We are now being joined by 2017 national champion of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Luke May, one of the greatest of the last 10 years of Tar Heel basketball. And before we get the hoops, Luke, I just want to ask you this. Have you had a chance to see Coach Williams' quarantine beard? As I understand it, there are a lot of Kentucky basketball fans listening right now.
So I gotta know. What memory sticks out to you from that Elite 8 game in Memphis that day? What sticks out? Probably the biggest thing that sticks out is the ball going through the net with.3 seconds left. I mean, Theo made a great pass and I knocked it down and it was a crazy turn of events being down six with about two minutes, two and a half minutes left to being up three or four with about a minute and a half left.
Just to be able to finish it that way. And I mean, it wouldn't have meant anything if we didn't win the national championship. So probably the biggest moment of that season was winning the national championship. But right there close second was definitely beating Kentucky, especially after they had beaten us earlier in the year and probably, in my opinion, one of the greatest college basketball games ever played.
Oh yeah, just tons and tons of points scored in that regular season game. But that was a Sunday game in Memphis as I remember it. You were in class at 8 a.m. the next morning, right? Yes sir, Monday morning. When did you get back from Memphis and into bed?
My parents raised me. We got back at like 2.30 and got about four or five hours of sleep and got up and got a standing ovation in class. So a lot of people, I've got mixed reviews about it. A lot of people were like, why did you even go? And a lot of people were like, why wouldn't you go? I mean, you know, you're going to get a lot of excitement around going to class and a lot of applause.
But I mean, I've got mixed reviews, so I'm definitely glad I went hindsight. Was that awkward or that next year you're on campus? Was it awkward being recognized everywhere you went or did you embrace it?
Did you enjoy it? I mean, it was definitely a little different. Just being, coming in as not as high level recruit and then going from that to one of the best players on the team was definitely something to get adjusted to. But I embraced it and I just tried to stick to being myself and doing as many things as I could to just be who I was raised to be and staying humble and making sure I put others before myself.
But it was definitely a lot different and had to get used to it. It's Luke May with us here on Sports Hub Triad. Last week we were chatting with Coach Williams and we were talking about Michael Jordan and The Last Dance. I don't know if you had a chance to watch much of the series. I watched everyone sitting in the living room. I've seen footage and reruns, but I've never really seen it from a media and a large scale perspective.
And even the game footage. Some of the games I obviously wasn't alive to see, but just to see his greatness showed in a series is pretty remarkable. What do you remember about Michael's speech to you and the guys after the loss to Villanova in 2016? Because Coach Williams described it as Michael came down to check on Roy. He tapped him on the shoulder and said, Hey, I just wanted to see how you're doing. And Roy said, I don't have any words for the team right now.
And Michael did. What do you remember about his message? Yeah, I remember just sitting in there after we'd lost and it gives me goosebumps to this day, just thinking about just how that game ended and having so many highs and lows. And then with everybody pretty much had their head down, just reminiscing on what we could have done better just to get on the biggest stage.
And all of a sudden you hear a voice that you recognize just from loving basketball and being around basketball and everyone looks up and it's the greatest player ever. And I mean, at that point, I mean, everybody's sad. I mean, I didn't even play in the game and I'm crying because I've never been on that big of a stage. But once he starts talking, he just says, he talks about just not having any, I guess you could say, not having any remorse for how we played and not being disappointed in ourselves.
And the biggest thing for success is just overcoming failure. And I mean, he was just unbelievable and it was really special that he came in and talked to us. And I mean, it's just something that I'll never forget. That's for sure. It's Luke May with us here on Sports Hub Triad.
Explain this one to me, Luke. You, like you said, championship runner up year, you didn't really play much and 15, you didn't really play a lot either. But then in the next two years, you become all conference level player, conference player of the year level. And we saw the same thing kind of with Garrison Brooks, who you overlapped with a little bit, all ACC caliber player last year.
What, how exactly does that happen? I tell you what, I think a lot of the credit has to go to Coach Williams. He is just unbelievable and kind of showing you confidence, making sure that, you know, he believes in you. And he works with the big guys, which you wouldn't kind of expect because he probably didn't play very much time in the paint when he played. But I mean, he just does a great job of coaching and teaching and seeing things that he's seen in previous All-American and player of the year bigs that he's had. And Tyler Zeller and Tyler Hansbrough and so many greats.
So, I mean, all you can do is listen and all you can do is try to get better. And I think that's what Garrison's done. Garrison's been an unbelievable player. I only expect greater things next year. I mean, they're going to have a better team. So I think it will be a little bit tougher for him to put up the numbers he did. But I will never doubt Garrison for a second because he works his butt off and he plays to win and he plays for the team.
And that's all you can ask for. OK, let's talk a little football, though, because you have what seems to be like a twin, a spinning image of you and your brother Drake May, who is getting set to play for the Tar Heels in the next few years. When Drake May steps onto campus and he's playing in a Tar Heel uniform, what should we be expecting? I'll tell you what, he's very gifted, very talented. He's probably the best athlete in our family.
And for him to be as good of an athlete playing the quarterback position is very rare. I expect him just to continue to get better, continue to try to absorb as much teaching as he can from the coaches up there. And I have full faith that they will start to compete on a national level. And I'm excited for them. I think Drake's going in at a perfect time with Coach Brown and Coach Longo. And I think it's going to be a special next probably decade for the Tar Heels. And I think only can see great things coming. So I'm excited for Drake. He's going to have to compete and going to have to do whatever he can to get on the field. And I have full faith that he'll do that. Well, Luke, thank you so much for spending the time with us in the Triad. Got a lot of people who are rooting for you in the G League and beyond that. Thank you so much, Josh. Thanks for having me on.
That is Tar Heel legend Luke May, which if I had to guess, Robert, is most known for a shot he hit against the Kentucky Wildcats. I'd say that's fair, right? I would agree with you there. Yeah. So we had him on. We have reached out to Christian Laitner. Haven't gotten a text back on that regard, but we'll keep you updated if that in fact does happen. And on top of that, Darren Vaught, he's going to be with us in a short bit. There are updates to bring to you on the NFL schedule front, and I'll tell you what those are next.
Whisper: medium.en / 2023-02-11 23:21:26 / 2023-02-11 23:25:11 / 4