Keeping It Heel
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UNC Basketball: 10 most underappreciated Tar Heels of all-time

By Nick Delahanty

CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 04: A overhead general view of the Dean E. Smith Center during a game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils on March 04, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Duke won 62-57. Pictured is R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbling the ball. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 04: A overhead general view of the Dean E. Smith Center during a game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils on March 04, 2023 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Duke won 62-57. Pictured is R.J. Davis #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels dribbling the ball. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images) /
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UNC Basketball
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 02: George Karl is presented as a 2022 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee at halftime of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils during the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

UNC basketball underappreciated Tar Heel No. 9: George Karl (1970-1973)

It’s no secret that George Karl is most remembered for his outstanding NBA coaching career.

What most people don’t know is that he was a very good basketball player for the UNC basketball program before his coaching career even began.

Similar to Wuycik, Karl was a very good player at North Carolina but was often overshadowed by some well-known names. During his time with the UNC basketball program, the Tar Heels never won less than 25 games a season, as they won a remarkable 77 of the 94 games Karl participated in.

Overall, Karl finished his UNC basketball career averaging 13.8 points, 4.2 assists, and three rebounds per contest. For his efforts, Karl earned All-ACC honors in each of his three seasons with the program.

Karl really showcased his talent during his senior season, as he led the Tar Heels in scoring at 17 points per game. You can even make the case that his performance during this season was overshadowed by the emergence of Bobby Jones who put together a dominant junior season.

Regardless, George Karl was a winning player, as he played a major role in the UNC basketball program’s success during that era. His biggest legacy may be as an NBA coach, but he should get some well-deserved recognition for what he did on the basketball court as a Tar Heel.

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