Ranking All UNC’s Tournament Runs Under Roy Williams
By John Bauman
Feb 7, 2015; Chestnut Hill, MA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams reacts during the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Silvio O. Conte Forum. The North Carolina Tar Heels won 79-68. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
#2: 2005
The first of Roy Williams’ two National Championships was in 2005. Carolina lost just four games all season — the first game against Santa Clara, two road games against Wake Forest (they had Chris Paul) and Duke (the Raymond Felton turnover game), and an ACC Tournament loss to Georgia Tech (Rashad McCants’s game winner was a “good look, an awfully good look.”)
In the NCAA Tournament, the Heels easily made it past the first weekend, but avoided disaster in the Sweet 16 against Villanova. There was a bit of controversy there, but UNC moved on and beat Wisconsin to advance to the Final Four.
In the Final Four, two tough teams, Michigan State and Illinois, stood between the Heels and a National Championship. Michigan State fell by 16 and Deron Williams’ Fighting Illini lost by five, and the Tar Heels had their National Championship, their first under Roy Williams.
Next: 2009