North Carolina Basketball’s Best of the Decade: Top Five Moments

NORTH CAROLINA BASKETBALL’S BEST OF THE DECADE: TOP FIVE MOMENTS

Chapel Hill, NC – Few programs in college basketball can match the tradition, history, and passion that surround the North Carolina Tar Heels, and the past decade has provided fans with a treasure trove of unforgettable memories. From dramatic championship runs to rivalry triumphs and unforgettable individual performances, UNC basketball has continued to define itself as one of the sport’s gold standards. Looking back on the last ten years, five moments stand out as the crown jewels of the Tar Heels’ journey.

1. The 2017 National Championship Victory – Perhaps the defining highlight of the decade came in Phoenix, when Roy Williams and the Tar Heels redeemed themselves after the heartbreak of 2016. Behind stars like Joel Berry II, Justin Jackson, and Kennedy Meeks, UNC captured its sixth national title by defeating Gonzaga in a hard-fought battle, restoring the program to its rightful place atop the college basketball mountain.

2. Marcus Paige’s Legendary Shot (2016 NCAA Title Game) – Even in defeat, Paige’s double-clutch three-pointer to tie the championship game against Villanova is etched in UNC history. While the Wildcats won at the buzzer, Paige’s shot remains one of the greatest plays in March Madness lore and an embodiment of Tar Heel grit.

3. Cole Anthony’s Explosive Debut (2019 Season) – Before injuries derailed his season, freshman Cole Anthony electrified the Dean Dome with a record-setting debut performance, instantly stamping himself as one of the most talented guards to ever wear Carolina blue. His moment symbolized the continued pipeline of NBA-ready talent flowing through Chapel Hill.

4. Dominating Duke at Cameron Indoor (2019) – Rivalry games always define the program, and UNC’s emphatic road victory against the Blue Devils—spoiled further by Zion Williamson’s shoe injury—proved to be one of the most talked-about moments in recent rivalry history. For Tar Heel fans, few things bring greater joy than silencing Cameron.

5. Hubert Davis’s 2022 Final Four Upset Over Duke – In his first year as head coach, Davis guided the Tar Heels to an unforgettable Final Four run, highlighted by defeating Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils in Coach K’s final game. That victory was more than just a win—it was history, solidifying Davis’s place in UNC lore.

Together, these moments embody the passion, resilience, and excellence of North Carolina basketball, reminding the sports world why the Tar Heels remain one of the defining dynasties of college athletics.