Helena Frye
The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the most successful college basketball teams in the US. The team has won multiple NCAA tournament basketball titles, including seven national championships. The Tar Heels are currently third all-time in wins and have appeared in the NCAA Tournament championship game twelve times, with a record 21 NCAA Tournament Final Four appearances. North Carolina's first national championship was in 1957, and their most recent was in 2017.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of NCAA Men's Basketball Championship wins | 6 |
| First Championship win | 1957 |
| Number of Final Four appearances | 21 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament appearances | 53 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament wins | 133 |
| Number of NIT Tournament wins | 1 |
| Number of NIT Tournament Final appearances | 2 |
| Number of NIT Tournament appearances | 6 |
| Number of times as No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament | 18 |
| Number of National Invitation Tournament wins | 1 |
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What You'll Learn
North Carolina Tar Heels' first national championship
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team has enjoyed long-term success as one of the top college basketball programs in the country. The Tar Heels have won six NCAA National Championships and one retroactive championship, for a total of seven national championships. The team's first national championship was won in 1924 and was awarded by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1943 and later by the Premo-Porretta Power Poll.
The 1923-24 Tar Heels squad went 26-0, earning the nickname White Phantoms for their fast style of play and stingy defense. The team's first national championship was won against Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain, thanks to North Carolina center Joe Quigg's free throws with six seconds left in triple overtime. The Tar Heels affirmed their number one ranking, despite leading scorer Lennie Rosenbluth fouling out near the end of regulation.
The Tar Heels' second national championship came in 1957 under coach Frank McGuire. The team went undefeated on their way to the school's first NCAA tournament championship. McGuire was succeeded by Dean Smith, who led the Tar Heels to three more national championship appearances before winning his first championship in 1982. Smith would go on to win one more title in 1993, bringing the Tar Heels' total number of national championships to five at the time.
The Tar Heels have continued to enjoy success in recent years, adding two more national championships to their tally. In 2017, the team won its sixth national championship with a 71-65 victory over the Gonzaga Bulldogs. This victory was especially sweet for the Tar Heels, as they had lost in the final seconds to Villanova the previous year. The Tar Heels' seventh and most recent national championship came in 2019 under coach Roy Williams, who led the team to three national titles during his tenure.
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North Carolina's 1994 women's title
The University of North Carolina has a rich history of success in college basketball, with multiple championship wins for their men's and women's teams. In particular, the 1994 women's basketball team stands out as a memorable chapter in the school's sporting legacy.
Led by the formidable talents of Thomas and Crawley, the 1994 Tar Heels women's basketball team etched their names into the history books. Thomas, a standout performer, consistently delivered high-scoring performances, including a 15-point outing that remains etched in the memories of Tar Heels fans. Crawley was no slouch either, often providing crucial contributions, such as the 14 points she scored in one of the team's defining victories.
The 1994 season was a testament to the team's resilience and determination. They navigated through tough opponents and tight games, showcasing their unwavering spirit and refusal to back down. One such instance was their nail-biting victory over the Blue Devils in January 2003, where they demonstrated their ability to thrive under pressure.
The Tar Heels women's basketball team's success in 1994 added to the university's already impressive basketball pedigree. The men's team had previously achieved multiple national championships, with the first coming in a thrilling triple-overtime victory against Kansas and Wilt Chamberlain. The Tar Heels men's squad would go on to add more championship banners, including back-to-back triumphs in 1982 and 1993, solidifying their reputation as a dominant force in college basketball.
The University of North Carolina's basketball prowess extends beyond the men's and women's teams, as the school has also produced renowned coaches. One notable example is Roy Williams, who guided the men's team to championship glory on multiple occasions, including the 2017 victory that cemented his legacy.
The 1994 women's basketball team at the University of North Carolina embodied the spirit of champions, leaving an indelible mark on the school's athletic heritage and inspiring future generations of Tar Heels athletes.
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North Carolina's 2017 championship game
The 2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was played on April 3, 2017, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The game was between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the North Carolina Tar Heels, with North Carolina defeating Gonzaga 71-65 to win its sixth men's basketball national championship. This was the second consecutive title game appearance for North Carolina and the eleventh overall.
