NCAA Tournament Best UNC first and second round games of all-time

North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Stanford Cardinal (2000), Second Round (Round of 32)

Similar to the 1989-90 season, the North Carolina Tar Heels were named a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament in 2000. UNC finished the 2000 regular season with an 18-13 record.

North Carolina was led by star freshman guard, Joseph Forte. Forte had a trademark mid-range bank shot that nearly unguardable.

In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the Tar Heels defeated the Missouri Tigers 84-70. In the second round (now known as Round of 32), North Carolina faced the No. 1 seed Stanford Cardinal. Stanford was the overall No. 1 seed in the tournament with a 26-3 record.

UNC was the underdog in this game. However, if (and when) you watch this game, you might assume that the Tar Heels were the higher seed.

Bill Guthridge ran a tight ship with this Tar Heel squad. He used a six-man rotation for the most part, consisting of Ed Cota, Jason Capel, Forte, Brendan Haywood, Kris Lang and Julius Peppers.

North Carolina and Stanford went back-and-forth in the first half; taking turns having the lead.

At halftime, UNC lead Stanford 28-27. In the second half, North Carolina created separation from Stanford. Haywood, Lang and Peppers dominated the low post for the Tar Heels. Cota and Forte orchestrated the offense.

Capel was the glue guy for this squad that did a bit of everything.

UNC held Stanford’s star player Casey Jacobsen to five points (2-of-12 field goals). The Tar Heels led the majority of the second half.

Carolina upset Standord 60-53.

Forte had 17 points and five rebounds. Haywood scored 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots. Lang had 10 points and four rebounds. Cota finished the game with 10 assists, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Despite a subpar regular season, the Tar Heels went to the Final Four in 2000. In the national semifinal game, they lost to the Florida Gators 71-59 .