2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team

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.

2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
NCAA tournament, first round
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Record18–11 (10–6 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaDean E. Smith Center
2020–21 ACC men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 15 Virginia13–4 .76518–7  .720
No. 14 Florida State11–4 .73318–7  .720
No. 25 Virginia Tech9–4 .69215–7  .682
Georgia Tech †11–6 .64717–9  .654
Clemson10–6 .62516–8  .667
North Carolina10–6 .62518–11  .621
Louisville8–5 .61513–7  .650
Syracuse9–7 .56318–10  .643
NC State9–8 .52914–11  .560
Duke9–9 .50013–11  .542
Notre Dame7–11 .38911–15  .423
Pittsburgh6–10 .37510–12  .455
Miami (FL)4–15 .21110–17  .370
Wake Forest3–15 .1676–16  .273
Boston College2–11 .1544–16  .200
† 2021 ACC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

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] Several days later, the school named assistant coach 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
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Cole Anthony2G6'3"190FreshmanNew York, New YorkDeclared for the 2020 NBA draft; selected 15th overall by the Orlando Magic.[7]
Brandon Robinson4G6'5"173SeniorDouglasville, GeorgiaGraduated
Shea Rush11F6'5"210SeniorFairway, KansasGraduated
Jeremiah Francis13G6'0"210FreshmanReynoldsburg, OhioTransferred to New Mexico[8]
Caleb Ellis25F6'5"190Graduate Student[9]Apex, North CarolinaCompleted athletic eligibility
Justin Pierce32F6'7"210Graduate Student[10]Glen Ellyn, IllinoisCompleted athletic eligibility
Robbie O'Han34G6'2"170SeniorRaleigh, North CarolinaGraduated
Brandon Huffman42F6'10"255JuniorGoldsboro, North CarolinaTransferred to Jacksonville State[11]
Christian Keeling55G6'3"180Graduate Student[12]Augusta, GeorgiaCompleted athletic eligibility

2020 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
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 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 94[13]
Walker Kessler
C		 Newnan, GA Woodward Academy (GA) 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) 245 lb (111 kg) Sep 22, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 94[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 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:5/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars    ESPN:5/5 stars   ESPN grade: 94[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 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 87[16]
Puff Johnson
SF		 Moon Township, PA Hillcrest Prep (AZ) 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Nov 5, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85[17]
Kerwin Walton
SG		 Hopkins, MN Hopkins (MN) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) Apr 27, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 81[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:

  • "North Carolina 2020 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  • "2020 North Carolina Tar Heels Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.
  • "2020 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved November 10, 2020.

2021 recruiting class
US college sports recruiting information for 2021 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Dontrez Styles
SF		 Kinston, NC Kinston 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 205 lb (93 kg) Apr 18, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 85
D'Marco Dunn
SG		 Tucson, AZ Westover (NC) 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 180 lb (82 kg) Sep 30, 2020 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:4/5 stars    ESPN:4/5 stars   ESPN grade: 83
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 37  247Sports: 37
  • 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:

Roster
2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 0 Anthony Harris 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)196 lb (89 kg) RS FrPaul VI Catholic Woodbridge, VA
G/F 1 Leaky Black 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)195 lb (88 kg) JrCox Mill Concord, NC
G 2 Caleb Love 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg) FrChristian Brothers College St. Louis, MO
G 3 Andrew Platek 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg) SrNorthfield Mount Hermon Guilderland, NY
G 4 R. J. Davis 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)160 lb (73 kg) FrArchbishop Stepinac White Plains, NY
F/C 5 Armando Bacot 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) SoIMG Academy Richmond, VA
F/C 11 Day'Ron Sharpe 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)265 lb (120 kg) FrMontverde Academy Greenville, NC
F/C 13 Walker Kessler 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m)245 lb (111 kg) FrWoodward Academy Newnan, GA
G 14 Puff Johnson 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)190 lb (86 kg) FrHillcrest Prep Moon Township, PA
F 15 Garrison Brooks 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)240 lb (109 kg) SrAuburn Lafayette, AL
F/C 21 Sterling Manley 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)250 lb (113 kg) RS JrPickerington Central Pickerington, OH
F/C 22 Walker Miller (W) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)235 lb (107 kg) SrNew Hampton Greensboro, NC
G 24 Kerwin Walton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)205 lb (93 kg) FrHopkins Hopkins, MN
G 25 Creighton Lebo (W) 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)160 lb (73 kg) FrGreenfield Wilson, NC
G 30 K. J. Smith (W) 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg) RS SrIMG Academy Calabasas, CA
F 34 Duwe Farris (W) 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)205 lb (93 kg) SoMyers Park Charlotte, NC
F 35 Ryan McAdoo 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg) RS JrSaint Andrew's Boca Raton, FL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: December 28, 2020

