UNC Basketball: Top 5 Tar Heels in Final Four history

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1993 National Championship vs. Michigan

Donald Williams was named the 1993 Most Outstanding Player during the Tar Heels title run. /

In the Final Four, he scored 25 points against both a Roy Williams-coached Kansas team and in the finals versus Michigan. His shooting was very clutch for the Tar Heels. It opened up the low post, so that center Eric Montross and forward George Lynch could exploit the Kansas and Michigan defenses.

Williams’ shooting forced team Michigan to respect him and not focus on stopping the guys in the paint. Earlier that season, Carolina lost to Michigan 79-78 in the Rainbow Classic. This loss and Michigan’s second consecutive trip to the Final Four and national championship were primary reasons for the Tar Heels being underdogs.

Michigan was led by their famous “Fab Five,” which consisted of Juwan Howard, Ray Jackson, Jimmy King, Jalen Rose and Chris Webber. Michigan played an uptempo game and they were flashy. In the title game, they were facing a legendary coach in Dean Smith and a Carolina squad that could match their intensity and skill level.

Donald Williams earned the respect of many people in this game. None of Michigan’s guards, including 6’8″ Rose could check him. Williams drilled jumpers with hands in his face and against bigger defenders. Carolina beat Michigan, 77-71.

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