2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team American college basketball season
The 2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season . The team was coached by Roy Williams , who was in his 18th and final season as UNC's head men's basketball coach. The Tar Heels played their home games at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference . They finished the 18–11, 10–6 in ACC play to finish in a tie for fifth place. As the No. 6 seed in the ACC Tournament, they defeated Notre Dame and Virginia Tech , before losing to Florida State in the semifinals. North Carolina received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 8 seed in the Midwest region. They lost in the first round to 9th-seeded Wisconsin .
On February 27, 2021, Roy Williams won his 900th career game in a win over Florida State, becoming the 5th and fastest Division I men's head coach to reach the milestone. On March 6, 2021, UNC completed a season sweep over rival Duke in a 91–73 win. Following the win, Roy Williams kissed the Smith Center court, causing speculation of possible retirement. Williams later said it was because of the team's 10–1 home record.[ 1]
Following the season, Williams announced he was retiring after 18 years as head coach of North Carolina and 33 years of coaching.[ 2] [ 3] Hubert Davis as the team's new head coach.[ 4]
Previous season
The Tar Heels finished the 2019–20 season 14–19, 6–14 in ACC play to finish in three-way tie for last place. As the No. 14 seed in the ACC tournament , they defeated Virginia Tech before losing to Syracuse in the second round. Though the Tar Heels were ineligible for postseason play due to their record, all postseason tournaments, including the remainder of the ACC Tournament, the NCAA tournament , and NIT were canceled due to the pandemic.[ 5] [ 6]
Offseason
Departures
2020 recruiting class
College recruiting information
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
Commit date
Day'Ron Sharpe C Greenville, NC
Montverde Academy (FL)
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
246 lb (112 kg)
Jun 19, 2018
Star ratings :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN :[ 13]
Walker Kessler C Newnan, GA
Woodward Academy (GA)
7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
245 lb (111 kg)
Sep 22, 2019
Star ratings :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN :[ 14]
Caleb Love PG St. Louis, MO
Christian Brothers College (MO)
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Oct 1, 2019
Star ratings :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN :[ 15]
R. J. Davis PG White Plains, NY
Archbishop Stepinac (NY)
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
160 lb (73 kg)
Oct 21, 2019
Star ratings :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN :[ 16]
Puff Johnson SF Moon Township, PA
Hillcrest Prep (AZ)
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
185 lb (84 kg)
Nov 5, 2019
Star ratings :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN :[ 17]
Kerwin Walton SG Hopkins, MN
Hopkins (MN)
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Apr 27, 2020
Star ratings :Rivals :247Sports :ESPN :[ 18]
Overall recruiting rankings: Rivals : 3 247Sports : 2 ESPN : 3
Note : In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:
2021 recruiting class
Roster
2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
Players
Coaches
Pos.
#
Name
Height
Weight
Year
Previous school
Hometown
G 0
Anthony Harris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 196 lb (89 kg)
RS Fr Paul VI Catholic
Woodbridge, VA
G/F 1
Leaky Black 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 195 lb (88 kg)
Jr Cox Mill
Concord, NC
G 2
Caleb Love 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 195 lb (88 kg)
Fr Christian Brothers College
St. Louis, MO
G 3
Andrew Platek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg)
Sr Northfield Mount Hermon
Guilderland, NY
G 4
R. J. Davis 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 160 lb (73 kg)
Fr Archbishop Stepinac
White Plains, NY
F/C 5
Armando Bacot 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg)
So IMG Academy
Richmond, VA
F/C 11
Day'Ron Sharpe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 265 lb (120 kg)
Fr Montverde Academy
Greenville, NC
F/C 13
Walker Kessler 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m) 245 lb (111 kg)
Fr Woodward Academy
Newnan, GA
G 14
Puff Johnson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 190 lb (86 kg)
Fr Hillcrest Prep
Moon Township, PA
F 15
Garrison Brooks 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 240 lb (109 kg)
Sr Auburn
Lafayette, AL
F/C 21
Sterling Manley 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 250 lb (113 kg)
RS Jr Pickerington Central
Pickerington, OH
F/C 22
Walker Miller (W)
6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 235 lb (107 kg)
Sr New Hampton
Greensboro, NC
G 24
Kerwin Walton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg)
Fr Hopkins
Hopkins, MN
G 25
Creighton Lebo (W)
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 160 lb (73 kg)
Fr Greenfield
Wilson, NC
G 30
K. J. Smith (W)
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg)
RS Sr IMG Academy
Calabasas, CA
F 34
Duwe Farris (W)
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 205 lb (93 kg)
So Myers Park
Charlotte, NC
F 35
Ryan McAdoo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 200 lb (91 kg)
RS Jr Saint Andrew's
Boca Raton, FL
Head coach Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible(W) Walk-on Roster
