Dean Smith Dies at 83

ESPN:

The numerical record of Smith’s accomplishments is staggering. His only losing season came in his first, and he left the game having surpassed Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp as the winningest men’s basketball coach in Division I history.

He led the Tar Heels to 13 ACC tournament championships, appearances in 11 Final Fours, five national title games and NCAA championships in 1982 and 1993. North Carolina won at least 20 games in each of his final 27 seasons and made 23 consecutive appearances in the NCAA tournament.

“We have lost a man who cannot be replaced,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. “He was one of a kind, and the sport of basketball lost one of its true pillars. Dean possessed one of the greatest basketball minds and was a magnificent teacher and tactician. While building an elite program at North Carolina, he was clearly ahead of his time in dealing with social issues.

I watched a ton of college basketball in the ’80s and ’90s. Smith’s UNC teams were always fun to watch. And no coach, ever, has been better at orchestrating last-minute comebacks.

★ Tuesday, 10 February 2015