1923–24 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1923–24 North Carolina Tar Heels basketball 1923-24 Tar Heels Basketball Team Photo.jpg 285 Southern Conference SoCon 26–0 7–0 Norman Shepard 1st Winton Green Tin Can SoCon tournament championHelms Foundation national champion The 1923–24 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team (variously "North Carolina", "Carolina" or "Tar Heels") was the fourteenth varsity college basketball team to represent the University of North Carolina (UNC) as a part of the Southern Conference (SoCon) for the NCAA season.UNC The school was known as the University of North Carolina until February 1963.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37987195/the_daily_tar_heel/ The Daily Tar Heel 1 February 6, 1963 Pearsall Group Recommends 5-Part Plan For University Vance Barron October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com The team went undefeated, and the season was the first played in the Tin Can. The head coach was Norman Shepard, coaching in his first and only season with the Tar Heels. Their fast play and defense won them the 1924 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament. The Tar Heels by winning the SoCon tournament were named Southern champions, and were retroactively named national champions in 1943 by Bill Schroeder of the Helms Foundation, a Los Angeles-based organization dedicated to the promotion of athletics and sportsmanship. North Carolina has one of the most prestigious college basketball programs, with their first official national championship coming in 1957. The 1924 team is thus one of the school's first great teams, when the nationally prominent athletic schools were in the northeast or midwest rather than the south.https://goheels.com/news/2002/11/14/205487946.aspx Men's Basketball Championships University of North Carolina Athletics All of the team's players were from North Carolina. The team's high scorer was forward Jack Cobb, known as "Mr. Basketball" and the earliest of eight Tar Heels basketball players who have had their jersey retired.Tales from the Tar Heel Locker Room April 2023 The team also featured All-American Cartwright Carmichael, brother of William for whom the Carmichael Arena is named. Others stars included pivot man Bill Dodderer, and guard and three-sport athlete Monk McDonald, considered the best all-around athlete to ever attend UNC. Hall of Fame Tickets are available 1977-02-13 Star News https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4LgsAAAAIBAJ&pg=3081,2315526&dq=monk-mcdonald&hl=en The Sunday Star News 12C 2010-11-06 The team's captain was forward Winton Green. Before the season This season, for the first time, each player who was fouled was required to shoot their own free throws. It used to be a shooter from among the players on the court was designated by each team as the person to take all the free throws.https://books.google.com/books?id=nZUarsZyzokC&pg=PA163 Historical Dictionary of Basketball 9780810875067 Grasso John 15 November 2010 In these early days of the sport, there was a "running guard" who dribbled the ball up the court and passed or attacked the basket, like a point or combo guard.In 1909, continuous dribbling and shots off the dribble was allowed.http://www.orangehoops.org/NCAA/NCAA%20Rule%20Changes.htm NCAA Basketball Rule Change History 15 April 2023 There was also a "stationary guard" who made long shots and hung back on defense before there was the rule of backcourt violations.Robert Peterson Cages to Jump Shots: Pro Basketball's Early Years https://books.google.com/books?id=PgM54Dp2vuoC&pg=PA84 2002 U o6e6ef Nebraska Press 0-8032-8772-0 84– Nobody on the UNC team was taller than 6 feet 4 inches, which in those days was considered exceptionally large.https://books.google.com/books?id=978kcjN9CwUC 9780807899687 Carolina Basketball: A Century of Excellence 15 October 2010 Univ of North Carolina Presssee Athens Banner November 18, 1922 Mulvihill Out As Georgia Goes To Battle With Vandy http://athnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers-j2k/view?docId=bookreader/adb/adb1922/adb1922-2537.mets.xml#page/1/mode/1up February 4, 2015 December 16, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20150204193847/http://athnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/athnewspapers-j2k/view?docId=bookreader/adb/adb1922/adb1922-2537.mets.xml#page/1/mode/1up dead thumb|left|140px|Coach Shepard The Tar Heels had played the previous two seasons without a coach.Lucas 2010 10 The Tar Heel wrote that "If Carolina continues to lead the South in this branch of athletics, a capable coach will have to be employed."Lucas 2010 10–11 On January 16, 1923, it was announced that Graduate Manager of Athletics Charles T. Woollen tapped current law student and Freshman football