1986-87 North Carolina Tar Heels basketball — schedule and results

The 1986-87 North Carolina Tar Heels went 32-4 (14-0 in the ACC) under head coach Dean Smith. The team peaked at #1 in the AP poll. Simple Rating System: 24.48.

Hoopsipedia's log holds 35 games from this season: 13–0 at home, 10–2 on the road, and 8–2 on neutral courts. The Carolina Tar Heels scored 90.5 points per game and allowed 74.7 (+15.8 per game). Their longest winning streak ran 16 games, from Dec 3, 1986 to Jan 28, 1987. The most lopsided win was 118–65 over East Tennessee State Buccaneers on Feb 18, 1987; the heaviest defeat was 89–84 at UCLA Bruins on Dec 1, 1986. The tightest finish was a 1-point win against Virginia Cavaliers (74–73). 1 game went to overtime.

Among North Carolina Tar Heels' 114 recorded seasons, 1986-87's .889 winning percentage ranks 13th. Previous season: 1985-86 Carolina Tar Heels (28–6). Next season: 1987-88 Carolina Tar Heels (27–7).

Game-by-game results (35 games)

Date	Opponent	Result	Arena
1986-11-28	at Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors	W 98–78	Neal S. Blaisdell Center
1986-12-01	at UCLA Bruins	L 84–89	Pauley Pavilion
1986-12-03	vs Stetson Hatters	W 100–64	Dean Smith Center
1986-12-06	vs Miami (FL) Hurricanes	W 122–77	Dean Smith Center
1986-12-13	vs Jacksonville Dolphins	W 98–69	Dean Smith Center
1986-12-20	vs Illinois Fighting Illini	W 90–77	Dean Smith Center
1986-12-22	neutral Furman Paladins	W 95–65
1986-12-27	neutral Kansas State Wildcats	W 81–62
1986-12-29	neutral Purdue Boilermakers	W 94–81
1986-12-30	at SMU Mustangs	W 88–86	Moody Coliseum
1987-01-03	at La Salle Explorers	W 79–72	The Palestra
1987-01-08	vs Maryland Terrapins	W 98–65	Dean Smith Center
1987-01-10	at Duke Blue Devils	W 85–77	Cameron Indoor Stadium
1987-01-14	at Virginia Cavaliers	W 95–80	University Hall
1987-01-18	vs NC State Wolfpack	W 96–78	Dean Smith Center
1987-01-22	at Wake Forest Demon Deacons	W 79–53	Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum
1987-01-24	vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	W 92–55	Dean Smith Center
1987-01-28	at Clemson Tigers	W 108–99	Littlejohn Coliseum
1987-02-01	at Notre Dame Fighting Irish	L 58–60	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1987-02-05	at NC State Wolfpack	W 96–79	Reynolds Coliseum
1987-02-08	vs Virginia Cavaliers	W 74–73	Dean Smith Center
1987-02-11	vs Wake Forest Demon Deacons	W 94–85	Dean Smith Center
1987-02-14	at Maryland Terrapins	W 93–86	Cole Fieldhouse
1987-02-15	vs Marquette Golden Eagles	W 83–74	Dean Smith Center
1987-02-18	vs East Tennessee State Buccaneers	W 118–65	Dean Smith Center
1987-02-21	vs Clemson Tigers	W 96–80	Dean Smith Center
1987-02-26	vs Duke Blue Devils	W 77–71	Dean Smith Center
1987-03-01	neutral Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	W 92–76
1987-03-06	at Maryland Terrapins	W 82–63	Capital Centre
1987-03-07	neutral Virginia Cavaliers	W 84–82 (2OTOT)	Capital Centre
1987-03-08	neutral NC State Wolfpack	L 67–68	Capital Centre
1987-03-12	neutral Pennsylvania Quakers	W 113–82	Charlotte Coliseum (I)
1987-03-14	neutral Michigan Wolverines	W 109–97	Charlotte Coliseum (I)
1987-03-19	neutral Notre Dame Fighting Irish	W 74–68	Brendan Byrne Arena
1987-03-21	neutral Syracuse Orange	L 75–79	Brendan Byrne Arena

Game recaps

1986-12-01: UCLA Bruins got past North Carolina Tar Heels 89–84 as Miller scored a team-high 32. Smith, K. had 18 for North Carolina Tar Heels.

1987-01-14: Behind Smith, Kenny's 19 points, North Carolina Tar Heels pulled away from Virginia Cavaliers 95–80. Kennedy, Andrew had 21 for Virginia Cavaliers.

1987-02-08: North Carolina Tar Heels survived Virginia Cavaliers 74–73 as Reid scored a team-high 21. A. Kennedy had 19 for Virginia Cavaliers.

1987-03-07: North Carolina Tar Heels survived Virginia Cavaliers 84–82 as Joe Wolf scored a team-high 27. Andrew Kennedy had 20 for Virginia Cavaliers.

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1986-87 North Carolina Tar Heels basketball — schedule and results

Game-by-game results (35 games)

Game recaps

All-time wins

On this day

AP Top 25

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NCAA Tournament Bracket

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