UNC Basketball: The 15 Tar Heels opposing fans hated most
Rasheed Wallace
Rasheed Wallace was hated by fans for his considerable skill on the basketball court, sure. But even more so, he was hated for his confidence, which often came off as arrogance. And he had a particular knack for drawing the ire and disgust of Duke fans.
The 6-foot-11, 225-pound center out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was often the best player on the court, but he was always the biggest trash talker. In fact, if Wallace was on the court, there’s a good chance he was running his mouth, and he was usually pretty good at backing up all the chatter.
As a freshman at North Carolina, Wallace started just seven of the Tar Heels’ 35 games, but averaged 9.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.8 blocks in just under 21 minutes a game. He also shot better than 60 percent for a UNC squad that won 28 games and an ACC Tournament title under head coach Dean Smith.
The following season he was even better, exerting his dominance on an almost nightly basis, averaging 16.6 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game. He led the ACC with a 65.4 shooting percentage, helping the Tar Heels to another 28-win season and an appearance in the 1995 Final Four.
It was after the Tar Heels’ loss to Arkansas in the national semifinal that Wallace decided to leave Chapel Hill for the NBA. He was drafted fourth overall by the Washington Bullets, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team in 1996.
He went on to play 15 seasons in the league for Washington, Portland, Atlanta, Detroit, Boston and New York. He averaged 14.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.3 blocks and a steal in more than 1,100 professional games. He was a four-time All-Star, and a key member of the 2004 Pistons that won the NBA Finals.
Wallace, along with UNC running mate Jerry Stackhouse, gave college basketball one of the most exciting and memorable duos in recent history. Between highlight reel dunks and constant trash talk, they were a formidable and exhaustive tandem for any opponent. Wallace also gave us one of the best sayings in sports history when he coined the phrase, “Ball don’t lie.”