History of North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball in Timeline

North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Tar Heels men's basketball team is a renowned college basketball program with a rich history of success. They have secured six NCAA championships, a Helms Athletic Foundation title, and hold numerous NCAA tournament records, including the most wins (133), Sweet Sixteen appearances (31), and Final Four appearances (21). The Tar Heels are recognized for their consistent excellence, being the only program to reach the National Championship game for nine consecutive decades and at least two Final Fours for six. ESPN ranked them No. 1 among the 50 most successful programs in the past fifty years.

1910: Nat Cartmell becomes first coach

Nat Cartmell was named the first ever coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1910.

1910: First Season

The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program played its first season in 1910.

January 27, 1911: First Game

On January 27, 1911, the North Carolina Tar Heels played their first game ever, a 42-21 victory over Virginia Christian.

1913: Nat Cartmell fired, Charles Doak hired

North Carolina's first coach, Nat Cartmell, was fired after the 1913-14 season for illegal gambling. He was replaced by Charles Doak.

1914: UNC joins SAIAA

The North Carolina Tar Heels joined the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SAIAA) in 1914.

1917: Third place finish in SAIAA

In 1917, the North Carolina Tar Heels finished 3rd in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association (SAIAA).

January 24, 1920: First Carolina-Duke game

On January 24, 1920, North Carolina played their first game against Trinity College (later renamed Duke), marking the beginning of the Carolina-Duke rivalry.

1921: Beginning of "White Phantoms" era

The 1921-22 season marked the beginning of a five-year stretch in which the Tar Heels would win four SoCon regular season and tournament championships.

1921: UNC joins Southern Conference

The North Carolina Tar Heels joined the Southern Conference in 1921.

1923: Cartwright Carmichael named All-American

Cartwright Carmichael became the first Tar Heel to be named a first-team All-American in any sport in 1923.

1923: Norman Shepard coaches undefeated season

Norman Shepard, while still attending law school, coached the 1923-24 North Carolina Tar Heels to an undefeated season.

1923: Undefeated Season

The North Carolina Tar Heels went undefeated in the 1923 season.

1923: End of Bynum Gymnasium as home arena

The Tar Heels' victory over Virginia Christian on January 27, 1911 marked the beginning of their time playing at Bynum Gymnasium, which lasted until 1923.

February 29, 1924: First Kentucky-Carolina game

On February 29, 1924, the North Carolina Tar Heels played the Kentucky Wildcats for the first time ever, beginning the Kentucky-North Carolina rivalry.

1924: Cartwright Carmichael named All-American

Cartwright Carmichael was named a first-team All-American for the second time in 1924.

1924: Move to the Tin Can

In 1924, the North Carolina Tar Heels moved into the Tin Can, their home arena from 1924-1938.

1924: Helms Athletic Foundation Title

The North Carolina Tar Heels were retroactively awarded the 1924 Helms Athletic Foundation title.

1925: Jack Cobb named All-American

Jack Cobb was named an All-American for the second time in 1925.

1925: End of "White Phantoms" era

The 1925-26 season marked the end of a five-year stretch in which the Tar Heels won four SoCon regular season and tournament championships, earning them the nickname "White Phantoms".

1926: Harlan Sanborn becomes coach

Harlan Sanborn became the coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1926.

1926: Jack Cobb named All-American, Helms Foundation Player of the Year

In 1926, Jack Cobb was named an All-American for the third time, and also was named Helms Foundation Player of the Year.

1926: Beginning of Kentucky's 61-Season Streak

Kentucky's remarkable streak of 61 consecutive seasons with a .500 or better record started in 1926.

1938: Leave the Tin Can

After the 1938 season, the North Carolina Tar Heels stopped using the Tin Can as their home arena.

1939: Move to Woollen Gymnasium

In 1939, the North Carolina Tar Heels began playing their home games at Woollen Gymnasium.

