The Freshmen

Posted Apr 7, 2007

North Carolina's Mike O'Koren works in the NBA as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards. Charlotte's Chad Kinch's life ended early when he died from AIDS in 1994 at age 35. In 1977, O'Koren and Kinch were two Jersey kids, precocious freshmen who had huge impacts on their teams' drive to the Final Four. (Charlotte Observer)

Related: Basketball, Tar Heels in the NBA

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Is Syracuse a Trap Game for UNC?
UNC Men's Basketball faces a critical test as Duke looms, but can the Tar Heels stay focused and avoid a trap against Syracuse? With Caleb...
Mon Feb 2, 2026

UNC Men's Basketball Hosts Syracuse: TV info, stats, scouting Orange, keys to game, and notes
UNC enters Monday's matchup against Syracuse averaging 40 rebounds per game, significantly better than Syracuse’s 35. The Tar Heels are 34th nationally in rebounding, while...
Mon Feb 2, 2026

North Carolina vs. Syracuse Basketball Preview: Short Turnaround for Potential Trap Game
Syracuse sits at the bottom half of the ACC standings with a 4-5 record but has lost four of its last five games. In non-conference,...
Mon Feb 2, 2026

Video: Big Hitters Podcast - The Smith Center Debate
A deep dive into the controversial and interesting debate over whether UNC should build a new basketball arena off campus at Carolina North or renovate...
Mon Feb 2, 2026