and basketball coach Norman Shepard to become head coach of the varsity basketball team.January 16, 1923 Norman Shepard Takes Charge Varsity Team 1 The Tar Heel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49286616/the-daily-tar-heel/ October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com Shepard had turned down the opportunity to coach the varsity team prior to their previous season because he felt he was busy coaching the Freshman teams already and was completing his Bachelor of Sciences degree in Commerce.R. C. Maultsby January 16, 1923 Basketball Occupies Chief Place In Southern Sports 4 The Tar Heel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49286682/1923-season-related-discusses-norman/ October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com R. C. Maultsby March 4, 1924 Norman Shepard Leaves For China 3 The Tar Heel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49287228/shepard-leaves-after-season/ October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com Shepard had played Freshman football and basketball at Carolina in 1919 then left the school for Davidson College where he continued to be an athlete. Shepard had a brief stint in minor league baseball and attended the University of Illinois' coaching school led by football coach Robert Zuppke. After taking the position, Shepard stated: "I hadn't intended to stay in coaching."Lucas 2010 11 Prior to the season, practice was being held three times a week. Expectations were high due to the performance of the team the previous two years, winning the Southern Conference tournament in 1922 and going undefeated in the 1922–23 regular season, only to lose in the tournament due to fatigue and illness.Pickens 1924 334 The student-run newspaper, The Tar Heel published a pre-season article where an author wrote: "Carolina has without a doubt the chance of her life to set fire to this neck of the woods during the coming season." Seniors Cartwright Carmichael, Monk McDonald, and Winton Green were cited as being among the best players in the South. Carmichael last season was retroactively selected All-American, the earliest Tar Heel to be selected such for any sport.https://www.tarheeltimes.com/article116529.aspx Tar Heel Firsts: UNC's first All-Americans Tar Heel Times The Charlotte Observer wrote that Winton Green, Jack Cobb, and Jimmy Poole were the best looking forwards on the team in their season preview. The writer also expressed belief that the bench for this team was much deeper than that of the 1921–22 conference tournament champions. Poole weighed 120 pounds but was fast and could pass well. Jack Cobb and Billy Devin got promoted to varsity from the previous season's Freshman team. Cobb quickly became known as "Mr. Basketball" on campus.Lucas 2010 11 Cobb was versatile on the court and able to shoot, rebound, and pass effectively.Lucas 2010 11 Bill Dodderer, star of the 1921 Freshman team, returned to school after a season's absence and got placed on the varsity. Winton Green was named captain for the team for the 1923–24 season.Pickens 1924 333December 7, 1923 Attention Now On Basketball 1 The Tar Heel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49284821/the-daily-tar-heel/ October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com Monk McDonald had been captain last season, and Carmichael two seasons ago. Guard Carl Mahler who played in the previous season, did not return to school and thus was not a part of the team.Pickens 1924 333 Sam McDonald was announced to be returning in early December and thought to be the one to replace Mahler's guard spot, but later did not participate.SMcD There are two reasons reported for Sam McDonald's absence. In North Carolina's yearbook, the Yackety Yack, for the 1923–24 school year, it was written that McDonald believed his schoolwork to be too demanding and did not participate.Pickens 1924 333https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49298962/the-charlotte-observer/ The Charlotte Observer 16 December 14, 1923 Basketball Team At University Working October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com On March 4, 1924 in an article, The Tar Heel reported that McDonald was declared ineligible for the season and then McDonald served as an assistant coach to Shepard with the Freshman squad. Monk McDonald was also a medical student, who did not participate in practices due to schoolwork, and was not expected to be on the court until after Christmas. The only reserve not expected to return was Thomas Graham. Coach Shepard later recalled, "That 1924 team was characterized by quickness and speed...It was a very, very fast team, and we used the fast break effectively...I had inherited a very good group of boys from the team before...Carmichael and Dodderer were exceptionally good...Carmichael