1940: George Glamack named All-American, Helms Foundation Player of the Year

George Glamack was named an All-American and Helms Foundation Player of the Year in 1940.

1941: George Glamack named All-American

George Glamack was named an All-American for the second time in 1941.

1943: Retroactive National Championship

In 1943, the Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively awarded the 1923-24 North Carolina Tar Heels a national championship.

March 21, 1946: First NCAA Tournament win

On March 21, 1946, the North Carolina Tar Heels beat NYU 57-49, marking their first ever victory in the NCAA Tournament.

1946: Ben Carnevale becomes coach

Ben Carnevale was named the coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels in 1946.

1948: Start of UCLA's 54 Winning Seasons

UCLA began its historic streak of 54 consecutive winning seasons in 1948.

1950: Last use of "White Phantoms" nickname

The nickname "White Phantoms" was used as an alternative nickname for the Tar Heels until 1950.

December 1, 1952: Frank McGuire's First Game as UNC's Coach

On December 1, 1952, Frank McGuire coached his first game for the UNC Tar Heels, securing a 70-50 victory against The Citadel.

1952: Tom Scott replaced by Frank McGuire

After six seasons and two consecutive losing seasons, Tom Scott was replaced as the coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels by Frank McGuire.

1952: Kentucky Barred from NCAA Play

Kentucky was prohibited from participating in NCAA basketball in 1952 and 1953 due to NCAA violations.

1952: Frank McGuire era begins

The hiring of Frank McGuire in 1952 marked the beginning of the modern era of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball.

December 12, 1953: UNC's First ACC Game

On December 12, 1953, UNC competed in their first-ever ACC game, defeating South Carolina with a score of 82-56.

1953: UNC leaves Southern Conference

After the 1953 season, the North Carolina Tar Heels left the Southern Conference.

1953: ACC Inception

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) was established in 1953, marking the beginning of a new era in college basketball.

December 14, 1955: UNC Defeats a Top 10 Nonconference Opponent

On December 14, 1955, UNC achieved a significant victory by defeating the No. 5 ranked Alabama team with a score of 99-77, marking their first win against a top 10 nonconference opponent.

January 14, 1956: Lennie Rosenbluth's 45-Point Game

On January 14, 1956, All-American Lennie Rosenbluth delivered an outstanding performance, scoring 45 points and leading UNC to a 103-99 victory over Clemson.

February 24, 1956: UNC's First ACC Regular-Season Title

On February 24, 1956, UNC secured their first-ever ACC regular-season title, sharing the honor with N.C. State, following a 73-65 victory against Duke, with Rosenbluth contributing 31 points.

March 23, 1957: UNC's First NCAA Championship

On March 23, 1957, the top-ranked UNC Tar Heels faced off against Wilt Chamberlain and the No. 2 ranked Kansas Jayhawks in the NCAA championship game. The Tar Heels emerged victorious after a triple-overtime thriller, winning 54-53 and completing a perfect 32-0 season. This game marked the first and only triple-overtime final in NCAA championship history.

1957: First NCAA Championship

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their first NCAA championship in 1957.

December 2, 1961: Dean Smith's Coaching Debut

On December 2, 1961, Dean Smith made his coaching debut for UNC, leading the team to an 80-46 victory against Virginia.

1961: NCAA Probation and Coaching Change

In 1961, the UNC Tar Heels faced NCAA probation for a year due to violations related to excessive entertainment of potential players and providing improper financial assistance to players' families. As a result, they were banned from the 1961 NCAA tournament and withdrew from the 1961 ACC tournament. Following the season, Chancellor William Aycock requested the resignation of Coach McGuire and appointed Dean Smith, one of McGuire's assistants and a Kansas alumnus, as his replacement.

1962: Dean Smith's First Year as Coach Marked by Losing Record

The North Carolina Tar Heels finished with a losing record in 1962, which was Dean Smith's first year as the team's coach.

