1978-79 North Carolina Tar Heels basketball — schedule and results

The 1978-79 North Carolina Tar Heels went 23-6 (9-3 in the ACC) under head coach Dean Smith. The team peaked at #2 in the AP poll. Simple Rating System: 18.54.

Hoopsipedia's log holds 29 games from this season: 11–0 at home, 6–3 on the road, and 6–3 on neutral courts. The Carolina Tar Heels scored 76.5 points per game and allowed 65.4 (+11.0 per game). Their longest winning streak ran 8 games, from Dec 4, 1978 to Jan 6, 1979. The most lopsided win was 121–69 over Niagara Purple Eagles on Dec 30, 1978; the heaviest defeat was 83–70 to Furman Paladins on Feb 2, 1979. The tightest finish was a 1-point win against Michigan State Spartans (70–69). 2 games went to overtime.

Among North Carolina Tar Heels' 114 recorded seasons, 1978-79's .793 winning percentage ranks 40th. Previous season: 1977-78 Carolina Tar Heels (23–8). Next season: 1979-80 Carolina Tar Heels (21–8).

Game-by-game results (29 games)

Date	Opponent	Result	Arena
1978-11-29	at Northwestern Wildcats	W 97–67	McGaw Memorial Hall
1978-12-01	neutral Wake Forest Demon Deacons	W 73–55	Greensboro Memorial Coliseum
1978-12-02	neutral Duke Blue Devils	L 68–78	Greensboro Memorial Coliseum
1978-12-04	vs Detroit Mercy Titans	W 93–76	Carmichael Auditorium
1978-12-09	vs Jacksonville Dolphins	W 85–56	Carmichael Auditorium
1978-12-16	vs Michigan State Spartans	W 70–69	Carmichael Auditorium
1978-12-22	at Cincinnati Bearcats	W 62–59	Riverfront Coliseum
1978-12-29	neutral Dartmouth Big Green	W 86–67	Blue Cross Arena
1978-12-30	neutral Niagara Purple Eagles	W 121–69	Blue Cross Arena
1979-01-03	vs Clemson Tigers	W 90–68	Greensboro Memorial Coliseum
1979-01-06	vs Virginia Cavaliers	W 86–74 (2OTOT)	Carmichael Auditorium
1979-01-10	at Wake Forest Demon Deacons	L 56–59	Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
1979-01-13	vs Duke Blue Devils	W 74–68	Carmichael Auditorium
1979-01-14	vs Arkansas Razorbacks	W 63–57	Greensboro Memorial Coliseum
1979-01-17	at NC State Wolfpack	W 70–69	Reynolds Coliseum
1979-01-20	at Maryland Terrapins	W 54–53	Cole Fieldhouse
1979-01-25	at Wake Forest Demon Deacons	W 76–69	Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
1979-01-27	at Clemson Tigers	L 61–66	Littlejohn Coliseum
1979-02-02	neutral Furman Paladins	L 70–83	Charlotte Coliseum (I)
1979-02-03	neutral Virginia Tech Hokies	W 92–80 (OTOT)	Charlotte Coliseum (I)
1979-02-07	vs Maryland Terrapins	W 76–67	Carmichael Auditorium
1979-02-10	vs Providence Friars	W 89–55	Charlotte Coliseum (I)
1979-02-14	vs William & Mary Tribe	W 85–60	Carmichael Auditorium
1979-02-17	at Virginia Cavaliers	W 66–57	University Hall
1979-02-22	vs NC State Wolfpack	W 71–56	Carmichael Auditorium
1979-02-24	at Duke Blue Devils	L 40–47	Cameron Indoor Stadium
1979-03-02	neutral Maryland Terrapins	W 102–79	Greensboro Memorial Coliseum
1979-03-03	neutral Duke Blue Devils	W 71–63	Greensboro Memorial Coliseum
1979-03-11	neutral Pennsylvania Quakers	L 71–72	Reynolds Coliseum

Game recaps

1979-01-06: Behind O'Koren's 22 points, North Carolina Tar Heels pulled away from Virginia Cavaliers 86–74. Lamb had 25 for Virginia Cavaliers.

1979-02-17: North Carolina beat Virginia Cavaliers 66–57. Al Wood led the winners with 22 points. Jeff Lamp had 21 for Virginia Cavaliers.

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1978-79 North Carolina Tar Heels basketball — schedule and results

Game-by-game results (29 games)

Game recaps

All-time wins

On this day

AP Top 25

More to argue about

NCAA Tournament Bracket

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