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

Box Score: North Carolina 89, Charlotte 82 (OT)
View the complete box score from the North Carolina Tar Heels' 89-82 exhibition victory over the Charlotte 49ers on Tuesday night at the Smith Center...
Tue Oct 27, 2026

Video: Michael Malone Post-Charlotte Press Conference
North Carolina head men's basketball coach Michael Malone speaks with the media following the Tar Heels' 89-82 overtime exhibition victory over the Charlotte 49ers on...
Tue Oct 27, 2026

Lucas: UNC vs. Charlotte Rapid Reactions
Well, you probably weren't expecting to get a glimpse of how UNC might handle end-of-game situations in an exhibition against Charlotte, but that's what happened...
Tue Oct 27, 2026

UNC Men's Basketball Holds Off Charlotte, 89-82, In OT In Final Exhibition
North Carolina trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half before coming back to beat Charlotte, 89-82, in overtime in the final...
Tue Oct 27, 2026