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One of the Best to Never Win It: The 1976-77 Tar Heels

February 1977. The North Carolina Tar Heels are 16-4 and are emerging out of a late January slump where they lost three of four. UNC completed the season sweep of a talented and balanced Maryland team with a 97-70 victory at Carmichael Auditorium. According to Coach Dean Smith in his book A Coach’s Life, “It was one of the best games a team of mine ever played.”

At the next practice, the promise of this team took a sharp turn.

Tommy LaGarde, the 6-10 senior center for the Tar Heels, was having the best season of his collegiate career.