Keeping It Heel
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Top 5 Opponents vs. UNC in Final Four history

By Horran Cameron

Feb 25, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar watches the game between the UCLA Bruins and the Washington Huskies at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar watches the game between the UCLA Bruins and the Washington Huskies at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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1968 UCLA Bruins 

Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

In 1968, the UCLA Bruins defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels in the NCAA national championship game, 78-55. UCLA finished the season with a 29-1 record.

UCLA was led by Lew Alcindor (who changed his name to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar later in his basketball career).

In the game, Alcindor led his team with 34 points and 16 rebounds.

UCLA shut down North Carolina’s best players, Charles Scott and Larry Miller. Scott had 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in this game. Miller had 14 points, six rebounds and three assists. As a team, UNC shot 34.9% from the field while UCLA made 51.7% of their shots.

Along with Alcindor, Lucius Allen (11 points, five rebounds, five assists), Mike Warren (seven points, three rebounds), Lynn Shackelford (six points, two rebounds, four assists), Mike Lynn (seven points, six rebounds, four assists) and Kenny Heitz (seven points, two rebounds, two assists) dominated the Tar Heels in the championship game.

The UCLA Bruins beat their opponents by an average around 25 points. Although Alcindor was their best player, he was surrounded by talent at every position.

Alcindor was also the 1968 Most Outstanding Player, the USBWA Player of the Year, Helms Foundation Player of the Year and a first-team all-American.

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