With the huge Duke-UNC game on tap for tonight, we decided to hype in our own way… by counting down our Top 10 Moments for UNC Basketball. We have only been around for about 30 years, so we’re not delving way back in the archives (like when Dean Smith was a mere 65). But we feel this is a pretty comprehensive list.

Top 10 Most Memorable Moments for UNC Hoops

(10) Hiring of Matt Doherty as head coach in 2000: After being turned down by Roy Williams, George Karl, Larry Brown, and Eddie Fogler, the Heels turned to Doherty to take over the “talent” left by Bill Guthridge. the Doherty era is still one of the glory stretches for Tar Heel basketball. After a 26-7 campaign in his first year as coach, Doherty went on to win 8 games the next season, then 19 in his final season, which included a trip to the prestigious NIT Tournament.

(9) UNC loses to Georgetown in 2007 NCAA Tournament: While a run to the Elite 8 was impressive, it was not nearly as impressive as the Heels’ collapse in the game. UNC led by 11 late in the second half, but then managed to make only 1 of 23 field goal attempted before falling in overtime by 12. That’s right, 1-for-23 with a trip tot he Final Four on the line.

(8) UNC falls to Duke 75-73 on February 28, 1998: In this game, the Tar Heels, led by Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, built a 64-47 lead with less than 12 minutes to play. The Blue Devils stormed back to take the lead with less than one minute to play. The future NBA All-Stars on UNC’s team could not pull out the win, as point guard Ed Cota missed two free throws in the closing seconds to preserve the Blue Devil win.

(7) The Michael Jordan joke: The creation of the following joke was only made possible by Jordan having played for UNC. Who is the only person to hold Micheal Jordan under 20 points per game in his career? Dean Smith. Ha ha ha ha ha ha.

(6) March 2002 NIT invite: After a 17-16 mark in the regular season, UNC accepts an invitation to play in the exclusive National Invitational Tournament. Invitations to the NIT are only handed out tot hose team who did not make the NCAA Tournament field. But Carolina’s 6 conference victories were enough to impress the NIT selection committee. The Heels bowed out in the quarterfinals.

(5) 2001 ACC Championship loss to Duke: Just one week before this match-up, Duke defeated the Heels by 14 in Durham. This one, however, was close… for the first 3 minutes. The Heels barely threatened in this contest, losing by a whopping 26 points, 79-53. The Tar Heels would go on to get upset in stylish fashion in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Penn State.

(4) All 3 games against Duke in 2002: It was too hard to pick just one of these gems, as they were all quite special for the Heels. UNC lost at Duke in January by 29, then lost at home to Duke by 25, then fell to the Devils by 12 in the ACC Tournament. With an average loss by 22 points, it was just too tough to settle on one of these games as a memorable moment.

(3) Second round of 2006 NCAA Tournament: In one of the more memorable tournament gmaes for the Heels, 3-seed UNC fell to the 11-seed George Mason, of the Colonial Athletic Association. Tyler Hansborough was solid with 10 whole points in a game controlled late by the Patriots big men inside. The Heels appeared to be cruising along with a 16-2 early lead, then a 7-point halftime lead. But the Patriots would not be denied, sending Roy Williams to yet another early round exit.

(2) First round of 1999 NCAA Tournament: If only “The Show” had been ill, things could have been different.  Thanks to 36 points from Harold “The Show” Arceneaux, 3-seed UNC fell to 14-seed Weber State in the opening round of the tournament. Powerful Weber State would go on to lose to Florida in the next round, a team that would then lose to Gonzaga in the round after. Then Gonzaga lost to UConn, the eventual national champ.

(1) UNC loses its home opener to Hampton in 2002: There was no doubt about this one. What a moment for the program!!!  Hopes were high coming off Doherty’s first season with a 26-7 record. But that hope quickly faded as the pride of the Mid-Eastern Conference stormed into the Dean Dome and left with a 77-69 win. With tough losses to Western Illinois and Montana State later that season, this was a signature win for Hampton.