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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Dec 4, 2004; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; UNC’s Sean May fights for the ball against Kentucky’s Randolp Morris in UNC”s 91-78 victory over Kentucky. May put up a double double scoring 14 points and pulling down 19 rebounds.Mandatory Credit: Photo By Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright 2004 Bob Donnan
Dec 4, 2004; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; UNC’s Sean May fights for the ball against Kentucky’s Randolp Morris in UNC”s 91-78 victory over Kentucky. May put up a double double scoring 14 points and pulling down 19 rebounds.Mandatory Credit: Photo By Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright 2004 Bob Donnan /

5. Sean May

When Sean May picked North Carolina, it was a major surprise, considering his father Scott had been a star at Indiana nearly three decades earlier. A talented and highly-regarded power forward, Sean May arrived at North Carolina in 2002, survived his freshman season under Matt Doherty, and became a major weapon in the following seasons under Roy Williams.

It wasn’t just Duke who loathed May, though they had plenty of reason for that. He led the Tar Heels to a victory at Indiana during his junior season, with plenty of Hoosiers fans unhappy that he didn’t stay home and play at Indiana.

He had a career-defining 26-point, 24-rebound effort in his final game against Duke in 2005. Just a few weeks later, he’d help lead the Tar Heels to the national championship, with 20-point performances in four of their final five games.

He was the Indiana high school star who became hated by the fans in his state, especially after knocking off the Hoosiers in late 2004. He was the talented big man who led the Tar Heels not only to a national championship but to several impactful wins against rival Duke. His role in this rivalry continues to grow, as May has been on the coaching staff for the last eight years, promoted to full-time assistant when Davis took over in 2021.

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