There was quite a bit of vitriol from North Carolina fans toward Christian Laettner during his time at Duke and that hasn’t changed over the years. ESPN even produced a 30 for 30 documentary called “I Hate Christian Laettner. Many Tar Heels fans agree with that sentiment but UNC coach Hubert Davis isn’t in that group.
Author: R.L. Bynum
Banghart likes progress of her Heels, who are back in Top 25
North Carolina gave AP Top 25 women’s poll voters plenty of reasons to correct their error of a week ago when they dropped the Tar Heels out of the poll after seven consecutive weeks. Add the fact that two teams ranked No. 21 or below lost and fell out of this week’s poll helped put UNC No. 24 this week after being ranked No. 20 two weeks ago.
Tar Heels in NBA: White mixes drives and 3s in scoring 18 points; Anthony nets 16 in Magic win
All five UNC alums who played in NBA games Sunday night scored in double figures, with Coby White’s 18 points and Cole Anthony’s 16 points both coming in victories. The Chicago Bulls (31–18) have won three of four after White scored 18 points for the second consecutive game in a 130–116 home victory over Portland.
Huffman, Kessler have their teams unbeaten, leading their leagues
Former North Carolina centers Brandon Huffman and Walker Kessler both are playing for teams that are unbeaten in league play and atop their conferences.
UNC’s women start impressively, show better fight this time against State in loss
CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina showed much more fight in its rematch with No. 3 N.C. State and even delivered a solid punch early. But that only delayed the Wolfpack’s big punch until midway through the game. The difference from the first meeting was that an 18–0 Wolfpack run wasn’t a knockout punch. The Tar Heels battled back until the end before falling 66–58 Sunday at Carmichael Arena in front of a season-high home crowd of 4,136.
Tar Heels in NBA: Bullock has best game in 2 years; Barnes hits 16, misses shot to win at end vs. Green’s 76ers; Jackson scores 22 in G League
Reggie Bullock has dealt with struggles and shooting slumps in his first season with the Dallas Mavericks but produced his best game of the season Saturday night. Bullock came off the bench to score 23 points on eight field goals and six 3-pointers, all season-highs, in the Mavericks’ 132–104 home win over the Indiana Pacers.
UNC frickin’ blows out State on Roy Williams Day with best performance of season
CHAPEL HILL — As much as the Hall of Fame coach loves beating N.C. State, there was no way that Carolina wasn’t going to take it to the Wolfpack on Roy Williams Day. But leading by a frickin’ margin of 35 points in the second half? The Tar Heels (15–6, 7–3 ACC) made it a rout with their best first half of the season and coasted to 100–80 victory Saturday at the Smith Center on an afternoon when they put it all together with a season-high 15 3-pointers and won the third consecutive game.
Tar Heels in NBA: Johnson ties career-high for 3-pointers; Green returns from injury but Little likely out for season; White hits 18; NBA fines Anthony
While Cameron Johnson appears to be back to playing at the high level he reached before missing three games with an ankle injury and Danny Green returned after missing seven games, Nassir Little’s breakout season is likely over. An MRI revealed that Little suffered a left shoulder labral tear late in Tuesday’s loss to Minnesota. Portland didn’t announce a timetable for his return, but a team source told The Oregonian that Little would be out for the season.
Krzyzewski won’t leave his final Smith Center game with a retirement gift
When coaches go through the final seasons of their careers, it often becomes a retirement tour with gifts handed out at each stop. That won’t happen on Feb. 5 when Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski coaches his final game at the Smith Center.
UNC rolls past No. 21 Duke for impressive win to end 5-game skid vs. rival
DURHAM — Any questions from the AP poll voters who didn’t think North Carolina’s women deserved to be ranked? The Tar Heels, who fell out of the AP Top 25 after seven consecutive ranked weeks, blew past No. 21 Duke in the second quarter and rolled to a 78–62 victory Thursday at Cameron Indoor Stadium to snap a five-game losing streak to their rivals.