Kristian Ferrell
The North Carolina Tar Heels are one of the most successful college basketball programs of all time, with a history that is almost unmatched. The team played its first basketball game on January 27, 1910, against Virginia Christian, winning 42-21. In 1921, North Carolina joined the Southern Conference, and in 1953, it became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Tar Heels won their first NCAA Championship in 1957 under coach Frank McGuire, and have since won five more national championships, most recently in 2017.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First basketball game | 27 January 1910, against Virginia Christian |
| First coach | Cartmell |
| First NCAA Championship | 1957 |
| Number of NCAA Championships | 6 |
| Most recent NCAA Championship | 2017 |
| Number of ACC Tournament wins | 18 |
| Number of ACC regular-season titles | 33 |
| Number of Final Four appearances | 20 |
| Number of Elite Eight appearances | 28 |
| Number of Sweet 16 appearances | 34 |
| Number of ACC Championships | 26 |
| Number of National Championships | 11 |
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The first game
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team has a long and storied history, with the program producing many notable players and coaches over the years. The first game the Tar Heels played was on January 27, 1910, against Virginia Christian, which they won with a score of 42-21.
In the early years, the team had a string of different coaches, with Cartmell, the first coach, doubling as the track coach. From 1910 to 1946, no coach stayed in Chapel Hill for longer than five years. Norman Shepard, the coach for the 1923-24 season, led the team to an undefeated season while attending law school. The team went 26-0 that year and was retroactively awarded the national championship by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1936.
The Tar Heels joined the Southern Conference in 1921 and quickly found success, playing in that conference for 32 seasons until 1953. During that period, they won 304 games and lost 111, for a winning percentage of 73.3%. They were regular-season winners nine times and won the Southern Conference championships eight times.
In 1953, the team left the Southern Conference and became a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). They continued their success in the new conference, winning their first ACC Tournament and NCAA Championship in 1957. The 1957 championship game was a triple-overtime thriller, with North Carolina beating Wilt Chamberlain and Kansas 54-53 to cap off a perfect 32-0 season.
Since that first game in 1910, the Tar Heels have gone on to become one of the most successful college basketball programs of all time, with numerous NCAA Tournament appearances, Final Four berths, and national championships.
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Early coaches
The first coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team was Cartmell, who also served as the track coach. Between 1910 and 1946, no coach stayed with the team for more than five years. During this period, the team saw several coaches, including Norman Shepard, Monk McDonald, Harlan Sanborn, Charles Doak, James Ashmore, and Bill Lange.
Norman Shepard led the team to an undefeated season in 1923-24 while attending law school. One of his players, Monk McDonald, who was a medical student, succeeded him as coach. In the 1923-24 season, the Tar Heels squad went 26-0 and was retroactively awarded the national championship by the Helms Athletic Foundation in 1936.
Carnevale, who led UNC to its first Final Four, left after only two years. Tom Scott ran the program for six years from 1946 to 1952 but was pushed out after two consecutive losing years. He was replaced by Frank McGuire, who became the coach in 1952. McGuire led the Tar Heels to their first NCAA Championship in 1957 but was forced to resign in 1961 due to an NCAA violation.
Dean Smith replaced McGuire as head coach in 1961 and brought unprecedented success to the team. During his tenure, the Tar Heels won the ACC regular-season championship 17 times, the ACC tournament 13 times, the NIT in 1971, and appeared in 11 Final Fours. Smith also led the team to two NCAA national tournament titles in 1982 and 1993. When Smith retired in 1997, he had accrued the most wins of any NCAA Division I men's basketball coach at the time, with 879 wins and a 77.6% winning percentage.
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First NCAA Championship
The North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team is one of the most successful college basketball programs of all time. The team has won six national championships, 20 Final Fours, 28 Elite Eights, and 34 Sweet 16 appearances. They have a history that is almost unmatched and are among the "winningest" college programs ever.
The first of these six national championships was won in 1957 under coach Frank McGuire. Led by Lennie Rosenbluth, the Tar Heels won their first ACC Tournament and first NCAA Championship. On March 23, 1957, No. 1 North Carolina beat Wilt Chamberlain and No. 2 Kansas, 54–53, in triple overtime. This win capped off a perfect 32–0 season as national champions.
The Tar Heels' road to the championship game began with a 73-65 win over Duke to clinch their first-ever ACC regular-season title (shared with N.C. State) in the 1955-56 season. The following season, in 1956–57, Lennie Rosenbluth scored 40 in a Tar Heel win at Duke to finish with a perfect 24–0 regular season record (14–0 in ACC). Rosenbluth was named the 1957 Helms Foundation Player of the Year.