1962: Start of UNC's 39-Year Streak of .500 or Better Records

With Dean Smith in his second year as coach, the Tar Heels began their streak of finishing .500 or better for 39 years straight, starting in 1962.

January 13, 1964: Deakon Patrick's Dominant Performance

On January 13, 1964, All-American Deakon Patrick delivered an exceptional performance with 40 points and 28 rebounds in UNC's 97-88 win over Maryland.

1964: Beginning of UNC's 37 Winning Seasons

The Tar Heels embarked on a remarkable run of 37 consecutive winning seasons, commencing in 1964.

December 4, 1965: First Game at Carmichael Auditorium

On December 4, 1965, UNC played their first game at their new home court, Carmichael Auditorium, and defeated William and Mary with a score of 82-68.

December 16, 1965: Bobby Lewis' Record-Breaking Game

On December 16, 1965, Bobby Lewis set a UNC record by scoring 49 points in a single game, leading the Tar Heels to a resounding 115-80 victory over Florida State.

1965: Start of UNC's Top-Three ACC Finishes Streak

Beginning in 1965, the Tar Heels embarked on a streak of consistently finishing in the top three of the ACC standings.

1965: Leave Woollen Gymnasium

The 1965 season marked the end of the North Carolina Tar Heels' time playing home games at Woollen Gymnasium.

1965: End of 27 Straight NCAA Tournament Appearances

The North Carolina Tar Heels had a streak of 27 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances that ended during the 1965-1966 season.

1966: UCLA Begins Record-Breaking Ranking Streak

UCLA embarked on an unprecedented streak of 231 consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Poll, commencing in 1966.

March 17, 1967: Dean Smith's First NCAA Tournament Win

On March 17, 1967, Dean Smith achieved his first-ever NCAA Tournament victory as UNC defeated Princeton.

1967: Start of UNC's NCAA/NIT Appearance Streak

The Tar Heels began their impressive streak of appearing in either the NCAA Tournament or NIT every year, starting in 1967.

March 23, 1968: UNC's Second Consecutive Final Four Appearance

On March 23, 1968, UNC made their second consecutive Final Four appearance but fell short in their quest for the national title, losing to Lew Alcindor and UCLA.

March 15, 1969: Charlie Scott's Buzzer-Beater Sends UNC to Final Four

On March 15, 1969, All-American Charlie Scott sank a game-winning jumper at the buzzer, leading UNC to an 87-85 victory over Davidson and securing their third consecutive Final Four appearance.

1970: Start of 20-win streak

The Tar Heels' streak of 31 consecutive 20-win seasons began in 1970.

March 27, 1971: UNC Wins the NIT Championship

On March 27, 1971, UNC emerged victorious in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT), defeating Georgia Tech with a score of 84-66. Bill Chamberlain led the Tar Heels with an impressive 34-point performance.

1971: NIT Champions

The North Carolina Tar Heels won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1971.

March 18, 1972: UNC's Fourth Final Four Appearance in Six Years

On March 18, 1972, UNC secured their fourth Final Four appearance in six years by defeating Penn with a score of 73-59. All-American Bob McAdoo contributed 24 points and 15 rebounds but fouled out with 13 minutes remaining in the game.

1972: NCAA Grants Freshman Eligibility

The NCAA implemented a significant rule change in the fall of 1972, granting freshmen eligibility to compete on varsity teams, leading to the phasing out of freshman-only teams.

1973: Start of UNC's 171-Week Ranking Streak

The Tar Heels began a remarkable run of being ranked in the AP Poll for 171 consecutive weeks starting in 1973.

1975: Start of UNC's NCAA Tournament Streak

In 1975, UNC embarked on an impressive streak of 23 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, which would continue until 1997.

1975: NCAA Tournament Guarantees Multiple Bids

Starting in 1975, the NCAA Tournament ensured that more than one team from each conference would receive a tournament bid.

1975: Start of Sweet Sixteen streak

The NCAA tournament format changed to include the "Sweet Sixteen" round in 1975, which the Tar Heels have appeared in 31 times since the change.