and Cobb were so fast and quick with their faking and feinting and breaking, and Carmichael could drive to the basket with unbelievable speed and hold himself in the air for a long time, like he was suspended."Powell 2005 15 Roster thumb|130px|Jack Cobb + 1923–24 North Carolina Tar Heels NamePositionYearHometownHeight Cartwright Carmichael C, F, G Senior Durham, North Carolina6'2" Jack Cobb F Sophomore Durham, North Carolina6'2" Billy Devin C, G Sophomore Oxford, North Carolina5'11" Bill Dodderer C, G Sophomore Waynesville, North Carolina6'3" Winton Green F, G Senior Wilmington, North Carolina5'10" Troy Johnson F Sophomore Bessemer City, North Carolina5'9" Donald Koonce F, G Sophomore Wilmington, North Carolina6'0" Henry Lineberger G Senior Belmont, North Carolina5'11" Monk McDonald G Senior Charlotte, North Carolina5'7" Sam McDonald G Junior Charlotte, North Carolina Dan Penton G Junior Wilmington, North Carolina Jimmy Poole F Junior Greensboro, North Carolina Johnny Purser G Senior Charlotte, North Carolina Reference:Kirschner 2018 153 Staff Head coach: Norm Shepard Manager: Bretney Smith Depth chart thumb|120px|Cartwright Carmichael Starters +NamePosition Sam McDonald F, G Monk McDonald G Cartwright Carmichael G, F, C Jack Cobb F Bill Dodderer G, C Substitutes + NamePosition Billy Devin C, G Troy Johnson F Don Koonce G, F Henry Lineberger G Jimmy Poole F After Green's injury in the Maryland game, Devin took his spot in the starting five.https://thetarheelbook.com/pages/sample-1924 Sample Page: 1924 The Tar Heel Book Schedule no yes no no |+1923–24 North Carolina Tar HeelsKirschner 2018 220Pickens 1924 334 |- !colspan=9 style="background:#56A0D3; color:#FFFFFF;"| Regular season December 15, 1923 yes yes no Durham Elks Durham, NC 33–20 1–0 December 30, 1923 yes yes no Charlotte YMCA Charlotte, NC 32–29 2–0 January 8, 1924 yes no Mercer Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 2000 35–23 3–0 January 16, 1924 yes no 1923 men Guilford Quakers Guilford Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 50–22 4–0 January 19, 1924 yes yes no 1923 men Davidson Wildcats Davidson Charlotte, NC 37–27 5–0 January 22, 1924 yes no Durham Elks Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 49–23 6–0 January 23, 1924 yes yes no 1923 men Elon Phoenix Elon Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 60–13 7–0 January 26, 1924 yes yes no 1923 men Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake Forest Wake Forest, NC 32–16 8–0 January 31, 1924 yes no Duke Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC Rivalry 31–20 9–0 February 2, 1924 yes yes no 1923 men VMI Keydets VMI Lexington, VA 40–25 10–0 February 4, 1924 yes yes no 1923 men Catholic University Cardinals Catholic Washington, D.C. 35–22 11–0 February 5, 1924 yes no 1923 men Maryland Terrapins Maryland UMD Gymnasium College Park, MD 26–20 12–0 (1–0) February 6, 1924 c yes yes no Navy Annapolis, MD Cancelled 12–0 (1–0) February 7, 1924 yes yes no 1923 men Lynchburg Hornets Lynchburg Lynchburg, VA 36–26 13–0 February 8, 1924 yes no 1923 men Washington and Lee Generals Washington and Lee Lexington, VA 19–16 14–0 (2–0) February 9, 1924 yes no 1923 men Virginia Cavaliers Virginia Charlottesville, VA 33–20 15–0 (3–0) February 14, 1924 no 1923 men South Carolina Gamecocks South Carolina Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 53–19 16–0 (4–0) February 16, 1924 yes no William & Mary Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 54–16 17–0 February 18, 1924 no 1923 men NC State Wolfpack NC State Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC Rivalry 44–9 18–0 (5–0) February 19, 1924 yes yes no Duke The Ark Durham, NC Rivalry 23–20 19–0 February 21, 1924 yes no 1923 men Wake Forest Demon Deacons Wake Forest Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 33–12 20–0 February 23, 1924 yes no 1923 men NC State Wolfpack NC State Raleigh, NC Rivalry 41–24 21–0 (6–0) February 27, 1924 no 1923 men Washington and Lee Generals Washington and Lee Tin Can Chapel Hill, NC 26–17 22–0 (7–0) |- !colspan=9 style="background:#56A0D3; color:#FFFFFF;"| Southern Conference tournament February 29, 1924 no 1923 men Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky Atlanta Memorial Auditorium Atlanta, GA SoCon Tournament first round / Rivalry 41–20 23–0 March 1, 1924 no 1923 men Vanderbilt Commodores Vanderbilt Atlanta Memorial Auditorium Atlanta, GA SoCon Tournament quarterfinals 37–20 24–0 March 3, 1924 no 1923 men Mississippi State Bulldogs Mississippi State Atlanta Memorial Auditorium Atlanta, GA SoCon Tournament semifinals 33–23 25–0 March 4, 1924 no 1923 men Alabama Crimson Tide Alabama Atlanta Memorial Auditorium Atlanta, GA SoCon Tournament Championship 26–18 26–0 Season summary The Charlotte Observer felt Carolina's schedule was "exceptionally hard" and