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

Tyler Hansbrough says he once lost love for playing basketball
Drafted 13th overall by the Indiana Pacers in 2009, Tyler Hansbrough largely appeared as a reserve, never reaching the same level of dominance he did...
Wed Aug 19, 2026

Video: Michael Malone Wednesday Press Conference and Media Availability
UNC Men's Basketball basketball coach Michael Malone speaks with the media Wednesday to help introduce the inaugural Tobacco Road Classic, a two-year basketball event featuring...
Wed Aug 19, 2026

Michael Malone on Sayon Keita and Alexandros Samodurov 'Everything is a Go'
"As far as I am aware, they're both cleared, they're in class, they're in workouts, and I think everything is a go," Michael Malone said...
Wed Aug 19, 2026

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Breaking Down Cade Bennerman’s Potential
We continue our UNC Basketball roster preview with Northwestern transfer Cade Bennerman. With Bannerman’s rare size, 7'5" wingspan, and flashes of guard skills from a...
Wed Aug 19, 2026