March 26, 1977: UNC's Return to the Final Four

On March 26, 1977, UNC returned to the Final Four after a five-year absence, narrowly defeating UNLV with a score of 84-83 in the national semifinal.

February 25, 1978: Phil Ford's Final Home Game

On February 25, 1978, co-consensus National Player of the Year Phil Ford played his final game at Carmichael Auditorium, leading UNC to an 87-83 victory over Duke with a 34-point performance.

1980: End of UCLA's Record-Breaking Ranking Streak

UCLA's historic run of 231 consecutive weeks in the AP Poll concluded in 1980.

1981: UNC's Return to the Final Four

In 1981, UNC returned to the Final Four, with All-American Al Wood delivering a standout performance, scoring 39 points in their semifinal victory against Virginia.

March 29, 1982: UNC's Second NCAA Championship

On March 29, 1982, UNC clinched their second NCAA championship by defeating Georgetown with a score of 63-62. James Worthy led the Tar Heels with 28 points and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, while Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot with 17 seconds remaining.

1982: Matt Doherty Plays for Championship Team

Matt Doherty was a player on the North Carolina Tar Heels team that won the NCAA championship in 1982.

1982: Second NCAA Championship

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their second NCAA championship in 1982.

1983: End of UNC's 171-Week Ranking Streak

The Tar Heels' impressive 171-week streak of being ranked in the AP Poll came to a close in 1983.

1985: NCAA Tournament Expands to 64 Teams

The NCAA Tournament expanded to include 64 teams in 1985, marking a significant change in the tournament's format.

January 18, 1986: First Game at the Dean Smith Center

On January 18, 1986, UNC inaugurated their new arena, the Dean Smith Center, with a thrilling 95-92 victory over their rivals, the Duke Blue Devils.

June 29, 1987: UNC Alumni Defeat UCLA Alumni in Exhibition Game

On June 29, 1987, in an exhibition match held in Los Angeles, CA, UNC alumni emerged victorious against UCLA alumni with a score of 116-111.

1988: End of Kentucky's 61-Season Streak

Kentucky's long-standing streak of 61 seasons with a .500 or better record ended in 1988.

1990: Start of UNC's 172-Week Ranking Streak

The Tar Heels began a remarkable run of being ranked in the AP Poll for 172 consecutive weeks, starting in the 1990-1991 season.

March 24, 1991: UNC's Return to the Final Four

On March 24, 1991, UNC returned to the Final Four after a nine-year absence, securing a hard-fought 75-72 victory over Temple.

April 5, 1993: UNC's Third NCAA Championship

On April 5, 1993, UNC claimed their third NCAA championship by defeating Michigan with a score of 77-71. Donald Williams was the standout performer for the Tar Heels, scoring 25 points and earning the Final Four Most Outstanding Player award.

1993: Third NCAA Championship

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their third NCAA championship in 1993.

March 25, 1995: UNC Reaches the Final Four

On March 25, 1995, UNC secured their place in the Final Four by defeating Kentucky with a score of 74-61.

March 15, 1997: Dean Smith Breaks Rupp's Coaching Record

On March 15, 1997, Dean Smith achieved a historic milestone in his coaching career as UNC defeated Colorado 73-56 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This victory marked Smith's 877th career win, surpassing Adolph Rupp's all-time record for most wins by a men's basketball coach.

March 23, 1997: UNC Returns to the Final Four

On March 23, 1997, UNC punched their ticket to the Final Four with a resounding 97-74 victory over Louisville.

March 29, 1997: Dean Smith's Final Game

On March 29, 1997, Dean Smith coached his final game for UNC, a 66-58 loss to Arizona in the NCAA Tournament semifinal.

October 9, 1997: Dean Smith Announces Retirement

On October 9, 1997, after 36 seasons at the helm, Dean Smith announced his retirement as the head coach of UNC.

