UNC basketball's worst season ever created an ever-lasting beef

TL;DR

Jason Capel became the scapegoat for UNC's historically bad 8-20 season in 2001-02, fueling a two-decade feud with the Carolina fanbase.

Key Points

• 1.UNC's 2001-02 season was the worst in program history. After star players Brendan Haywood and Joseph Forte left for the NBA, Capel became the lead player and went 3-of-26 from three-point range in the first four games, finishing 8-20.
• 2.Capel helped drive Forte out before the disastrous season. In 2001, Capel publicly implied Forte shot too much after a loss, reportedly contributing to Forte's shooting slump and early departure to the NBA.
• 3.UNC fans attacked Capel relentlessly on anonymous message boards. Recurring attacks included comparing him to the shoe bomber, mocking his antler celebration while UNC was down 25 to Maryland, and ridiculing his pump fakes — themes that persisted into 2009.
• 4.The beef reignited in 2022-23 when Capel returned to UNC as Pitt's assistant coach. After a Pitt upset win at the Dean Smith Center, Capel screamed at fans about the team being 'soft,' and the following year screamed at fans and a UNC athletic director after another Pitt road win.
• 5.Brother Jeff Capel publicly aired the grudge in a 2023 post-game press conference. Jeff, Pitt's head coach, claimed a UNC social media post featuring jersey number 25 intentionally provoked Jason — though UNC's social team said they didn't even know Jason had worn that number.