You know how the old saying goes, "defense wins championships."
The UNC basketball program has shown that mindset through the early portion of the 2025-2026 season, as their calling card has been elite-level defensive efforts that help lead to transition opportunities on the other end of the floor.
Even without Seth Trimble, arguably the best on-ball defender in the country, for most of the non-conference schedule, the Tar Heels still found ways to be a high-level defensive unit.
The improved size and versatility added to this year's roster has paid dividends, helping the UNC basketball program accomplish something that hasn't been done since Michael Jordan was on campus as a student at North Carolina.
2025-2026 mimicking 1981-1982
Through 14 games of the 2025-2026 season, the UNC basketball program has allowed 75 points or fewer to each of its opponents. Of those games, only five opponents have scored 70 points or more, showing just how difficult it has been for opposing offenses to score the basketball when they match up with the Tar Heels.
This stretch marks the longest that the UNC basketball program has allowed 75 points or fewer since the 1981-1982 season, one that ended quite well for the Tar Heels.
The 1981-1982 team was an elite defensive unit, as they went the entire season not allowing more than 75 points in a single contest. Considering they played 34 games en route to a national championship, it goes to show just how locked in Dean Smith's group was defensively, a feat that would be near impossible to match in this day and age of college basketball.
With a faster pace and a heavier emphasis on three-point shooting, it's simply impressive that the current UNC basketball team has stretched this type of streak as long as it has, especially having faced some top-tier competition throughout non-conference action.
The UNC basketball program's streak will certainly be challenged as ACC play ramps up. However, this team has what it takes to be an elite-level defense, and the scary thing is, there is still room for improvement on that end of the floor for Hubert Davis' team.
If they can unlock that next level potential, this UNC basketball team will be very tough to beat.