1997: Duke Begins 200-Week Ranking Streak

Duke University's men's basketball team started a streak of 200 consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Poll, beginning in 1997.

1997: Bill Guthridge Becomes Head Coach

In 1997, following the unexpected retirement of Dean Smith, Bill Guthridge, Smith's longtime assistant, was appointed as the head coach of UNC.

1998: UNC's First Final Four Appearance Under Guthridge

In 1998, UNC, led by Coach Bill Guthridge, made their first Final Four appearance following the retirement of Dean Smith.

1999: End of UNC's 172-Week Ranking Streak

UNC's impressive 172-week streak of being ranked in the AP Poll concluded in the 1999-2000 season.

2000: Matt Doherty Hired as Head Coach

After Guthridge retired in 2000, Matt Doherty, a former player on the 1982 championship team, was hired as the head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels.

2000: UNC's Lowest Seed in a Final Four Appearance

In 2000, UNC reached the Final Four as an 8-seed, marking their lowest seeding in a Final Four appearance in the program's history.

2000: Roy Williams Offered Head Coach Position, but Declines

Roy Williams, who had been an assistant coach under Dean Smith, was offered the head coach position at North Carolina in 2000 but declined because of a prior commitment to stay at Kansas for the remainder of Nick Collison's college career.

2000: 31st consecutive 20-win season

The 2000-01 season marked the 31st consecutive season in which the North Carolina Tar Heels won at least 20 games.

2000: End of UNC's 172-Week Ranking Streak

UNC's impressive 172-week streak of being ranked in the AP Poll concluded in the 1999-2000 season.

2001: End of Multiple UNC Streaks

The 2001 season marked the end of several significant streaks for the Tar Heels, including their NCAA/NIT appearance streak, winning seasons streak, and .500 or better record streak.

2001: End of UNC's Consistent ACC Finishes

The 2001 season saw the end of UNC's consistent top finishes within the ACC.

2001: Tar Heels Experience Worst Start Since 2001-2002 Season

The North Carolina Tar Heels had a rough start to the 2010-2011 season, marking their worst start since the 2001-2002 season.

2001: UNC's Disappointing 2001-2002 Season

The Tar Heels experienced a challenging 2001-2002 season, finishing with an 8-20 record, marking the end of several notable streaks and resulting in their second-ever losing conference record.

2002: Incoming Recruiting Class Ranked in Top 5

The North Carolina Tar Heels had a highly-ranked incoming recruiting class for the 2002-2003 season, considered one of the top 5 in the nation.

November 22, 2003: Roy Williams' First Game as Head Coach

Roy Williams coached his first game as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels on November 22, 2003, a 90-64 victory against Old Dominion.

2003: Tar Heels Finish with Winning Record, Lose in NIT Third Round

The North Carolina Tar Heels finished the 2002-2003 season with a 17-15 record and advanced to the third round of the NIT, where they lost to Georgetown.

April 4, 2005: Tar Heels Win Fourth NCAA Championship

On April 4, 2005, the North Carolina Tar Heels won their fourth NCAA championship, defeating Illinois 75-70. This also marked Roy Williams' first national championship as a head coach.

2005: Fourth NCAA Championship

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their fourth NCAA championship in 2005.

2007: End of Duke's 200-Week Ranking Streak

Duke's impressive 200-week streak of being ranked in the AP Poll came to an end in 2007.

2007: Tyler Hansbrough Wins All Six Major Player of the Year Awards

During the 2007-2008 season, Tyler Hansbrough achieved a remarkable feat by winning all six major player of the year awards in college basketball, leading to the retirement of his number 50 jersey.

2007: Tar Heels Achieve ACC Regular Season and Tournament Sweep

The North Carolina Tar Heels achieved a sweep of the ACC regular season and tournament championships in 2007.

January 2008: Carolina Basketball Museum Opens

The Carolina Basketball Museum, a dedicated space showcasing the rich history of Tar Heels basketball, opened its doors in January 2008.

