Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Basketball: The 15 Tar Heels opposing fans hated most

By Blake Cockrum

DETROIT - APRIL 06: Tyler Hansbrough #50 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates with his teammates after they won 89-72 against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game at Ford Field on April 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT - APRIL 06: Tyler Hansbrough #50 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrates with his teammates after they won 89-72 against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game at Ford Field on April 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball
9 Mar 1997: Center Eric Montross of the New Jersey Nets sits on the bench during a game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Lakers won the game 115-105. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport /

Eric Montross

Similar to Tyler Hansbrough and Luke Maye, Eric Montross was hated by some for his strong work ethic and blue-collar style of play in the UNC front court. His teams also won a lot of games while he was North Carolina — 28.5 wins per season — and he was the leading scorer on Dean’s Smith’s second national title-winning team in 1993.

Duke fans, in particular, weren’t a big fan of Montross, who was part of the 1991-92 Tar Heels team that ended the Blue Devils’ 23-game win streak and reign at No. 1 in the country. Many remember it as the “bloody Montross” game, symbolic of the epic battle that game between he and Christian Laettner. In fact, it was Montross’ defense in the closing minute of the game that forced a missed shot from Laettner, and helped the Tar Heels hold on to a 75-73 win.

Montross averaged 11.7 points and 6.8 rebounds per game in four seasons with the Tar Heels. He shot better than 58 percent during that time, and helped the Tar Heels win 114 games — including three seasons of at least 28 victories — an ACC regular season title, two Final Fours and the program’s third NCAA Tournament championship.

After being drafted ninth overall in the 1994 NBA Draft, Montross played eight professional seasons for the Celtics, Mavericks, Nets, 76ers, Pistons and Raptors. He averaged a career-high 10 points and 7.3 rebounds in his first season, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie second team in 1995.

Despite the results of his rookie season in Boston, Montross never reached that level of success in the NBA again. He scored just 7.2 points per game the following year, and even less in the subsequent seasons. Montross is now working as a color commentator on UNC basketball broadcasts, and stays closely connected to the team.

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