| Mode: | Basketball |
| Year: | 1971–72 |
| Team: | North Carolina Tar Heels |
| Conference: | Atlantic Coast Conference |
| Short Conf: | ACC |
| Coachrank: | 2 |
| Aprank: | 2 |
| Record: | 26–5 |
| Conf Record: | 9–3 |
| Head Coach: | Dean Smith |
| Hc Year: | 11th |
| Asst Coach1: | John Lotz |
| Ac1 Year: | 7th |
| Asst Coach2: | Bill Guthridge |
| Ac2 Year: | 5th |
| Asst Coach3: | Eddie Fogler |
| Ac3 Year: | 1st |
| Champion: | ACC Tournament Champions ACC Regular Season Champions |
| Bowl Result: | Final Four |
The 1971–72 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented University of North Carolina. The head coach was Dean Smith. The team played its home games in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and was a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
| Name | Position | Height | Year | Home Town | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Hite | 12 | Guard | 5–10 | Sophomore | Hyattsville, MD |
| Steve Previs | 13 | Guard | 6–3 | Senior | Bethel Park, MD |
| Bill Chambers | 20 | Guard/Forward | 6–4 | Senior | Greensboro, NC |
| George Karl | 22 | Guard | 6–2 | Junior | Penn Hills, PA |
| John O'Donnell | 30 | Forward | 6–6 | Sophomore | New York, NY |
| Bill Chamberlain | 31 | Forward | 6–6 | Senior | New York, NY |
| Darrell Elston | 32 | Guard | 6–3 | Sophomore | Tipton, IN |
| Roger Jamison | 33 | Guard | 5–11 | Junior | Greensboro, NC |
| Bobby Jones | 34 | Forward | 6–8 | Sophomore | Charlotte, NC |
| Bob McAdoo | 35 | Center/Forward | 6–9 | Junior | Greensboro, NC |
| Donn Johnston | 40 | Forward | 6–8 | Junior | Jamestown, NY |
| Kim Huband | 42 | Guard/Forward | 6–5 | Senior | Wilmington, NC |
| Craig Corson | 43 | Center | 6–10 | Senior | Contoocook, NH |
| Dennis Wuycik | 44 | Forward | 6–6 | Senior | Ambridge, PA |
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 1 | 2 | Bob McAdoo | Buffalo Braves | |
| 1972 | 2 | 27 | Dennis Wuycik | Boston Celtics |
| 1972 | 3 | 43 | Bill Chamberlain | Golden State Warriors |
| 1972 | 7 | 111 | Steve Previs | Boston Celtics |
| 1972 | 13 | 176 | Kim Huband | Buffalo Braves |
| 5 | 66 | George Karl | New York Knicks | |
| 1973 | 18 | 207 | Donn Johnston | Buffalo Braves |
| 1 | 5 | Houston Rockets | ||
| 1974 | 3 | 43 | Atlanta Hawks | |
| 1974 | 10 | 174 | John O'Donnell | New York Knicks |