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

The 2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represents the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill during the 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach is Roy Williams, who will be in his 18th season as UNC's head men's basketball coach. The Tar Heels play their home games at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina as members of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

2020–21 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball
ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
2020–21 record12–6 (7–4 ACC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Steve Robinson (18th season)
  • Hubert Davis (9th season)
  • Brad Frederick (8th season)
Home arenaDean E. Smith Center
2020–21 ACC men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 14 Virginia9–1 .900  13–3  .813
No. 20 Florida State6–2 .750  10–3  .769
No. 16 Virginia Tech8–3 .727  14–4  .778
Louisville6–3 .667  11–4  .733
North Carolina7–4 .636  12–6  .667
Georgia Tech5–4 .556  9–6  .600
Clemson6–5 .545  12–5  .706
Pittsburgh5–5 .500  9–6  .600
Duke5–5 .500  7–7  .500
Syracuse4–5 .444  10–6  .625
NC State4–6 .400  8–7  .533
Notre Dame4–7 .364  7–10  .412
Miami (FL)3–10 .231  7–11  .389
Wake Forest2–8 .200  5–8  .385
Boston College1–7 .125  3–11  .214
† 2021 ACC Tournament winner
As of February 6, 2021; Rankings from AP Poll

Previous Season

The Tar Heels finished the season 14–19, and 6–14 in ACC play. They defeated to Virginia Tech in the First Round of the ACC Tournament before losing to Syracuse in the Second Round. The tournament was cancelled before the Quarterfinals due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] The NCAA Tournament and NIT were also cancelled due to the pandemic.[2]

Offseason

Departures
NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownNotes
Cole Anthony2G6'3"190FreshmanNew York, New YorkDeclared For 2020 NBA Draft [3]
Brandon Robinson4G6'5"173SeniorDouglasville, GeorgiaGraduated
Shea Rush11F6'5"210SeniorFairway, KansasGraduated
Jeremiah Francis13G6'0"210FreshmanReynoldsburg, OhioTransferred to New Mexico [4]
Caleb Ellis25F6'5"190Graduate Student [5]Apex, North CarolinaCompleted athletic eligibility
Justin Pierce32F6'7"210Graduate Student [6]Glen Ellyn, IllinoisCompleted athletic eligibility
Robbie O'Han34G6'2"170SeniorRaleigh, North CarolinaGraduated
Brandon Huffman42F6'10"255JuniorGoldsboro, North CarolinaTransferred to Jacksonville State [7]
Christian Keeling55G6'3"180Graduate Student [8]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:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 94[9]
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:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 94[10]
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:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 94[11]
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:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 87[12]
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:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 85[13]
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:   247Sports:    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 81[14]
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

    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 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[15] 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[16] Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    December 12, 2020*
    2:00 p.m., ACCRSN    		 No. 16 NC Central 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
    6:00 p.m., ESPN2    		 Syracuse Postponed due to COVID-19 issues[17] Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    January 2, 2021
    4:00 p.m., ACCN    		 Notre Dame 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[18] 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)     Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    February 13, 2021
    6:00 p.m., ESPN    		 at Virginia     John Paul Jones Arena 
    Charlottesville, VA
    February 16, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2    		 Virginia Tech     Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    February 20, 2021
    4:00 p.m./6:00 p.m., ESPN    		 Louisville     Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    February 23, 2021
    9:00 p.m., ESPN/ESPN2/ESPNU    		 at Boston College     Conte Forum 
    Chestnut Hill, MA
    February 27, 2021
    4:00 p.m., ESPN    		 Florida State     Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    March 1, 2021
    7:00 p.m., ESPN    		 at Syracuse     Carrier Dome 
    Syracuse, NY
    March 6, 2021
    6:00 p.m., ESPN    		 Duke
    Rivalry    		     Dean Smith Center 
    Chapel Hill, NC
    *Non-conference game. #Rankings from APPoll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
    All times are in Eastern Time.

    Source:[19]

    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.[20]

    Ranking movements
    Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
    NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
    Week
    Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Final 
    AP 16 14 16 22 17 RV NR NR NR NR RV  
    Coaches 16 16^ 14 21 17 RV NR NR NR NR RV

    ^Coaches did not release a Week 1 poll.

    References
    1. "Statement from ACC on Men's Basketball Tournament". theacc.com. Atlantic Coast Conference. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
    2. "NCAA cancels remaining winter and spring championships".
    3. "North Carolina's Cole Anthony declares for 2020 NBA draft". Retrieved April 17, 2020.
    4. "Men's Hoops Adds UNC Transfer Francis". University of New Mexico Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
    5. "Caleb Ellis Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    6. "Justin Pierce Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    7. "Men's basketball announces five spring signees". Jacksonville State University Athletics. Retrieved 2020-05-12.
    8. "Christian Keeling Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    9. "Day'Ron Sharpe Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    10. "Walker Kessler Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    11. "Caleb Love Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    12. "R.J. Davis Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    13. "Donovan Johnson Bio". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
    14. "Kerwin Walton Bio". Retrieved April 27, 2020.
    15. Ross Martin (2020-10-14). "UNC to Open Season vs. College of Charleston". 247sports.com. Retrieved 2020-10-18.
    16. "Elon Forced to Postpone Game Against UNC". 247sports.com. 247 Sports. December 1, 2020. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
    17. "Syracuse at North Carolina Men's Basketball Game Postponed". theacc.com. The Atlantic Coast Conference. December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
    18. "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.
    19. "2020-21 Men's Basketball Schedule". goheels.com. University of North Carolina Athletics. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
    20. 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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