Keeping It Heel
Fansided

North Carolina Basketball: 10 players the rivals loved to hate the most

By Joey Loose

Jan 21, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Former North Carolina Tar Heels great Tyler Hansbrough presents forward Armando Bacot (5) with the game ball after the game. Bacot became the all-time Tar Heels rebounding leader during the game breaking Hansbrough’s record. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2023; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Former North Carolina Tar Heels great Tyler Hansbrough presents forward Armando Bacot (5) with the game ball after the game. Bacot became the all-time Tar Heels rebounding leader during the game breaking Hansbrough’s record. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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7 FEB 1995: NORTH CAROLINA CENTER RASHEED WALLACE WARMS UP PRIOR TO THE TAR HEELS 86-73 LOSS TO THE MARYLAND TERRAPINS AT COLE ARENA IN COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/ALLSPORT /

7. Rasheed Wallace

Rasheed Wallace arrived on campus at North Carolina in 1993 at what was certainly a high point in the rivalry between the Blue Devils and Tar Heels. Right after the Blue Devils had won their first two championships back-to-back, North Carolina had just cut down the nets in 1993 and was looking to continue their success. Wallace was a talented big man from Philadelphia and was one of the very top recruits in the nation.

Wallace spent just two seasons playing college ball, but he quickly became someone that opposing fanbases loved to hate but the Blue Devils certainly haven’t forgotten him. Wallace considers the rivalry between Duke and North Carolina as the greatest in the sport and often boasts about winning all 4 games against the Blue Devils in his career.

He had a 25-point performance in UNC’s legendary double overtime in 1995 and his aggressiveness and swagger on and off the court have not been forgotten.

We’re left to wonder what could’ve happened had Wallace played more than four games against the Blue Devils, but they certainly aren’t the only fanbase he’s upset. North Carolina was an elite team for both of those collegiate seasons, with a 22-point, 12-rebound, 6-block performance against Georgetown in the 1995 NCAA Tournament.

Wallace became the 4th overall pick of the NBA Draft a few months later and spent nearly two decades in the league, winning an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons.

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