Dean Smith, Rick Robey and the moment UNC and Kentucky became real rivals
Posted Dec 13, 2014
It came in the 1977 NCAA Tournament. There were 22 seconds left in the NCAA East Regional championship game when Dean Smith charged all the way down the basketball floor of the University of Maryland's Cole Field House. The North Carolina coach had watched Kentucky power forward Rick Robey knock down Carolina guard John Kuester with a forearm.
(Lexington Herald-Leader)
Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting
Video: IC Podcast - UNC Basketball's Backcourt UpgradeUNC Basketball retained Isaiah Denis and Jaydon Young in the backcourt and added Matt Able, Terrence Brown, and Neo Avdalas. Inside Carolina basketball analyst Rob...
Mon Jun 1, 2026ESPN's College Basketball Way-Too-Early Top 25 Rankings - Post-NBA Withdrawal Deadline
25. North Carolina: Michael Malone has done a pretty impressive job building UNC's roster. Jarin Stevenson is back, Matt Able probably will be a first-round...
Mon Jun 1, 2026
Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Does Alexandros Samodurov Complete UNC Basketball's Frontcourt?
Michael Malone has landed another international frontcourt player in Alexandros Samodurov. Does that mean the Tar Heels' frontcourt is now finished and ready to go?...
Mon Jun 1, 2026
Newsletter: UNC Baseball To Super Regionals, Samodurov Commits, Able, Brown, and Thomas Sign
UNC Baseball advanced to the Super Regional and will host either Texas A&M or USC. It was a big week for Tar Heel Basketball following...
Mon Jun 1, 2026