Nolan Smith took the Tar Heels to town on Feb. 9, scoring 34 points in front of a home crowd at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Duke won 79-73 after UNC could not hold on to a 14-point halftime lead.

John Henson rises for a block against Lipscomb on Nov. 12. UNC took the season opener 80-66 with five Tar Heels in double figures.

Junior forward Tyler Zeller goes for a put-back against College of Charleston on Nov. 28. The Cougars stunned UNC last season in Charleston, but UNC exacted revenge by winning 74-69 in a tight contest.

Reggie Bullock tries to block a DeAndre Liggins lay up in the Dec. 4 match against Kentucky. The Tar Heels’ 75-73 victory was the first marquee win for UNC through eight games.

Former UNC point guard Larry Drew scored seven points and dished four assists against Kentucky on Dec. 4. He hit two clutch free throws down the stretch to preserve the UNC victory in the Smith Center.

Graduate student Justin Knox looks to pass out of a double team against Long Beach State. The Tar Heels won the game 96-91 as the 49ers shot 56.2 percent from the field to scare the UNC at home on Dec. 11.

Dexter Strickland had 18 points against Texas in the Greensboro Coliseum on Dec. 18, but an early jump on a Cory Joseph pump fake would be the only thing Strickland was remembered for in this game. No. 22 Texas won 78-76 on the last-minute Joseph bucket.

In UNC’s first game since Larry Drew II surprised the Tar Heels and left the team, Kendall Marshall went on a tear and supplied 16 assists. The Tar Heels beat Florida State 89-69, shooting 55.7 percent against a team widely considered to be the best defensive squad in the ACC.

Tyler Zeller rises for a loose ball against William and Mary on Dec. 21. Zeller scored 14 points for the Tar Heels as UNC cruised to an 85-60 win at home.

Justin Watts rises against Virginia trying to create offense for the Tar Heels. UNC struggled to get anything going against the Cavaliers in Charlottesville, but still came away with the 62-56 win in the ACC regular-season opener.

John Henson gets his entire hand on the ball put up weakly by All-ACC player Malcolm Delaney on Jan. 12. UNC beat Virginia Tech 64-61 in the Smith Center to improve to 2-0 in the ACC.

John Henson and the rest of the Tar Heels had their worst outing of the year against Georgia Tech on Jan. 16. UNC had a season-low 16 field goals against the Yellow Jackets and lost 78-58 in Atlanta.

Dexter Strickland scores two of his four points against the Clemson Tigers on Jan. 18. The Tar Heels extended their home winning streak to 55 games against the Tigers.

Freshman point guard Kendall Marshall made his first start of the season against Clemson on Jan. 18. Marshall started in place of Larry Drew II, who had been struggling to get the UNC offense going. The freshman played 22 minutes and registered five points and five assists.

John Henson blocks a shot by N.C. State’s Tracy Smith. Henson blocked seven shots on Jan. 29 as the Tar Heels cruised to a 84-64 win at home against the Wolfpack.

Tyler Zeller scored 24 points at Duke and kept the Tar Heels competitive, but Nolan Smith and Seth Curry were too dominant for the Blue Devils. UNC fell to 17-6 and 7-2 in the ACC with the loss.

The University of North Carolina Tar Heels played the Clemson Tigers on Saturday, February 12, 2011.

Harrison Barnes and the Tar Heels struggled more than necessary against the ACC cellar-dwelling Demon Deacons on Feb. 15. UNC shot 36.6 percent from the field as the Tar Heels limped to a 78-64 win against an overmatched Wake Forest squad.

Reggie Bullock scored five points off the bench for UNC against Wake Forest on Feb. 15. Bullock would play three more games before sustaining a knee injury against Maryland on Feb. 27.

After wearing out Boston College in Chestnut Hill earlier in the season, UNC could not score at will on the Eagles at home. The Tar Heels’ 48 points were less than half of the 106-point total from the Feb. 1 match in the Conte Forum as they edged Boston College by two on Feb. 19.

Justin Knox scored two points in UNC’s home match against Boston College. The Tar Heels got only five points from their bench as UNC squeaked by the Eagles 48-46.

Harrison Barnes slams home a follow-up dunk against N.C. State on Feb. 23. The Wolfpack played the Tar Heels close in the RBC Center before Barnes closed the door with late-game dunks that deflated the home team as UNC won 75-63.

John Henson goes for a reserve lay up against N.C. State on Feb. 23. Henson battled with C.J. Leslie on the night, racking up six blocks against the freshman and the rest of the Wolfpack in the win.

Harrison Barnes works his way into the lane against Maryland on Feb. 27. UNC extended its winning streak to five with an 87-76 victory against the Terrapins as Barnes scored 21.

North Carolina fans in the Smith Center jump around for the last time in UNC’s regular season finale against Duke on March 5.

Harrison Barnes guards a Kyle Singler jumper. Barnes held the All-ACC forward to eight points on 3-for-14 shooting as UNC captured the ACC regular season title.

Roy Williams dances in a huddle of players after his team won the ACC regular season championship against Duke.

Justin Knox celebrates with his teammates after UNC won the ACC regular season championship on March 5. The Tar Heels topped Duke for the first time since 2009, winning 81-67.

John Henson is unable to put up a shot as is fouled on an attempt. UNC trailed by as many as 19 points in the second half against Miami before winning 61-59 to advance in the ACC tournament.

John Henson cheers from the bench as North Carolina mounts its comeback against Miami on March 11. UNC went 7-for-12 from 3-point range in the second half to help itself get back into the ACC quarterfinal game.

Tyler Zeller goes up for the game winning shot as both teams look on. The basket made the final score 61-59. The Tar Heels took the lead with 00:00.1 seconds remaining.

A North Carolina fan suggests a run for US President by Harrison Barnes. Barnes led UNC from another late deficit to win 92-87 against Clemson and advance to the ACC tournament championship.

Harrison Barnes rises over Clemson. Barnes matched his jersey number by posting a season-high 40 points against the Tigers.

Dexter Strickland struggled in the ACC tournament, scoring only four points in three games. It was later revealed the sophomore guard had been playing with a knee injury.

Roy Williams smiles on the sideline as his team once again clawed back from a hole to win in Greensboro. Williams’ team topped Clemson 92-87 in the Tar Heels’ first overtime game of the season.

Dexter Strickland skies for a dunk over Duke’s Kyle Singler in the ACC tournament championship game. Strickland was whistled for a charge, much to the chagrin of the Tar Heel faithful.

Miles Plumlee rises for a put-back dunk against UNC in the ACC tournament championship. Plumlee scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds in the game at Greensboro.

Dexter Strickland defends against Long Island on March 18. The Blackbirds tried to run with the No. 2 seeded Tar Heels but eventually fell 102-87 in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Harrison Barnes posted 22 points against Washington in UNC’s 86-83 victory against the Huskies. The win puts UNC in the Sweet 16, where the Tar Heels will face Marquette on Friday.

Tyler Zeller hoists a layup against Washington in Charlotte on March 20. The junior has more NCAA tournament experience with UNC than any other Tar Heel on the roster.

Leslie McDonald scored five points for the Tar Heels but was the only bench production for UNC in its third round NCAA tournament match against Washington. The Tar Heels escaped Charlotte with an 86-83 victory against the Huskies.