the Jayhawk fanbase in the back by leaving for Chapel Hill in 2003, something he claimed he’d never do when they originally offered him the job back in 2000.
Hubert Davis is the head coach now, with Williams calling it quits in 2021. The 72-year-old only stays associated with UNC despite spending 15 years in Lawrence
Dean Smith — the father figure of the Tar Heels program — was the man who convinced Williams to go back to his roots. But even Smith’s alma mater is KU, a school he played basketball and served as an assistant coach before departing to UNC. It is widely known as one of the strongest coaching connections of all time.
The two schools never scheduled a home-and-home with Williams under the helm, but he does attend many Tar Heel games even though he’s retired. If Roy does make his way to Allen Fieldhouse, he’ll be met with a long stream of boos or cheers — likely a mix of both.