pointed to the Mercer game being a tough one after Christmas break since they were runner's up in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament two seasons ago. The latter portion of the schedule was revised and announced on January 8, 1924.January 8, 1924 21 Games Have Been Scheduled 1 The Tar Heel https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49284850/revised-23-24-schedule/ October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com The alterations mainly involved date changes with games like the Mercer game being moved from January 9 to the 8th, the Washington & Lee and Virginia games swapped dates, and the Durham Elks game that was scheduled for January 4 was pushed back to January 22nd. In addition, there were five open dates revealed. The schedule, as in years past, featured a northern tour that will go through the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. thumb|200px|The Tin Can UNC beat Mercer 35 to 23. "Two thousand spectators, well wrapped in overcoats, shivered away...and saw the "Tin Can" christened with a victory."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49440871/the-daily-tar-heel/ Clipped From The Daily Tar Heel January 8, 1924 1 newspapers.com Cobb scored 14, and Mercer star George Harmon was held to just one field goal. Consuello Smith led Mercer scorers with 8.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49301293/mercer-tin-can/ mercer + tin can January 9, 1924 11 newspapers.com Guilford was beaten 50 to 22. Cobb made 10 field goals and the entire Guilford team made 9. All of Carmichael, Cobb, and Dodderer were used at center.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49286502/guilford-jan-16-24-game/ Guilford Jan 16 24 game January 18, 1924 1 newspapers.com Durham Elks was beaten 49 to 23. The scored was tied 18 to 18 at the end of the first half. UNC outscored Durham Elks 31 to 5 in the second half.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49286534/durham-elks-jan-22/ Durham Elks Jan 22 January 25, 1924 1 newspapers.com During the Elon game, Cartwright Carmichael was shifted to guard and Bill Dodderer took over at center.Powell 2005 15 What followed was the season's biggest win, 60 to 13. The first half ended 33 to 3. Cobb led scorers with 20. Green had 17. Carmichael had 10 and McDonald had 9. In the game with Maryland on February 5, captain Green received a Charley-horse which incapacitated him for the rest of the season. Carmichael took over as captain.Tournament Tidbits Walter Schwam Atlanta Journal March 2, 1924 SoCon Tournament thumb|220px|Atlanta Auditorium On February 29, 1924, UNC beat Kentucky, 41–20, in the first-ever game of the Kentucky–North Carolina rivalry. Kentucky's star player James McFarland had been a high school All-American.http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/careerchicagohsaa.html Kentucky National HS Basket Ball Interscholastic All-Americans www.bigbluehistory.net Cobb and Carmichael combined for 31 points, "and easily poured in enough shots from long distance to win the game".http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/Games/19240229NorthCarolina.html Kentucky vs. North Carolina (February 29, 1924) www.bigbluehistory.net On March 1, UNC won 37–20 over a Vanderbilt team coached by Josh Cody and led by Pep Bell.http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/SC/1924.html History of the Early Southern Conference Atlanta Basketball Tournament February 6, 2015 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002055/http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/SC/1924.html March 4, 2016 Cobb scored 17. In the semifinals, UNC defeated the defending SoCon champion Mississippi A&M team led by K. P. Gatchell. A&M's H. G. Perkins, a good shooter from long-distance,"It is understood from reliable information that a man cannot get on the Aggie squad unless he can make them from beyond the center." played in the first half despite injuries to his ankle and hand, and could not finish the game."Ear to the Ground," by Ed Danforth, Atlanta Georgian, March 4, 1924. Carmichael and Cobb combined for 25 points. And in the final, UNC beat Alabama 26–18, coached by Hank Crisp and led by Slim Carter. The game was considered close. "For the first time" since the start of the tournament "the Tarheel was laboring.""North Carolina Wins Second Basketball Title in Stirring Finish Here," by Ed Danforth, Atlanta Georgian, March 5, 1924. Alabama was marred by foul trouble. They had two players foul out, and then Carter fouled out, leaving Alabama with only four players. "Captain Carmichael, of North Carolina, waived the rule and insisted on Carter's remaining in the game." Cobb scored 15. Aftermath The local news reported that hundreds of students at North Carolina "waited in the streets in front