Dean Smith's coaching genius, character showed in early struggles

Posted Feb 13, 2015
The booming baritone voice on the other end of the line left no doubt about a willingness to tackle the subject of Dean Smith’s early days. I think he called me “Holliday.” Lee Shaffer often does when he wants to make a passionate point about Carolina basketball: “People have no idea,” he said, “what Dean Smith inherited.” (WRAL Sports Fan)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Breakout Season For Jarin Stevenson? UNC Baseball's CWS Experience
Jarin Stevenson is the key returning player for UNC Basketball next season. If he takes a step forward, it will put the Tar Heels in...
Thu Jun 11, 2026

The First 60 Days Part III: How Michael Malone Is Recruiting UNC Basketball's Future
UNC's recruitment of Kevin Thomas offered a glimpse into how Michael Malone has navigated his first months in college basketball, leaning on relationships connected to...
Thu Jun 11, 2026

UNC Men's Basketball To Host Butler On Dec. 6
The Butler Bulldogs will travel to North Carolina for a Sunday, Dec. 6 contest. The game tips off a home-and-home series that was previously announced...
Thu Jun 11, 2026

Video: TarHeel247 Podcast - Breaking Down Michael Malone's First Two Months At UNC
As the 2026-27 UNC Basketball roster nears completion, Andrew Jones of TarHeel247 and college basketball recruiting analyst David Sisk discuss the job that Michael Malone...
Wed Jun 10, 2026