Lucas: Flashback To 40 Years Ago

UNC Sports Information

Michael Jordan hit a classic shot and Dean Smith removed all doubt about his credentials.

By Adam Lucas

Forty years later, most of the story about March 29, 1982, revolves around Michael Jordan.

But forty years ago this morning, virtually no one was thinking about the Tar Heel freshman from Wilmington. Instead, most of the storyline on the Carolina side focused on Dean Smith, who would be coaching in his seventh Final Four. His previous six trips had ended without a championship.

"I'm tired of people saying he gets to the finals and then chokes," Tar Heel point guard Jimmy Black said leading up to the Carolina-Georgetown national championship game. "I'm putting special…