of telegraph offices and cafes" for news about the game and after the victory students "went wild" and set a bonfire on the athletic field.Powell 2005 16https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10746865/the-daily-tar-heel/ Clipped From The Daily Tar Heel March 4, 1924 1 newspapers.com Some 500 students marched to Cobb's house in Durham and woke up the household with fight songs.https://books.google.com/books?id=-GcJeY9gGq0C Tales from the North Carolina Tar Heels Locker Room: A Collection of the Greatest UNC Basketball Stories Ever Told Ken Rappoport 1 May 2012 Skyhorse Publishing, Inc. 9781613212882 Google Books Head cheerleader Vic Huggins reportedly led a group of around 500 to Durham to welcome the team home after beating Alabama who arrived at around 4 AM local time.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-tar-heel/133663064/ The Daily Tar Heel 13 August 19, 1985 Fat-men's run gone, but football is still popular October 18, 2023 Newspapers.com On March 4, The Tar Heel reported that Coach Shepard would be leaving in March for China to work as a representative for the Liggett and Myers Tobacco Company. His departure caused "a great deal of regret" for the student body. Monk McDonald was hired as head coach, and Jack Cobb was elected captain. Carmichael and Cobb were retroactively named as All-Americans by the Helms Foundation at the Forward position for 1924. The Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively named All-America teams for years 1905–35, and are considered the "official" teams of those years by the NCAA. August 16, 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Finest http://www.ncaapublications.com/productdownloads/BF05.pdf NCAA Men's Basketball's Finest NCAA Publications 174–76, 211 1521-2955http://www.hickoksports.com/history/mbaskallams.shtml Men's Basketball All-Americans 15 April 2023 20 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080320065408/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/mbaskallams.shtml dead Carmichael, Cobb, and Monk McDonald made the contemporary All-Southern Conference tournament team by sportswriter Morgan Blake.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/15088117/the_davidsonian/ The Davidsonian All-Southern Pick And Coach Monk's Selection 5 March 13, 1924 November 13, 2017 Newspapers.com In 1943, after spending six months researching material, the Helms Athletic Foundation named the team retroactive national champions.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49967087/asheville-citizen-times/ Asheville Citizen-Times 12 February 14, 1943 Glamack, Ex-Tar Heel Star, On All-Time, All-America October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49967183/the-charlotte-observer/ The Charlotte Observer 16 February 14, 1943 Glamack Selected On All-Time Team Marion Alexander October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49967244/the-charlotte-news/ The Charlotte News 5-B March 8, 1949 UNC's Glamack & Cobb In Helms Hall Of Fame October 27, 2019 Newspapers.com In 2009, the Premo-Porretta Power Poll listed retroactive rankings for the 1895–96 through 1947–48 seasons, and the Tar Heels were deemed the top team for the 1923–24 season.ESPN 2009 526 & 536–7 References Footnotes Citations 30em Bibliography ESPN ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Ballantine Books ESPN Books New York 2009 978-0-345-51392-2 https://books.google.com/books?id=g42TyP-V5C8C https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/11/5/2018_19_UNC_M_BKB_Record_Book.pdf Carolina Basketball 2018-19 Facts & Records Book 2018 Kirschner Steve UNC Athletic Communications Office Chapel Hill, North Carolina https://web.archive.org/web/20191027235426/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/unc.sidearmsports.com/documents/2018/11/5/2018_19_UNC_M_BKB_Record_Book.pdf October 27, 2019 live Lucas Adam Carolina Basketball: A Century of Excellence 1–7 A New Game Arrives on Campus University of North Carolina Press Chapel Hill, North Carolina 2010 978-0-8078-3410-7 https://books.google.com/books?id=rK6ylz8eMCMC Yackety Yack Pickens Robert Sylvester Publications Union of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1924 https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/27410?ln=en#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=7&r=0&xywh=-574%2C-162%2C5306%2C3224 North Carolina Digital Heritage Center XXXIV University of North Carolina Basketball Adam Powell Laying the Foundation: 1910–1911 to 1931–1932 Arcadia Publishing Charleston, South Carolina 2005 978-0-7385-4150-1 https://books.google.com/books?id=4YhGeDCjS7wC Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball seasons Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels Men's Basketball Team North Carolina Tar Heels Men's Basketball Team