UNC Basketball: 10 best moments in NCAA Tournament history

Michael Jordan’s game-winner in 1982 national championship AND James Worthy’s key steal

The 1982 NCAA National Championship was played in New Orleans between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Georgetown Hoyas.

The interesting thing about this North Carolina squad was the dynamics within the team. This was UNC’s second-consecutive trip to the title game.

Jordan was not “the man” on this Tar Heels squad.

Every Dean Smith squad was team-oriented with the team coming before any player. First-team All-American Al Wood was replaced by the high-flying freshman Jordan. James Worthy lead the Tar Heels in points (15.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, followed by Sam Perkins (14.3 points, 7.8 rebounds), then Jordan (13.5 points, 4.4 rebounds).

The 1982 title game was a close game.

Two of the biggest moments in the game occurred during the final 20 seconds in regulation. With 17 seconds left in regulation, Jordan sank a jumper to give the Tar Heels a 63-62 lead over the Hoyas.

It’s the shot you see often.

With seven seconds left in the game, Georgetown’s Fred Brown (No. 20) passed the ball to UNC’s Worthy on accident.

Worthy’s steal and Brown’s mistake sealed the victory for the Tar Heels. This title was the first for Dean Smith and the third one for the university.

Worthy was the Most Outstanding Player of the 1982 Final Four. He opted to forego his senior season and turned pro after the 1981-82 season. Worthy was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft.

Jordan’s miraculous shot propelled him to stardom. Jordan was an All-American for the next two seasons and the National Player of the Year in 1984. He went pro in 1984 and the rest is history.