Schedule and results
Date
Rank#
Opponent#
Result
Record
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Site (attendance)
Non-conference regular season
November 25, 2020 *6:00 p.m., ACCN
No. 16
College of Charleston [ 19] W 79–60 1–0
17 – Love
11 – Brooks
4 – Love
Dean Smith Center 0 )Chapel Hill, NC
November 30, 2020 *7:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 14
vs. UNLV Maui Invitational QuarterfinalsW 78–51 2–0
16 – Davis
10 – Black
4 – Love
Harrah's Cherokee Center 0 )Asheville, NC
December 1, 2020 *4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 14
vs. Stanford Maui Invitational semifinals W 67–63 3–0
16 – Love
9 – Brooks
4 – Sharpe
Harrah's Cherokee Center (0)Asheville, NC
December 2, 2020 *4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 14
vs. No. 17 Texas Maui Invitational finals L 67–69 3–1
18 – Brooks
11 – Tied
3 – Davis
Harrah's Cherokee Center (0)Asheville, NC
December 8, 2020 *7:30 p.m., ESPN
No. 16
at No. 3 Iowa ACC–Big Ten Challenge L 80–93 3–2
17 – Brooks
11 – Bacot
8 – Davis
Carver–Hawkeye Arena Iowa City, IA
December 12, 2020 3:00 p.m., ACCRSN
Elon Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[ 20]
Dean Smith Center Chapel Hill, NC
December 12, 2020 *2:00 p.m., ACCRSN
No. 16
NC Central [ 21] W 73–67 4–2
19 – Bacot
11 – Bacot
4 – Love
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
December 19, 2020 *2:00 p.m., CBS
No. 22
vs. Kentucky CBS Sports Classic W 75–63 5–2
14 – Bacot
11 – Sharpe
6 – Love
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse Cleveland, OH
ACC Regular Season
December 22, 2020 9:00 p.m., ACCN
No. 17
at NC State Rivalry L 76–79 5–3
16 – Bacot
7 – Tied
4 – Tied
PNC Arena Raleigh, NC
December 30, 2020 8:00 p.m., ACCRSN
at Georgia Tech
L 67–72 5–4
14 – Bacot
11 – Brooks
4 – Tied
McCamish Pavilion Atlanta, GA
January 2, 2021 4:00 p.m., ACCN
Notre Dame [ 22] W 66–65 6–4
25 – Sharpe
10 – Bacot
4 – Brooks
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
January 5, 2021 8:00 p.m., ESPN
at Miami (FL)
W 67–65 7–4
16 – Black
16 – Sharpe
4 – Tied
Watsco Center Coral Gables, FL
January 9, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 19 Clemson
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[ 23]
Dean Smith Center Chapel Hill, NC
January 12, 2021 9:00 p.m., ACCN
Syracuse W 81–75 8–4
16 – Brooks
10 – Bacot
7 – Black
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
January 16, 2021 12:00 p.m., ESPN
at Florida State
L 75–82 8–5
16 – Davis
6 – Sharpe
3 – 4 tied
Donald L. Tucker Center Tallahassee, FL
January 20, 2021 9:00 p.m., ACCN
Wake Forest Rivalry W 80–73 9–5
20 – Love
7 – Brooks
8 – Black
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
January 23, 2021 2:00 p.m., ESPN
NC State Rivalry W 86–76 10–5
17 – Bacot
10 – Sharpe
5 – Love
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
January 26, 2021 7:00 p.m., ACCN
at Pittsburgh
W 75–65 11–5
21 – Bacot
10 – Bacot
5 – Love
Petersen Events Center Pittsburgh, PA
February 2, 2021 7:00 p.m., ACCN
at Clemson
L 50–63 11–6
16 – Sharpe
9 – Brooks
2 – Davis
Littlejohn Coliseum Clemson, SC
February 6, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN
at Duke Rivalry W 91–87 12–6
25 – Love
9 – Sharpe
7 – Love
Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC
February 8, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN
Miami (FL) Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[ 24]
Dean Smith Center Chapel Hill, NC
February 13, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN
at No. 9 Virginia
L 48–60 12–7
9 – Kessler
10 – Bacot
3 – Tied
John Paul Jones Arena Charlottesville, VA
February 16, 2021 7:00 p.m., ACCN
No. 18 Virginia Tech
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[ 25]
Dean Smith Center Chapel Hill, NC
February 17, 2021 *7:00 p.m., ACCNX
Northeastern [ 26] W 82–62 13–7
15 – Sharpe
13 – Brooks
9 – Love
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
February 20, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN
Louisville W 99–54 14–7
21 – Sharpe
11 – Sharpe
5 – Platek
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
February 23, 2021 9:00 p.m., ACCN
at Boston College
Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[ 27]
Conte Forum Chestnut Hill, MA
February 24, 2021 *7:00 p.m., ESPN2
Marquette [ 28] L 70–83 14–8
18 – Brooks
11 – Sharpe
7 – Love
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
February 27, 2021 4:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 11 Florida State
W 78–70 15–8
20 – Kessler
8 – Kessler
4 – Black
Dean Smith Center (0)Chapel Hill, NC
March 1, 2021 7:00 p.m., ESPN
at Syracuse
L 70–72 15–9
18 – Bacot
15 – Bacot
3 – Tied
Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY
March 6, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPN
Duke Rivalry W 91–73 16–9
18 – Tied
6 – Bacot
7 – Love
Dean Smith Center (3,263)Chapel Hill, NC
ACC tournament
March 10, 2021 9:00 p.m., ACCN
(6)
vs. (11) Notre Dame Second round W 101–59 17–9
20 – Bacot
13 – Bacot
6 – Tied
Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC
March 11, 2021 9:00 p.m., ESPN
(6)
vs. (3) No. 22 Virginia Tech Quarterfinals W 81–73 18–9
19 – Davis
13 – Bacot
3 – Tied
Greensboro Coliseum (2,820)Greensboro, NC
March 12, 2021 8:30 p.m., ESPN
(6)
vs. (2) No. 15 Florida State Semifinals L 66–69 18–10
13 – Love
8 – Brooks
2 – Tied
Greensboro Coliseum (2,820)Greensboro, NC
NCAA tournament
March 19, 2021 *7:10 p.m., CBS
(8 S)
vs. (9 S) Wisconsin First Round L 62–85 18–11
15 – Bacot
10 – Brooks
3 – Love
Mackey Arena West Lafayette, IN
*Non-conference game.
