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Notre Dame basketball: Irish could take advantage of Roy Williams retiring

By Brad Weiss

Feb 17, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey signals to an official in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 17, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Mike Brey signals to an official in the second half against the North Carolina Tar Heels at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Notre Dame Basketball program on the Men’s side could stand to gain an advantage by Roy Williams retiring, as the ACC begins a transition.

The Notre Dame Basketball program on the Men’s side saw their season end at the hands of the North Carolina Tar Heels, being drubbed in the ACC Tournament. The Irish were dominated on the boards, and before you knew it, they were on the wrong side of a 42-point margin.

On Thursday, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams decided to step down with the Tar Heels, after 18 magical years at the school. The Tar Heels went to nine Final Fours, won three titles, and was a constant in the NCAA Tournament. With Williams gone, North Carolina must now find the next person to step up and lead the program, and that could lead to a few down years in Chapel Hill.

Is Notre Dame basketball well-positioned to take advantage of the coming transition to the ACC?

Williams was one of the legends in the ACC, alongside the likes of Jim Boeheim and Mike Krzyzewski. Both Boeheim and Coach K are in their mid-70s, and you have to wonder how much longer they will be able to lead their respective programs.

Coaching in the ACC, specifically at Duke, North Carolina, and Syracuse is big business, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament is expected every season. In 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging the world, the ACC saw the likes of Florida State and Virginia Tech put together terrific seasons, while North Carolina and Duke struggled early on.

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The Notre Dame Basketball program on the Men’s side has a lot to be excited about heading into next season, as they bring back most of their roster, and are adding some quality true freshman, and a legitimate big man via the transfer portal. Williams will certainly be missed, not only on Chapel Hill, but in the college ranks as a whole, but for this Notre Dame Basketball program, it may be what they need to take the next step forward.