UNC Basketball: Interesting math about the program

Have you ever truly thought about the greatness known as the North Carolina Tar Heels basketball program?

After thinking about a few things that appeared as mere irony, I realized that there is a plethora of coincidental dates that correspond to jersey numbers and win-loss records. In other words, there are mathematical connections between important years, events and jersey numbers of North Carolina basketball greats. Yes, it is a daunting task but fun, indeed.  Ready for the irony?

Check out these coincidences.

North Carolina’s first national championship (via an NCAA Tournament; UNC’s 1924 championship team did not play in a tournament) took place in 1957. UNC’s second national championship took place in 1982, 25 years later.

Here’s some irony. UNC’s Jason Capel wore No. 25 and he is one of two players to ever record a triple-double as a Tar Heel. Triple means “three.” Double means “two.” Backwards three and two give us the number 2-3, rather 23.

Which former Tar Heel is famous for this number? That’s right, Michael Jordan.

Is it a coincidence that he played on the 1982 national championship team? Yes and no. In fact, Jordan who wore No. 23 hit the game-winning shot against Georgetown in that game.

Another interesting thing about the numbers “two” and “three.” This is Dean Smith’s record in national championships (two wins and three losses). Smith won two national championships (1982 versus Georgetown, 1993 versus Michigan) and lost three national championships (1968 versus UCLA, 1977 versus Marquette, 1981 versus Indiana).

Another interesting fact about the number “23.”  Add “23” to 1993 and you get 2016.

The year 1993 was Dean Smith’s second national championship. If you add 11 to 1982, you get 1993. What’s interesting about the number 11? This is Brice Johnson’s jersey number.

Johnson was UNC’s star player this past season and he led the Tar Heels to the national championship. UNC’s current head coach is Roy Williams. After losing to Villanova in the national championship, guess what Roy Williams’ record is for appearances in the title game? Exactly, his record is the same as Dean Smith’s. Two wins and three losses. Roy Williams lost in 1991 (against Duke), 2003 (against Syracuse) and 2016 (against Villanova).

As stated earlier, Roy Williams’ 2-3 win-loss record in title games makes up the number, 23. If you subtract 23 from 2016, then you have 1993. Remember, Dean Smith won his second championship that year. In the 1993 Final Four, Smith defeated a good Kansas Jayhawks team coached by UNC’s current coach, Roy Williams.

Want more? Let’s go! Add 12 to 1993 and you get 2005.

In 2005, Roy Williams won his first national championship. 12 was also the number of former Tar Heel great, Phil Ford. Ford won the John R. Wooden Award in 1978. He was the point guard on the UNC team that lost in the national championship in 1977.

Reverse 78 and you 87. As a year, it would be 1987 when one of the star players for Carolina was Kenny Smith.

Smith’s jersey number was 30 for his four year career at UNC. 30 is the total amount of years between Dean Smith’s first Final Four appearance (1967) and last Final Four appearance (1997). Likewise, Dean Smith retired from coaching after a loss in the 1997 Final Four.

In regards to Final Fours, how many did Dean Smith appear in as UNC’s head coach? 11, which is Brice Johnson’s number. Also, 11 is the difference between Dean Smith’s two national championships (1993 – 1982 = 11).

As stated earlier, Roy Williams won his first national title in 2005. During the 2005 season, 42 was the number of UNC great Sean May, who was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 national championship. If you add 42 to 1967 (the year of Dean Smith’s first Final Four appearance), then you get 2009.

2009 was the year that Roy Williams coached North Carolina to another national championship. It was Williams’ second national championship.

The Most Outstanding Player of the 2009 Final Four was UNC’s Wayne Ellington, who wore No. 22. Then 12 years after Dean Smith won his second championship, current UNC head coach Roy Williams won his first championship in 2005. What are the numbers that make up the number 12?

That’s right, one (1) and two (2).

Let’s phrase this another way: 12 years before Roy won his 1st championship, Dean won his 2nd championship.

What’s another interesting fact about the No. 12? As stated earlier, Tar Heel great Phil Ford wore this number. Add 12 to 1977 (when Ford lost in national championship while coached by Smith) and you get 1989. In 1989, J.R. Reid was UNC’s star player and he wore No. 34. Add 34 to 1982 and you get 2016. In 2016, North Carolina lost to Villanova in the national championship. Likewise, if you subtract 34 from 2016, you get 1982 when Michael Jordan (No. 23) hit the game-winning shot to seal a national championship victory; the first of Dean Smith’s two national titles. Again, we see several connections with the No. 12 (rather 1 and 2).

In 1982, UNC defeated Villanova in the Elite 8 to earn a berth in the Final Four. Likewise, UNC beat Villanova in the Sweet 16 in 2005 to advance to the Elite Eight, then the Final Four. Also, UNC defeated Villanova in the 2009 Final Four prior to defeating Michigan State in the national championship.

Let’s revisit the No. 11. Brice Johnson wore No. 11 and he anchored a Carolina team to the 2016 national championship although they lost to Villanova. If you subtract 23 – 12, you get 11. In other words, Michael Jordan’s number minus Phil Ford’s number, gets you Brice Johnson’s number; UNC basketball math.

If you subtract 11 – 11, you get 0 or 00. No. 00 was the number of Tar Heel great Eric Montross. Montross was the center of UNC’s 1993 national championship team. Another player who wore 00 is UNC great Brendan Haywood. Haywood recorded UNC’s first triple double in school history on December 4, 2000 (18 points, 14 rebounds, 10 blocks).

Numbers don’t lie, ball doesn’t lie and the Tar Heels never die. They multiply! Part Two of this article coming very soon!