Story by
Ranking the top UNC basketball teams from 2000-2025
- Story by
- Ranking the top UNC basketball teams from 2000-2025
Despite mixed results since Hubert Davis took over as head coach , the North Carolina Tar Heels still sport a storied college basketball program.
UNC has six NCAA Tournament titles under its belt, plus another National Championship in 1924. North Carolina is a regular participant in the Big Dance , with its 54 appearances second-most all-time – and 134 wins most in college basketball.
Advertisement
When we look back at the most successful Tar Heel basketball teams since 2000, which ones come to mind? Is it the 2005, 2009 or 2017 National Championship teams? How about the runner-up squads in 2016 and 2022? Do you include any talented, underperforming groups who either made the Big Dance and fizzled out, or those just on the edge?
Most recently, UNC snuck into the 2025 NCAA Tournament, demolishing San Diego State in the First Four before a near-historic comeback against Ole Miss. North Carolina made a Sweet 16 run in 2024, barely losing to a red-hot Alabama squad, while previously watching a 15-point halftime lead dissipate against Kansas in the 2022 National Championship game.
On paper, the current, 2025-26 Tar Heels have everyone they need to capture another NCAA Championship. Caleb Wilson is being hyped as the next great UNC freshman, height is there in the form of Henri Veesaar , Seth Trimble and Kyan Evans look to form one of the ACC's best backcourt duos, plus talented depth gives Davis plenty options off the bench.
For the purpose of this story, though, we're focusing on the 10 best North Carolina teams since 2000. Let's start with number 10.
Advertisement
#10: 2023-24 squad
Mar 23, 2024; Charlotte, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Armando Bacot (5) congratulates guard RJ Davis (4) after hitting a three point shot against Michigan State Spartans at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
Outside of the 2015-2016 UNC team that fell victim to Kris Jenkins ' buzzer-beater in the National Championship game, UNC's 2023-2024 squad is one of the best – since 2000 – to not win a title.
Led by an experienced starting lineup featuring Armando Bacot , Harrison Ingram , Cormac Ryan and RJ Davis, this North Carolina squad fell two points shots of its 30th Elite Eight berth.
These Tar Heels won the ACC Regular Season title, then lost to a red-hot NC State Squad in the ACC Tournament Championship.
#9: 2018-19 team
Feb 26, 2019; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Cameron Johnson (13) and guard Coby White (2) and guard Kenny Williams (24) react in the second half at Dean E. Smith Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
When you look at the most individual talent on one team in recent memory, UNC's 2018-19 squad makes a strong case. These Tar Heels featured Luke Maye , now-NBA stars Coby White and Cameron Johnson , Nassir Little , Leaky Black and Kenny Williams.
Advertisement
North Carolina tied with Virginia for a share of the regular season ACC title, then lost to Duke in the ACC Tournament semis. UNC beat Iona and Washington in convincing fashion to begin NCAA Tournament play, then ran into the power that is now Auburn.
One could argue that if the Tar Heels played someone else in the Sweet 16, they advance further. Alas, fans now wonder the possibilities of another successful season falling short.
#8: 2011-12
Mar 11, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Tyler Zeller (44) and Florida State Seminoles forward Bernard James (5) battle for a rebound in the second half during the finals of the 2012 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament at Philips Arena. FSU defeated UNC 85-82 to win the school's first ACC tournament championship. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The 2011-12 Tar Heels won 32 games, their fourth-most in a season since 2000. North Carolina featured a starting lineup with future NBA players in Harrison Barnes (still active), PJ Hairston , Tyler Zeller , Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall .
Advertisement
UNC earned an ACC Regular Season title, then beat Vermont, Creighton and Ohio University in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina watched its season end against Kansas, which lost to Kentucky in the 2012 National Championship.
#7: 2021-22
Apr 2, 2022; New Orleans, LA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Caleb Love (2) drives around a block by forward Armando Bacot (5) against Duke Blue Devils forward AJ Griffin (middle) during the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four semifinals at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
If you ask any Tar Heel fan to pick a different ending for any basketball season, 2021-22 has to be near or atop that list.
UNC needed a late-season run to make the NCAA Tournament, then started playing like the best team in college basketball. North Carolina smacked Marquette, withstood a furious Baylor comeback, squeaked by UCLA , beat Saint Peter's with ease, then ended Coach K's career in an all-time, Final Four classic.
Advertisement
The Tar Heels built a 15-point halftime lead against Kansas in the National Championship game, but lost 72-69. That has to be one of the biggest "what ifs" in program history.
Bacot, Black, RJ Davis, Caleb Love and Brady Manek led this UNC squad, which also featured Puff Johnson, Dawson Garcia , Kerwin Walton, D'Marco Dunn and Dontrez Styles.