# Rankings from
AP Poll . (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
S=South.
All times are in
Eastern Time .
Source:[ 29]
Rankings
On January 18, 2021, Duke fell out of the AP Top 25 ranking for the first time since February 8, 2016. This broke a 59-year streak and marked the first time since December 25, 1961 that the powerhouse trio of Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina were all out of the Top 25 ranking.[ 30]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking Week Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Final AP 16 14 16 22 17 RV — — — — RV RV RV RV RV — — Not released Coaches 16 16^ 14 21 17 RV — — — — RV — — RV RV RV — —
^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.
References
^ Roy Williams Explains Kissing Center Court , retrieved April 3, 2021 ^ "UNC icon Roy Williams retiring after 33 seasons" . ESPN.com . April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021 .^ "UNC's Williams retires: 'No longer the right man' . ESPN.com . April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021 .^ Pickman, Ben. "UNC Hires Hubert Davis as Next Head Coach" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved April 7, 2021 . ^ "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships" .^ "Statement from ACC on Men's Basketball Tournament" . theacc.com . Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved March 12, 2020 .^ "North Carolina's Cole Anthony declares for 2020 NBA draft" . Retrieved April 17, 2020 .^ "Men's Hoops Adds UNC Transfer Francis" . University of New Mexico Athletics . Retrieved May 12, 2020 .[permanent dead link ] ^ "Caleb Ellis Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Justin Pierce Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Men's basketball announces five spring signees" . Jacksonville State University Athletics . Retrieved May 12, 2020 .^ "Christian Keeling Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Day'Ron Sharpe Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Walker Kessler Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Caleb Love Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "R.J. Davis Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Donovan Johnson Bio" . Retrieved April 1, 2020 .^ "Kerwin Walton Bio" . Retrieved April 27, 2020 .^ Ross Martin (October 14, 2020). "UNC to Open Season vs. College of Charleston" . 247sports.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020 . ^ "Elon Forced to Postpone Game Against UNC" . 247sports.com . 247 Sports. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020 .^ Greg Barnes (December 9, 2020). "UNC Adds N.C. Central to Basketball Schedule" . 247sports.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021 . ^ Adam Smith (December 31, 2020). "UNC to meet Notre Dame in replacement game on short notice as ACC reshuffles deck" . thetimesnews.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021 . ^ "Clemson Men's Basketball Games at UNC and Syracuse Postponed; Syracuse at UNC Set for Jan. 12" . theacc.com . The Atlantic Coast Conference. January 8, 2021. Retrieved January 8, 2021 .^ Medcalf, Myron (February 8, 2021). "Miami Hurricanes-North Carolina Tar Heels basketball game postponed after party video surfaces" . ESPN . ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2021 . ^ "Virginia Tech at North Carolina Men's Basketball Game Postponed" . theacc.com . The Atlantic Coast Conference. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021 .^ "North Carolina Tar Heels schedule game vs. Northeastern Huskies on Wednesday" . ESPN.com. February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021 .^ "ACC Announces Men's Basketball Schedule Changes" . theacc.com . The Atlantic Coast Conference. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021 .^ Greg Barnes (February 20, 2021). "UNC Schedules Game with Marquette" . 247sports.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021 . ^ "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule" . goheels.com . University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved November 23, 2020 .^ Cassandra Negley (January 18, 2021). "Duke, UNC, Kentucky all outside of men's AP Top 25 for first time since 1961" . Retrieved January 20, 2021 .
Venues Rivalries Culture & lore People Seasons Helms and Premo-Porretta national championships in bold; NCAA Final Four appearances in italics; NCAA championships in bolded italics
