By R.L. Bynum
On the first day of Black History Month, a racial slur was directed at a Carolina women’s basketball player before the Tar Heels’ 63–59 loss Thursday at N.C. State, according to a source.
As the team entered the court before the game in one corner of the Reynolds Coliseum, the source said that some N.C. State students called the Black player a “coon,” which the player and part of the staff heard. N.C. State officials are looking into the situation.
That alleged incident led to a Friday morning tweet from Carolina coach Courtney Banghart.
“Racism is never OK, y’all,” Banghart posted on X (formerly Twitter). “Not in sports and not in life. Never. Ever. Never. Period.”
Banghart still gets criticized for calling N.C. State fans “classless” in August 2022 during an appearance on a podcast. But Thursday’s alleged incident is the worst example of what the Tar Heels have dealt with in recent years during games in Raleigh from some Wolfpack fans.
N.C. State coach Wes Moore referred to the Banghart’s “classless” comment last Sunday, talking about classless behavior and jokingly saying that he hoped the fans were classless.
Carolina Athletics acknowledged the situation in a statement released to Tar Heel Tribune late Friday.
“We have spoken with officials at N.C. State many times since last night’s game, as well as student-athletes and staff from our women’s basketball program,” the statement said. “We appreciate N.C. State’s diligence in looking into the matter. There is no room for hateful speech in sports. We support all of our student-athletes and their right to compete in a safe environment, no matter where they play.”
N.C. State Athletics also sent a statement to Tar Heel Tribune on the matter.
“As soon as we were made aware of an allegation following the women’s basketball game Thursday evening, N.C. State Athletics began looking into the matter and will continue to do so,” read the statement. “N.C. State is committed to ensuring an inclusive and supportive environment for all, on our campus and in the world around us.”
Photo courtesy of UNC Athletics
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