Of course Roy Williams knew this was coming. To be certain of that, you only needed to observe his work during the past 12 months. He recruited as if he were trying to fill every berth on Noah’s ark. He coached with a combination of Colin Powell’s diplomacy, Spike Lee’s creativity and Allen Iverson’s feral urgency.

So Williams looked not the least bit anxious sitting next to Marvin Williams, Raymond Felton and Sean May when they announced they would leave North Carolina after helping to win the school’s fourth NCAA championship.

He looked like somebody who had planned ahead.

Frontcourt. It’s possible Tyler Hansbrough enjoyed a better spring than the players already wearing Tar Heels uniforms. He led his high school team, Poplar Bluff, to a second consecutive Missouri state championship. Hansbrough has dominated all-star games, which isn’t supposed to be possible for a player rooted to the low post. He put up 31 points and 10 rebounds in a U.S. Nike Hoop Summit victory. Hansbrough, who will arrive at Chapel Hill in the fall, will provide the foundation for UNC’s next run at a championship.

Aware he might get one more year from May and one year period from Marvin Williams, Roy Williams pursued Alabama high school big man Richard Hendrix last summer. Though Hendrix stayed home to play for the Crimson Tide, the Heels now are after Uche Echefu, a native of Nigeria who played this season at Montrose Christian in Maryland.

The starting power forward job should be filled capably by senior David Noel. Accounts of the Felton-May-Williams exodus mentioned Noel is the leading returning scorer at 3.9 points. Most failed to note he shot 54.8 percent last season, can stick an occasional 3-pointer and could add another 10 points to his average.

Perimeter. UNC signed three wings. Whether it was his choice or the Heels’, Rashad McCants was not going to return as a senior. Everybody was ready to move on.

Veteran Reyshawn Terry likely will start at small forward. Three stellar rookies will push him, though. At 6-6, Danny Green is a fine athlete who should be a solid 3-point shooter as a freshman. Marcus Ginyard is an elite athlete who might surprise opponents with an improving skills package. A great shooter with a sweet feel for the game, 6-3 Bobby Frasor might make the most positive impact.

Point guard. Williams did not push hard for a playmaker. He was unlikely to find one better than sophomore-to-be Quentin Thomas.

Thomas needs to improve his strength and shooting, but he produced eight games with three or more assists in 2004-05, not bad given his limited playing time. If he encounters foul trouble, an injury or ineffectiveness, UNC can use Frasor at the point.

The next UNC championship will not come in 2006. The Heels will be fortunate to make the NCAA Tournament. But don’t forget: The roots of the 2005 title were planted with an 8-20 season three years earlier. UNC won’t have to get that bad again for it to be this good a couple of years from now.