December 18, 2008: Tyler Hansbrough Breaks UNC Career Scoring Record

Tyler Hansbrough set a new scoring record for the University of North Carolina on December 18, 2008, surpassing Phil Ford's previous record of 2,292 career points.

2008: First Unanimous Preseason No. 1 Ranking

In 2008, the North Carolina Tar Heels were ranked No. 1 in both the Coaches Poll and AP Poll, the first time a team had been ranked unanimously No. 1 in the preseason.

2008: Tar Heels Win ACC Tournament Without Defeating In-State Rival, Lose in National Semifinals

The 2008 ACC Tournament marked the first time North Carolina won the championship without defeating an in-state rival during the tournament. The Tar Heels advanced to the national semifinals of the NCAA tournament, where they lost to Kansas, Roy Williams' former program.

2009: Caleb Love Breaks Assist Record

Caleb Love's impressive performance against Duke in 2021 included a record-breaking seven assists, surpassing Ty Lawson's previous record set in 2009.

2009: Tar Heels Struggle, Miss NCAA Tournament, Finish as NIT Runner-Up

The 2009-2010 North Carolina Tar Heels endured a challenging season, finishing with a 16-15 record, losing in the first round of the ACC Tournament, and missing the NCAA Tournament. Despite the setbacks, the team accepted a bid to the NIT and reached the final game, ultimately finishing as the runner-up to Dayton with a 20-17 record.

2009: Tar Heels Secure Fifth NCAA Championship with Dominant Tournament Run

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their fifth NCAA championship in 2009, defeating Michigan State in the championship game. The team showcased a dominant performance throughout the tournament, winning all six games by a significant margin and trailing for a mere 10 minutes out of 240 minutes played. Wayne Ellington earned the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award, becoming the fourth Tar Heel to receive this honor.

2009: Fifth NCAA Championship

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their fifth NCAA championship in 2009.

2009: Kansas Begins 231-Week Ranking Streak

The University of Kansas men's basketball team commenced an impressive streak of 231 consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Poll, starting in 2009.

March 2, 2010: 2,000th Win

On March 2, 2010, North Carolina became the second college basketball program to ever reach 2,000 wins.

2010: UNC's First Thursday ACC Tournament Game

For the first time since the ACC tournament expanded to a four-day format, North Carolina played a game on a Thursday in the 2010 ACC tournament.

2010: Tar Heels Welcome Highly-Touted Freshmen Class

The North Carolina Tar Heels welcomed a highly-regarded freshman class for the 2010-2011 season, featuring players like Harrison Barnes, Kendall Marshall, and Reggie Bullock.

November 11, 2011: Tar Heels Open Season with Win on USS Carl Vinson

The North Carolina Tar Heels kicked off their 2011-2012 season with a victory against Michigan State, 67-55, in a game played on the deck of the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier in San Diego on November 11, 2011.

2011: Tar Heels Overcome Early Struggles, Win ACC Regular Season, Lose in Elite Eight

Despite a challenging start to the 2010-2011 season, the North Carolina Tar Heels recovered to secure the top spot in the ACC regular season with a 14-2 record. Head coach Roy Williams was recognized as the ACC Coach of the Year for guiding the team through adversity. However, the Tar Heels fell short in the ACC Tournament Final against Duke and were eliminated in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament by Kentucky, concluding the season with a 29-8 record.

2012: Start of a Rebuild

After reaching the Elite Eight in 2012, the Tar Heels began a period of rebuilding following the departure of key players.

2012: Ranked #1 by ESPN

In 2012, ESPN ranked North Carolina as the #1 most successful college basketball program in the past 50 years.

2012: Tar Heels Secure ACC Regular Season Title, Lose in ACC and NCAA Tournaments

The North Carolina Tar Heels had a strong 2011-2012 season, finishing with a 32-6 record and securing the ACC regular-season championship. However, the team's championship aspirations were cut short as they lost to Florida State in the ACC Tournament final and were defeated by Kansas in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. The Elite Eight game was notably impacted by an injury to starting point guard Kendall Marshall, who broke his right wrist during the second round game against Creighton but continued to play.

