North Carolina has won six national championships. A program that values success at the highest level, the Tar Heels have brought in some of the best players in the world, including Michael Jordan. While they’ve struggled in recent years at times, they’ve still managed to sneak into the NCAA Tournament. However, their expectations are beyond simply making it to March Madness. They have their eyes set on winning it all. So far, North Carolina has won three national championships in the 21st century, but what are their top five wins this century? This should go beyond championships, since some wins alter the entire state of the basketball program. Others just mean more.

North Carolina’s Top 5 Wins of the 21st Century
North Carolina 67, Villanova 66: 2005 Sweet Sixteen

The Tar Heels had struggled to come through in big moments following Dean Smith’s departure from the program in 1997. They had failed to advance to the championship game despite strong rosters under coaches Bill Guthridge and Matt Doherty, including back-to-back seasons missing the NCAA Tournament entirely. Roy Williams was brought in to change that, leading them to the Round of 32 in his first year.

The Tar Heels entered the 2005 NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed, considered one of the favorites to win the championship. Villanova stood in their way in the Sweet Sixteen. North Carolina trailed by four points at halftime. It seemed like the same problems returned. However, the Tar Heels fought back, extending the lead in the second half and holding on to win by one point despite a frantic Villanova comeback in the last two minutes. That win must be included in the top five wins of the 21st century because it sparked a title run and a dynasty. North Carolina won the championship that season and three more under Roy Williams.

North Carolina 75, Kentucky 73: 2017 Elite Eight

After losing in heartbreaking fashion in the 2016 national championship game to Villanova, North Carolina played well in 2017 and rolled into the Elite Eight as a one seed. The Tar Heels ran into a Kentucky team with several NBA-bound players on the roster, including De’Aaron Fox. The game featured many twists and turns, but North Carolina found themselves ahead by three late in the second half. Malik Monk hit a three with only 10 seconds left to tie the game.

North Carolina learned from their mistakes, and Luke Maye hit the shot of his life. With only 0.3 seconds on the clock, Maye hit the dagger that would send North Carolina on to the Final Four. The Tar Heels’ first big test since their championship game loss ended any doubt: this roster had what it took to win the national championship. And that’s just what they did.

North Carolina 81, Duke 77: 2022 Final Four

Some games just mean more. In Mike Krzyzewski’s final season, the Blue Devils were primed to win it all. Led by Paolo Banchero, the Blue Devils needed two wins to end his career with a bang. Their next opponent? North Carolina, their bitter rivals. It was a storybook way for Coach K to get his final national championship. North Carolina had other ideas.

Led by Caleb Love‘s stellar night, the Tar Heels kept themselves in the game despite being an eight seed in the tournament. Their incredible run to the Final Four led them to Duke. They toppled Coach K with a dagger three from Love, ending his career the way any Tar Heels fan would want. Krzyzewski beat North Carolina in many important games throughout his career, but the Tar Heels got the last laugh. This would be the best of their top five wins in the 21st century if they hadn’t blown their big lead against Kansas in the national championship.

North Carolina 75, Illinois 70: 2005 National Championship

It is impossible to make this list without including this national championship win. After a huge comeback win in the Sweet Sixteen, North Carolina advanced to the championship game against Illinois. They ran out to a 13-point lead in the first half, but blew the lead. The game sat 70-70 until North Carolina pulled away and held on to win their first national championship under Roy Williams.

The win marked the beginning of Roy Williams’ dominant run in Chapel Hill. Like most of the other wins on this list, a loss could have changed the trajectory of the program for years to come. However, the win sparked two more national championships and two more championship losses this century. It was a monumental game, but it didn’t mean as much as the final game on this list.

North Carolina 71, Gonzaga 65: 2017 National Championship

The sorrow from the national championship in 2016 lasted only one year. It was a long year, and seemed destined to become two. Gonzaga led by three points with under two minutes left. The Tar Heels had been there before. They had faced all the heat that comes with a championship game loss. Much of the roster was the same. The players didn’t want to lose again. Williams didn’t want to lose again.

North Carolina closed the game on an 11-2 run and closed out their championship. The players got their redemption, and the program got its last national title. If only every team that lost a national championship got to recover so quickly. Despite all the drama in this run, including two wins in the Elite Eight and Final Four by a combined three points, it had a fairy tale ending.

Not every team has a championship to include in their top five wins of the 21st century. North Carolina may have the most satisfying championship run in history. There is no doubt that this win tops the list.

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