#6: 2006-07
Dec 16, 2006, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels (2) Wayne Ellington looks to pass in the Tar Heels 93-62 win against the UNC Asheville Bulldogs at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, NC. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Copyright © 2006 Bob Donnan
Just two years removed from their fourth NCAA Tournament title, UNC's 2006-07 squad featured a young, star-studded roster that won the ACC Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight, where it lost to Georgetown.
You'll recognize plenty of names of this squad: Wayne Ellington , Marcus Ginyard, Will Graves, Danny Green, Tyler Hansbrough , Ty Lawson , Wes Miller, Deon Thompson and Brandan Wright .
Advertisement
#5: 2007-08
Apr 5, 2008; San Antonio, TX, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Russell Robinson (3) loses the ball as he goes up for a shot against North Carolina Tar Heels forward Deon Thompson (21) forward Alex Stepheson (32) and guard/forward Marcus Ginyard (1) during the first half of the semi-finals of the 2008 NCAA Mens Final Four Championship at the Alamodome. Kansas defeated North Carolina 84-66. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Ellington, Ginyard, Graves, Green, Psycho T, Lawson and Thompson all returned to lead the 2007-08 Tar Heels. UNC amassed an eye-popping record of 36-3, won both the ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, then lost to eventual National Championship Kansas in the Final Four.
#4: 2015-16
Dec 28, 2015; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels guard Marcus Paige (5), Nate Britt(0), Brice Johnson (11), and Joel Berry II (2) laugh from the bench during the second half against the NC-Greensboro Spartans at Dean E. Smith Center. The Tar Heels won 96-63. Mandatory Credit: Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports
This UNC team featured the senior leadership of Marcus Paige and Garrison Brooks , emerging stars in Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks , plus up-and-coming sophomores in Joel Berry , Theo Pinson and Justin Jackson .
North Carolina won the ACC Regular Season and Tournament Championships, then eased its way through NCAA Tournament play. That is, until the Tar Heels met Villanova, which knocked down a buzzer-beater to capture the 2016 National Title.
Advertisement
UNC compiled a 33-7 record that season, but win #34 was just a half-court heave and overtime period away.
#3: 2016-17 National Championship team
GLENDALE, AZ - APRIL 03: The North Carolina Tar Heels celebrate after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2017 NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship game at University of Phoenix Stadium on April 3, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. The Tar Heels defeated the Bulldogs 71-65. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
They finally did it. After losing a heartbreaker to Villanova the season before, these Tar Heels captured the program's sixth – and most recent – National Championship.
Berry, Meeks, Hicks, Pinson and Jackson led this UNC squad, which also carried Maye, Williams, Tony Bradley and Nate Britt . North Carolina went 33-7, winning the Maui Invitational and ACC Regular Season title along the way.
#2: 2004-05 National Championship team
CHAPEL HILL, NC - MARCH 3: Sean May #42 of the North Carolina Tar Heels grabs a rebound as teammate Marvin Williams #24 looks on during their ACC game against the Florida State Seminoles on March 3, 2005 at the Dean E. Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The Tar Heels defeated the Seminoles 91-76. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
This National Championship-winning UNC squad featured a bunch of Tar Heel legends: Sean May, Marvin Williams , Raymond Felton and Rashad McCants. North Carolina also won the 2004 Maui Invitational and 2005 ACC Regular Season title.
Advertisement
The Tar Heels dominated Oakland, Iowa State and Michigan State in NCAA Tournament play, but squeaked by Villanova (67-66) and Wisconsin (88-82). UNC beat Illinois, 75-70, in the National Championship game.
#1: 2008-2009 National Championship-winning squad
DETROIT - APRIL 06: Wayne Ellington #22, Tyler Hansbrough #50 and Danny Green #14 of the North Carolina Tar Heels celebrate with their teammates after they won 89-72 against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Championship game at Ford Field on April 6, 2009 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
UNC's 2008-09 squad is undoubtedly the program's best since 2000, but also arguably the best in program history – and amongst the all-time great college teams.
North Carolina finished the year 34-4, only losing to Boston College, Wake Forest, Maryland and Florida State. The Tar Heels rolled through NCAA Tournament play, capping their run with an 89-72 domination of Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans. UNC dispatched Radford, LSU , Gonzaga, Oklahoma , Villanova and MSU by an average of 20.2 points.
Advertisement
You'll find some of the best student-athletes to ever don a North Carolina uniform on this roster: Hansbrough, Ellington, Lawson, Green, Ginyard, Thompson and Ed Davis . Graves, Larry Drew, Bobby Frasor are a few other notable names on this GOAT squad.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: Ranking the 10 best UNC basketball teams from 2000-2025
