Born & Bred: Tar Heel Nickname Origins

Posted Jun 6, 2023
A New York sportswriter had seen Kenny Smith play a high school game and wrote that he raced up the court "like a jet." Walter Davis said that "my teammates at North Carolina started Sweet D." Tyler Hansbrough explained that "to get through a workout and motivate myself, I was screaming at myself. That’s when Jonas started calling me 'Psycho T.'" (Rams Club)

Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting

Basketball Fortunes Of UNC, ACC Tied To Sensational Freshman Class
In recent seasons, fewer freshmen dominated in college basketball as the sport overflowed with older participants in the post-COVID era. Bucking that trend in 2025-26,...
Wed Jan 21, 2026

No. 22 UNC Men's Basketball Hosts Notre Dame Wednesday - Pregame Notes
UNC Basketball returns to the Smith Center for the only home game in a five-game stretch on Wednesday, Jan. 21, when the Tar Heels host...
Wed Jan 21, 2026

Three Things To Watch: North Carolina vs. Notre Dame
North Carolina returns to the Smith Center on Wednesday night desperate to right the ship in the midst of a calamitous January. The Tar Heels...
Wed Jan 21, 2026

UNC Basketball's must-win reality starts now against Notre Dame
Every game is essentially a must-win the rest of the way for the Tar Heels. After Notre Dame on Wednesday, UNC closes January with road...
Wed Jan 21, 2026