The Biscuit Basket Mystery: How a Rare, Delicious Tradition Became One of the Most Exclusive Honors in Tar Heel Basketball History—and Why Only a Handful Have Ever Achieved It
Chapel Hill, N.C. — In a basketball program defined by banners, Final Fours, and All-Americans, it’s easy to overlook the smaller moments that shape the soul of Tar Heel tradition. But inside the Dean E. Smith Center, there exists a quirky, lighthearted ritual so exclusive that only a handful of players in program history have achieved it—one so rare that even jersey retirements pale in comparison. It’s called the biscuit basket, and this week, senior guard Jackson Watkins joined its elite ranks for the second time in his Carolina career.
With ten seconds remaining in UNC’s blowout win over The Citadel, Watkins pulled up from beyond the arc. The scoreboard showed 97 points. The shot went up. Swish. The crowd erupted—not just for the basket, but for what it meant: free biscuits for everyone. But more than that, it meant Watkins had etched his name in the MultiBiscuit Club, one of Carolina Basketball’s most whimsical yet strangely revered accomplishments.
Only eight players in the rich, decorated history of North Carolina basketball have managed to deliver the biscuit basket—twice. By comparison, just as many players have had their jersey numbers retired, an honor reserved for all-time legends like Jordan, Worthy, and Ford.
For the uninitiated, the biscuit basket is UNC’s version of a fan-favorite tradition: if the Tar Heels score 100 or more points in a home game, everyone in attendance receives a free sausage biscuit from Bojangles the next morning. It’s fun, it’s lighthearted, and in games that are already decided, it gives fans something extra to cheer for—and players like Watkins a moment to shine.
The History of the Biscuit Basket
The tradition began in the early 2000s, but it didn’t take long to develop a cult following. Carolina fans, especially the student section, have become conditioned to count down toward the 100-point mark with the intensity of a game-winning shot. Coaches, aware of the hype, will sometimes let walk-ons and role players finish games with the scoreboard flirting with triple digits—often creating unforgettable scenes.
Yet despite dozens of opportunities over the years, only a select few have had the chance—and the composure—to hit the century-clinching shot more than once.
Wayne Ellington, the silky-smooth shooter from the 2009 national title team, was one of them. Joel Berry II, the Most Outstanding Player from the 2017 Final Four, is another. And now, Jackson Watkins joins them in this bizarrely prestigious club.
The Biscuit Elite: More Exclusive Than You Think
According to Carolina basketball historians and a few obsessively maintained fan databases, the MultiBiscuit Club remains the smallest and most random fraternity within the program’s lore. Some purists argue Ellington’s second biscuit basket, which came in a double-overtime thriller against Clemson, shouldn’t count because “true” biscuit shots must come in regulation. That kind of debate underscores just how seriously some fans take the matter.
There’s even a segment of the fanbase that records every potential biscuit scenario, debates whether coaches should pursue the 100-point mark, and remembers each biscuit deliverer as fondly as they do tournament heroes. After all, these are the moments that give college basketball its personality—especially in a place like Chapel Hill, where tradition is everything.
Watkins’ Legacy—and What It Says About Carolina Basketball
Jackson Watkins may never lead the Tar Heels in scoring or have his jersey hanging in the rafters. But in many ways, his biscuit shots represent the deeper layers of the Carolina program: humility, opportunity, and the joy of playing in front of a home crowd that cares about every point—even the ones that come with ten seconds left.
“He’s not just a fan favorite,” head coach Hubert Davis said after the game. “He’s one of the hardest workers in the gym. And to see him get that moment again? That’s Carolina basketball.”
In a program that boasts six national championships and dozens of NBA stars, it’s the biscuit basket that reminds everyone—players and fans alike—that basketball is also supposed to be fun.
So next time you see the scoreboard creeping toward 100, remember: you’re witnessing not just free breakfast in the making, but a chance at Carolina history. And for players like Jackson Watkins, that shot is as sweet as any buzzer-beater.
