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We are getting down to the nitty gritty in our bracket to crown the greatest North Carolina Tar Heels men’s basketball team.
Of the eight teams left standing, all eight advanced all the way to the national championship game in real life. All six of UNC’s NCAA Tournament championship teams are left standing, while two teams that came incredibly close have also made it.
Not that there haven’t been tough choices earlier in this tournament, but you’re going to have to make some really difficult one now. Here are four Elite Eight matchups for you to vote in!
Elite Eight
Dean Smith Region
#1. 1956-57 vs. #3. 1976-77
Record: 32-0 (14-0 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Best Win: 3/23/57 - 54-53 (3OT) vs. #2 Kansas
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #1
Frank McGuire’s undefeated championship team faced a semi-tough task, but eventually won it’s Sweet 16 matchup with 66% of the vote against ‘94-95.
Record: 28-5 (9-3 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Runners-Up
Best Win: 3/26/77 - 84-84 vs. #4 UNLV
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #3
The Phil Ford led team won a battle of Dean Smith’s first two teams to appear in the national championship game when it got 74% against ‘67-68.
Poll
Who was better?
This poll is closed
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78%
#1. 1956-57
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21%
#3. 1976-77
Norman Shepard Region
#1. 1992-93 vs. #2. 2004-05
Record: 34-4 (14-2 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Best Win: 4/5/93 - 77-71 vs. #3 Michigan
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #1
Smith’s second national championship won fairly easily against the Final Four-appearing ‘97-98 squad.
Record: 33-4 (14-2 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Best Win: 4/4/05 - 75-70 vs. #1 Illinois
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #2
Here we have our first all-national championship matchup of the tournament. Roy Williams’ first title team cruised past ‘07-08 to set up this massive Elite Eight clash.
Poll
Who was better?
This poll is closed
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37%
#1. 1992-93
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62%
#2. 2004-05
Roy Williams Region
#1. 1981-82 vs. #3. 2015-16
Record: 32-2 (12-2 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Best Win: 3/29/82 - 63-63 vs. #6 Georgetown
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #1
Smith, James Worthy, Michael Jordan and company won the biggest blowout of the Sweet 16, getting all but two votes in a win over ‘71-72.
Record: 33-7 (14-4 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Runners-Up
Best Win: 3/12/16 - 61-57 vs. #4 Virginia
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #1
This matchup features two of the more iconic shots in UNC history, with this team producing Marcus Paige’s one. (Don’t ask what happened after that.)
Poll
Who was better?
Frank McGuire Region
#1. 2008-09 vs. #2. 2016-17
Record: 34-4 (13-3 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Best Win: 4/6/09 - 89-72 vs. #8 Michigan State
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #1
This Tyler Hansborough, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington led squad handily beat Smith’s final team from ‘96-97, getting 97% of the vote.
Record: 33-7 (14-4 ACC)
NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Best Win: 4/3/17 - 71-65 vs. #2 Gonzaga
AP Poll Peak Ranking: #3
Here we have another all-national championship matchup, and the two most recent UNC teams to do to boot. Williams’ third title beat the ‘81-82 national runners up to set up this battle.