9 years later, Kansas still special to Williams

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Mar 22, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; North Carolina head coach Roy Williams and guard Kendall Marshall (5) talk during practice the day before the semifinals of the midwest region of the 2012 NCAA men's basketball tournament at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-US PRESSWIRE

NANCY ARMOUR

AP National Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) - It's been nine years since Roy Williams left Kansas, and he knows the Jayhawks and their fans have gotten over him.

No matter how much time passes, he'll never be able to say the same.

Williams would rather top-seeded North Carolina (32-5) face almost anyone but his "second-favorite" team Sunday, a trip to the Final Four on the line. None of the players who played for him are still at Kansas, no one on the Jayhawks staff has ties to Williams and coach Bill Self is building his own legacy in Lawrence.

For Williams, however, Kansas (31-6) will always be personal.

Williams says he tried to "give everything" to Kansas for 15 years, and will always have fond memories of his time with the Jayhawks.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)