2013: Consecutive Tournament Loss to Kansas

The Tar Heels faced Kansas in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year in 2013, resulting in another loss.

2014: Historic Wins but Early Tournament Exit

In 2014, the Tar Heels made history by defeating every top-4 ranked team in the preseason but their season ended in the Round of 32 with a loss to Iowa State.

2014: Start of UNC's 106-Week Ranking Streak

UNC embarked on a 106-week streak of being ranked in the AP Poll, starting in 2014.

2015: ACC Dominance and National Championship Heartbreak

The 2015-16 Tar Heels, led by Marcus Paige and Brice Johnson, achieved a remarkable season, securing the ACC regular season and tournament titles before reaching the NCAA Championship game. However, they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Villanova in the final, ending their season with a 33-7 record.

2016: Strong Preseason Ranking

The Tar Heels entered the 2016-17 season ranked No. 6 in the AP preseason poll, even after losing key players from the previous year.

March 2017: Kansas Breaks UNC's NCAA Tournament Streak

In March 2017, Kansas surpassed the Tar Heels' record of 27 consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, ending UNC's long-standing streak.

March 26, 2017: Luke Maye's Buzzer Beater

On March 26, 2017, Luke Maye secured a memorable victory for the Tar Heels with a last-second shot against Kentucky, propelling them to the Final Four.

April 3, 2017: National Championship Victory

The Tar Heels, led by Joel Berry II, clinched the National Championship on April 3, 2017, with a win against Gonzaga, marking their third national title under coach Roy Williams.

2017: Early Tournament Exit

Despite a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels' 2017-18 season ended in disappointment with a Round of 32 loss to Texas A&M, concluding their season with a 26-11 record.

2017: Sixth NCAA Championship

The North Carolina Tar Heels won their sixth NCAA Championship in 2017.

2018: Shared ACC Title and Sweet Sixteen Appearance

The 2018-19 Tar Heels, guided by Coby White, Luke Maye, and Cameron Johnson, shared the ACC regular-season title with Virginia and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, eventually reaching the Sweet Sixteen before being eliminated by Auburn.

2019: Clemson Ends UNC's Home Winning Streak

Clemson defeated the Tar Heels 79-76 in overtime at the Dean Smith Center, ending UNC's NCAA record 59-game home winning streak against a single opponent.

2019: A Challenging Season Cut Short

The 2019-20 season marked a challenging period for the Tar Heels, who struggled to a 14-win season marred by injuries and a lack of depth. Cole Anthony's knee injury significantly hampered their performance. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the season after their ACC tournament loss to Syracuse.

2020: Clemson Ends UNC's Home Winning Streak

Clemson defeated the Tar Heels 79-76 in overtime at the Dean Smith Center, ending UNC's NCAA record 59-game home winning streak against a single opponent.

2020: High Expectations and a Freshman Surge

The Tar Heels entered the 2020-21 season with high hopes but faced initial setbacks, starting their conference play with an 0-2 record. However, they rallied to sweep their arch-rivals, Duke, in the regular season. The emergence of freshman players like Kerwin Walton and Caleb Love brought renewed energy to the team.

2020: End of UNC's 106-Week Ranking Streak

The Tar Heels' 106-week run of being ranked in the AP Poll concluded in 2020.

February 27, 2021: Roy Williams' 900th Win

On February 27, 2021, Roy Williams achieved a historic milestone by earning his 900th career victory as a head coach with a win against Florida State, becoming the fastest coach to reach this mark.

April 1, 2021: Roy Williams Announces Retirement

Roy Williams, after a long and successful coaching career, announced his retirement on April 1, 2021, leaving behind a legacy of three national championships and a remarkable record of 903 career wins, solidifying his place as one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time.