Schedule and results
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
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 Quarterfinals		 W 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 (583)
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 (0)
Cleveland, OH
ACC Regular Season
December 22, 2020
9:00 p.m., ACCN		 No. 17 at NC State
Rivalry		 L 76–79  5–3
(0–1)		  16 – Bacot  7 – Tied  4 – Tied  PNC Arena (0)
Raleigh, NC
December 30, 2020
8:00 p.m., ACCRSN		 at Georgia Tech L 67–72  5–4
(0–2)		  14 – Bacot  11 – Brooks  4 – Tied  McCamish Pavilion (1,200)
Atlanta, GA
January 2, 2021
4:00 p.m., ACCN		 Notre Dame[22] W 66–65  6–4
(1–2)		  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
(2–2)		  16 – Black  16 – Sharpe  4 – Tied  Watsco Center (0)
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
(3–2)		  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
(3–3)		  16 – Davis  6 – Sharpe  3 – 4 tied  Donald L. Tucker Center (2,850)
Tallahassee, FL
January 20, 2021
9:00 p.m., ACCN		 Wake Forest
Rivalry		 W 80–73  9–5
(4–3)		  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
(5–3)		  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
(6–3)		  21 – Bacot  10 – Bacot  5 – Love  Petersen Events Center (500)
Pittsburgh, PA
February 2, 2021
7:00 p.m., ACCN		 at Clemson L 50–63  11–6
(6–4)		  16 – Sharpe  9 – Brooks  2 – Davis  Littlejohn Coliseum (1,876)
Clemson, SC
February 6, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN		 at Duke
Rivalry		 W 91–87  12–6
(7–4)		  25 – Love  9 – Sharpe  7 – Love  Cameron Indoor Stadium (0)
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
(7–5)		  9 – Kessler  10 – Bacot  3 – Tied  John Paul Jones Arena (250)
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
(8–5)		  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
(9–5)		  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
(9–6)		  18 – Bacot  15 – Bacot  3 – Tied  Carrier Dome (0)
Syracuse, NY
March 6, 2021
6:00 p.m., ESPN		 Duke
Rivalry		 W 91–73  16–9
(10–6)		  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 (2,820)
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
See also: 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball 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 movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
— = Not ranked. RV = Received votes.
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516Final
AP1614162217RV————RVRVRVRVRV——Not released
Coaches1616^142117RV————RV——RVRVRV——

^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

References
  1. Roy Williams Explains Kissing Center Court, retrieved April 3, 2021
  2. "UNC icon Roy Williams retiring after 33 seasons". ESPN.com. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  3. "UNC's Williams retires: 'No longer the right man'". ESPN.com. April 1, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  4. Pickman, Ben. "UNC Hires Hubert Davis as Next Head Coach". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  5. "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships".
  6. "Statement from ACC on Men's Basketball Tournament". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  7. "North Carolina's Cole Anthony declares for 2020 NBA draft". Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  8. "Men's Hoops Adds UNC Transfer Francis". University of New Mexico Athletics. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  9. "Caleb Ellis Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  10. "Justin Pierce Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  11. "Men's basketball announces five spring signees". Jacksonville State University Athletics. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  12. "Christian Keeling Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  13. "Day'Ron Sharpe Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  14. "Walker Kessler Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  15. "Caleb Love Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  16. "R.J. Davis Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  17. "Donovan Johnson Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  18. "Kerwin Walton Bio". Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  19. Ross Martin (October 14, 2020). "UNC to Open Season vs. College of Charleston". 247sports.com. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  20. "Elon Forced to Postpone Game Against UNC". 247sports.com. 247 Sports. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  21. Greg Barnes (December 9, 2020). "UNC Adds N.C. Central to Basketball Schedule". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  22. 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.
  23. "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.
  24. Medcalf, Myron (February 8, 2021). "Miami Hurricanes-North Carolina Tar Heels basketball game postponed after party video surfaces". ESPN. ESPN. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  25. "Virginia Tech at North Carolina Men's Basketball Game Postponed". theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. February 13, 2021. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  26. "North Carolina Tar Heels schedule game vs. Northeastern Huskies on Wednesday". ESPN.com. February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  27. "ACC Announces Men's Basketball Schedule Changes". theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  28. Greg Barnes (February 20, 2021). "UNC Schedules Game with Marquette". 247sports.com. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
  29. "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". goheels.com. University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  30. 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.
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