In the NCAA tournament, North Carolina defeated Yale, Canisius, Syracuse, Michigan State, and Kansas, with the team's last two wins coming in triple overtime. This included a 54-53 win over Kansas in the championship game, which was broadcast across North Carolina and helped basketball become a craze in the state.
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Recent success
The University of North Carolina's men's basketball team, the North Carolina Tar Heels, has enjoyed a string of successes in recent years, building on a long history of impressive performances. The Tar Heels played their first basketball game on January 27, 1910, against Virginia Christian, winning 42-21.
The Tar Heels have had notable success in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, winning it six times, most recently in 2009, and appearing in the tournament finals eleven times. They hold the record for all-time NCAA tournament victories with 102. They have also made it to the Final Four an impressive 21 times, including in 1998 and 2000 under coach Bill Guthridge.
The 2004-2005 season was a standout year for the Tar Heels, who won their fourth NCAA title, defeating Illinois 75-70. This was the first championship for coach Roy Williams, who had taken over from Matt Doherty the previous year. Despite losing his top seven scorers after this championship win, Williams was named Coach of the Year in 2006, thanks in part to the strong performance of freshman Tyler Hansbrough. The Tar Heels continued their success in the 2007 and 2008 seasons, sweeping the ACC regular season and tournament titles in both years.
In the 2008-2009 season, the Tar Heels were chosen as the consensus preseason #1 and lived up to expectations by winning their fifth NCAA title. They defeated Michigan State in the championship game to claim their second national championship in four years. This win cemented UNC's status as a leader in college basketball and showcased the team's resilience and ability to rebuild after setbacks.
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Notable players
The University of North Carolina's basketball team, the Tar Heels, has a rich history dating back to its first game on January 27, 1910, a 42-21 win over Virginia Christian. Over the years, the Tar Heels have produced numerous notable players who have achieved success at the collegiate and professional levels. Here are some of the most notable players in UNC basketball history:
Lennie Rosenbluth
Lennie Rosenbluth was a standout player for the Tar Heels in the 1950s. He led the team to its first-ever ACC regular-season title in 1956 and their first NCAA Championship in 1957. Rosenbluth was named the Helms Foundation Player of the Year in 1957 and was instrumental in the team's undefeated 32-0 season that year.
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He led the Tar Heels to the NCAA championship in 1982, hitting the game-winning shot against Georgetown. Jordan went on to have a legendary NBA career, winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls. He also earned individual accolades such as the Wooden and Naismith Player of the Year awards in his junior season at UNC.
James Worthy
James Worthy was a key member of the 1982 National Championship team, winning the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player award that year. He was a leading scorer and mentor to Michael Jordan during their time at UNC. Worthy went on to have a successful NBA career, including winning multiple championships.
Vince Carter
Vince Carter played for the Tar Heels in the mid-1990s and led the NCAA in field-goal percentage during his junior season. He was drafted fifth overall by the Golden State Warriors and then traded to the Toronto Raptors. Carter won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 1999 and became known for his high-flying dunks, winning the 2000 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.
Tyler Hansbrough
Tyler Hansbrough joined the Tar Heels as a freshman in the 2005-06 season and quickly made an impact. He helped the team win the ACC regular season and tournament titles in 2007 and 2008. Hansbrough broke the UNC career scoring record, surpassing Phil Ford's previous mark.
Other Notable Mentions:
- Deakon Patrick: Scored 40 points and had 28 rebounds in a win over Maryland in 1964.
- Bobby Lewis: Scored a UNC-record 49 points in a game against Florida State in 1965.
- Sam Perkins: Part of the famous Tar Heels 'Big 3' with Jordan and Worthy, Perkins led the 1982 team in rebounding.
- Donald Williams, George Lynch, and Eric Montross: Starred in the 1993 National Championship-winning team.
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Frequently asked questions
UNC played its first basketball game on January 27, 1910, against Virginia Christian, winning the game 42-21.
UNC first appeared in the national championship game in 1946 but lost to Oklahoma A&M (now known as Oklahoma State) 43-40.
UNC won its first national championship in 1957 under coach Frank McGuire.
UNC has won six national championships, with the most recent one in 2017.
The first coach of the UNC basketball team was Cartmell, who doubled as the track coach.