The game was a hard-fought battle, with North Carolina's Justin Jackson delivering a crucial 3-point play, and the team scoring the last eight points to secure the victory. The Tar Heels' win was especially sweet as they had lost in heartbreaking fashion the previous year, falling to Villanova in the final seconds. This time, they fought their way back, displaying determination and resilience.
The 2017 championship game was not without its criticisms, however. Many, including North Carolina head coach Roy Williams, commented on the quality of play. The media largely blamed officiating for the game's low quality, with an abundance of foul calls and a slow pace that affected the flow of the game.
North Carolina's road to the championship game was challenging but rewarding. In the Sweet 16, Joel Berry II and Jackson led the team to a 92-80 win over Butler, advancing to the Elite Eight. There, they faced a tough Kentucky team, but Luke Maye's jump shot with 0.3 seconds left gave them a 75-73 victory and their second consecutive appearance in the Final Four. In the Final Four, North Carolina defeated Oregon 77-76 to set up their championship game showdown with Gonzaga.
The 2017 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game will be remembered as a testament to the Tar Heels' perseverance and their ability to bounce back from defeat, claiming the title that had eluded them the previous year.
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North Carolina's 1957 men's championship
The 1957 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship game was played between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks. The game took place on March 23, 1957, at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. This was the final game of the nineteenth edition of the single-elimination tournament now known as the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament.
The North Carolina Tar Heels were led by coach Frank McGuire, and their top scorer was Lennie Rosenbluth, who scored 29 points in the championship game and led all tournament scorers with 140 points. The Tar Heels had a perfect record of 32-0 going into the game, having survived numerous close games during the regular season and the conference tournament, and a triple-overtime game against Michigan State in the national semifinal.
The game attracted heavy media attention, with over ten television stations and sixty-three news reporters in attendance. The Tar Heels jumped out to an early 19-7 lead in the first half, but the Jayhawks reduced the lead to seven points (29-22) at halftime. In the second half, the Jayhawks took the lead. The Tar Heels tied the game in the final minute, sending the game into overtime. In the first overtime, each team scored a basket, and in the second overtime, no points were scored due to a lack of offensive execution by both teams. In the third overtime, the Tar Heels pulled ahead, and Joe Quigg made two free throws in the closing seconds to secure the victory, with a final score of 54-53.
This was North Carolina's first-ever national championship, and they became only the second team in NCAA tournament history to achieve an undefeated season. The team was awarded watches for their victory, and Coach McGuire was given a brand new Carolina blue and white Cadillac by the university, as well as a new five-year contract. The broadcast of the game led to increased awareness and attention towards basketball in the state, with Castleman Chesley, a local television producer, believing that "ACC basketball could be as popular as any TV show in North Carolina."
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North Carolina's 1993 NCAA title
North Carolina has won multiple NCAA basketball championships, including in 1948, 1949, 1951, 1957, 1982, 1993, 1996, 1998, 2012 and 2017. The 1993 championship was the team's third national title and second under coach Dean Smith.
The 1993 North Carolina Tar Heels had a physical front line that included 7-foot center Eric Montross and 6-foot-8-inch forward George Lynch. They combined for 31 points and 18 rebounds per game. Donald Williams and Brian Reese were each double-digit scorers on the wings. Derrick Phelps was a heady point guard, distributing the ball.
The Tar Heels won their first eight games of the season, against mostly non-descript competition. They suffered two losses that season, one at Wake Forest and another at Duke, which had won the last two national championships. UNC then won their next five games, including a one-point win at Georgia Tech and a road victory over Virginia.
North Carolina entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the East Regional. They opened with an 85-65 blowout of No. 16 East Carolina, followed by a Round of 32 thumping of Rhode Island. The Tar Heels then beat No. 4 Arkansas 80-74 and No. 2 Cincinnati 75-68 in overtime. In the Final Four, they topped No. 1 Michigan 77-71 to win the national championship.
Donald Williams, who scored 25 points in each game at the Final Four, was named the Most Outstanding Player.
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Frequently asked questions
North Carolina has won seven basketball championships.
North Carolina won its first basketball championship in 1957.
Frank McGuire was the coach of North Carolina when they won their first basketball championship.
North Carolina has appeared in the NCAA Tournament championship game twelve times.
North Carolina beat Wilt Chamberlain's Kansas squad to win their first basketball championship.
