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This article is part of a series of top North Carolina athletes and teams. As North Carolina sports betting launched in March 2024, take a look at the top athletes across North Carolina college and professional sports.
North Carolina is a premier name in college basketball with a great history of coaches and players including NBA great Michael Jordan. Just how much success has UNC basketball had over the years? Take a look at the UNC National Championships, Final Four history, and more for the men’s basketball team.
UNC Basketball National Championships
North Carolina has won 6 national championships with the most recent coming in 2017 under head coach Roy Williams vs Gonzaga.. He also won titles with North Carolina in 2005 over Illinois and 2009 over Michigan State. Michael Jordan hit the game-winning shot in the 1982 national championship as a freshman giving UNC a 63-62 win over Georgetown. Here’s a look at UNC’s national titles.
| Year | Winning team | Score | Losing team |
| 1957 | North Carolina | 54–53 (3OT) | Kansas |
| 1982 | North Carolina | 63–62 | Georgetown |
| 1993 | North Carolina | 77–71 | Michigan |
| 2005 | North Carolina | 75–70 | Illinois |
| 2009 | North Carolina | 89–72 | Michigan State |
| 2017 | North Carolina | 71–65 | Gonzaga |
Read More: How many titles does rival Duke have?
UNC’s National Championship Game Appearances
North Carolina first reached the NCAA title game back in 1946 but lost to Oklahoma A&M 43-40. One of UNC’s losses in the final gave March Madness one of its greatest moments ever. In the 2016 championship game, UNC lost on a buzzer-beating three by Kris Jenkins that gave Villanova a 77-74. Carolina had just tied the game with 6 seconds left on a Marcus Paige three-pointer before Nova’s Jenkins hit the game-winner.
Fans from the 90s will never forget Chris Webber trying to call a timeout with none remaining as North Carolina beat Michigan 77-71 in 1993. In all, UNC has reached the national championship 12 times. Here’s the history of UNC’s appearances in the National Championship game.
| Year | Winning team | Score | Losing team |
| 1946 | Oklahoma A&M | 43–40 | North Carolina |
| 1957 | North Carolina | 54–53 (3OT) | Kansas |
| 1968 | UCLA | 78–55 | North Carolina |
| 1977 | Marquette | 67–59 | North Carolina |
| 1981 | Indiana | 63–50 | North Carolina |
| 1982 | North Carolina | 63–62 | Georgetown |
| 1993 | North Carolina | 77–71 | Michigan |
| 2005 | North Carolina | 75–70 | Illinois |
| 2009 | North Carolina | 89–72 | Michigan State |
| 2016 | Villanova | 77–74 | North Carolina |
| 2017 | North Carolina | 71–65 | Gonzaga |
| 2022 | Kansas | 72–69 | North Carolina |
Read more: Which all-time team wins? Duke or UNC?
How Many Final Fours Has North Carolina Reached?
The Tar Heels have made an NCAA record 21 Final Fours and UNC has reached the Final Four in 9-straight decades. 2022 was the most recent appearance as UNC beat Duke in the Final Four before falling to Kansas in the championship game. Since 2000, the Tar Heels have reached 7 Final Fours. Check out the team’s Final Four history.
| Season | Record | Tournament Result | Coach |
| 1945-46 | 30-5 | Lost National Championship | Ben Carnevale |
| 1956-57 | 32-0 | Won National Championship | Frank McGuire |
| 1966-67 | 26-6 | Lost in Final Four | Dean Smith |
| 1967-68 | 28-4 | Lost National Championship | Dean Smith |
| 1968-69 | 27-5 | Lost in Final Four | Dean Smith |
| 1971-72 | 26-5 | Lost in Final Four | Dean Smith |
| 1976-77 | 28-5 | Lost National Championship | Dean Smith |
| 1980-81 | 29-8 | Lost National Championship | Dean Smith |
| 1981-82 | 32-2 | Won National Championship | Dean Smith |
| 1990-91 | 29-6 | Lost in Final Four | Dean Smith |
| 1992-93 | 34-4 | Won National Championship | Dean Smith |
| 1994-95 | 28-6 | Lost in Final Four | Dean Smith |
| 1996-97 | 28-7 | Lost in Final Four | Dean Smith |
| 1997-98 | 34-4 | Lost in Final Four | Bill Guthridge |
| 1999-00 | 22-14 | Lost in Final Four | Bill Guthridge |
| 2004-05 | 33-4 | Won National Championship | Roy Williams |
| 2007-08 | 36-3 | Lost in Final Four | Roy Williams |
| 2008-09 | 34-4 | Won National Championship | Roy Williams |
| 2015-16 | 33-7 | Lost National Championship | Roy Williams |
| 2016-17 | 33-7 | Won National Championship | Roy Williams |
| 2021-22 | 29-10 | Lost National Championship | Hubert Davis |
Read More: Ranking the top 10 UNC players of all time
UNC Coach Who Won the Most National Titles
Roy Williams won 3 national championships during his tenure at North Carolina which is the most by any coach in program history. Dean Smith won 2 titles but was able to reach the Final Four 11 times and coached in 5 national championship games.
Williams reached 9 Final Fours in his career with 5 of those coming at North Carolina. He racked up 903 career wins as a coach and is the only head coach to bring two different programs to the Final Four four times each. Also, he is the only coach in NCAA history with 400+ wins with two different programs.
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More UNC Program Accolades
There is no question that UNC is one of the most successful college basketball programs of all time alongside the likes of UCLA, Kentucky, and Duke. Check out some of the Tar Heels’ great accomplishments over the years.
Read More: The Best NBA Players from UNC and best NBA players born in NC
