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

2026 NBA Mock Draft: UNC's Caleb Wilson closing in on Darryn Peterson, AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer
Watching Caleb Wilson play basketball is like watching Mozart compose music or Picasso paint a work of art. He's a night-in, night-out joy because of...
Fri Dec 12, 2025

Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Why UNC needs to dominate USC Upstate
UNC Basketball face USC Upstate in a post-exam clash this weekend. Will Caleb Wilson and Henri Veesaar showcase a killer instinct against an overmatched opponent?...
Fri Dec 12, 2025

UNC Basketball bets big on 3s, still waiting on payoff
When North Carolina starts hitting perimeter shots consistently, the No.?14 Tar Heels will become even more dangerous. The shooting talent is there. That explains why...
Fri Dec 12, 2025

Film Review: The Growth of Derek Dixon
Derek Dixon is coming off the two best games of his young college career. The freshman has 23 points and five assists against only...
Fri Dec 12, 2025