# 1982–83 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team

The 1982–83 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented University of North Carolina in the 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. They finished the season 28–8 overall, tied for the ACC regular season title with a 12–2 record and made it to the Elite Eight of the 1983 NCAA Tournament. They were coached by Dean Smith in his twenty-second season as head coach of the Tar Heels. They played their home games at the Carmichael Auditorium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

## Summary

Jordan frequently got into foul trouble early in his freshman year at North Carolina (1981–82). He frequently played the ends of games with four fouls.
He originally went by “Mike Jordan”, but media began using Michael in the middle of his freshman season at UNC. Late example of “Mike Jordan”: New York Times, UNC vs. St. John's, first game of 1982–83 season
PLAYER PROFILE When Jordan's shooting touch was off, he would defer to teammates and concentrate more on his defense.
Going into the 1982–83 season, UNC lost starters James Worthy, who left for the NBA after his junior year, and Jimmy Black, a senior, from the previous season's national championship team. Sophomore Michael Jordan and junior Sam Perkins missed preseason practices due to injuries, only to return at the start of the regular season. As a result, North Carolina started the season with a record of 0–2 for the first time since 1919. UNC's record went to 3–3, dropping out of the national rankings, before going on an 18-game winning streak.

### Conference regular season

Taking full advantage of the 19-foot three-point line, newly adopted by the Atlantic Coast Conference and other conferences around the country, Jim Braddock made 6 of 7 three-point attempts in the opening game of conference play in an 86–69 romp over Rutgers.
January 8, 1983 - 17-year-old freshman Brad Daugherty scored 15 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
January 15, 1983 - Lynwood Robinson transferred from UNC to Olive.
January 29, 1983 - Michael Jordan scored his college career-high of 39 points against Georgia Tech, shooting 11–16 from the field, 11–13 from the free throw line and 6 of 7 from the three-point stripe including a four-point play that broke a 45–45 tie and gave UNC the lead for good. Aside from Jordan and Perkins, the rest of the Tar Heels shot 3 of 22 from the floor.
February 5, 1983 - With its win over Furman, North Carolina runs its record to 20–3, giving UNC head coach Dean Smith his record 12th straight 20-win season (a record he had previously shared with Jerry Tarkanian).
February 10, 1983 - #1 UNC won 64–63 over #3 Virginia. Both teams struggled from the field, with UNC shooting a paltry 41%. The Tar Heels managed to claw back from a 16-point second half deficit. Michael Jordan led the way with 16 points and a key steal-and-stuff with four personal fouls on him at the end of the game. Ralph Sampson of Virginia had 15 points and 12 rebounds but also six turnovers. Buzz Peterson suffered a right knee injury and is expected to be out for the season.
February 13, 1983 - With a 30–21 rebounding advantage, Villanova (#12, 17–4) snapped UNC's 18-game winning streak and became only the fourth non-ACC opponent to defeat UNC at Carmichael Auditorium, and the first to do so since 1973.
The Tar Heels suffered a three-game losing streak, partly attributable to Michael Jordan's difficulties with foul trouble.
February 27, 1983 - UNC's record against Clemson at Chapel Hill goes to 30–0 with another victory.
March 5, 1983 - In its regular season finale against Duke, UNC pounded the ball hard inside, making 57 percent of its shots from the floor, and 12 of 15 three-point baskets, in what turned into a three-point shootout. Michael Jordan scored 32 points in each game against Duke.
March 11, 1983 - UNC was led by Michael Jordan and Matt Doherty (career high 28 points) as the Tar Heels connected on 14 of 24 three-point shots to easily advance 105–79 over Clemson in the ACC Tournament.
March 12, 1983 - Michael Jordan fouled out of the close contest with 3:42 remaining in regulation. NC State got a 70–65 lead with 2:57 remaining, but did not score again, and UNC came back to tie it before the buzzer. Dereck Whittenburg carried the scoring load for the Wolfpack in overtime. Sam Perkins led North Carolina with 24 points, and Daugherty had 17 in the surprise loss.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 20, 1982* | No. 3 | vs. No. 19 St. John's Tip-Off Classic | L 74–78 | 0–1 | Springfield Civic Center Springfield, MA |
| Nov 27, 1982* | No. 3 | vs. No. 15 Missouri | L 60–64 | 0–2 | Checkerdome St. Louis, MO |
| Nov 30, 1982 | No. 15 | Tulane | W 70–68 | 1–2 | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Dec 4, 1982* | No. 15 | vs. LSU | W 47–43 | 2–2 | East Rutherford, NJ |
| Dec 11, 1982* | No. 17 | vs. Santa Clara | W 79–56 | 3–2 | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| Dec 17, 1982* | No. 17 | vs. Tulsa Oil Capital Classic | L 74–84 | 3–3 | Mabee Center Tulsa, OK |
| Dec 18, 1982* | No. 17 | vs. Texas–Rio Grande Valley Oil Capital Classic – Consolation | W 106–50 | 4–3 | Mabee Center Tulsa, OK |
| Dec 21, 1982* | | at Chattanooga | W 73–66 | 5–3 | McKenzie Arena Chattanooga, TN |
| Dec 29, 1982* | | vs. Texas Tech Rainbow Classic – Quarterfinal | W 79–47 | 6–3 | Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, HI |
| Dec 29, 1982* | | vs. Oklahoma Rainbow Classic – Semifinal | W 77–69 | 7–3 | Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, HI |
| Dec 30, 1982* | | vs. No. 12 Missouri Rainbow Classic – Championship | W 73–58 | 8–3 | Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, HI |
| Jan 5, 1983* | No. 18 | vs. Rutgers | W 86–69 | 9–3 | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| Jan 8, 1983* | No. 18 | vs. No. 9 Syracuse | W 87–64 | 10–3 | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC |
| Jan 12, 1983 | No. 11 | Maryland | W 72–71 | 11–3 (1–0) | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Jan 15, 1983 | No. 11 | at No. 2 Virginia | W 101–95 | 12–3 (2–0) | University Hall Charlottesville, VA |
| Jan 19, 1983 | No. 3 | NC State Carolina–State Game | W 99–81 | 13–3 (3–0) | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Jan 22, 1983 | No. 3 | Duke Rivalry | W 103–82 | 14–3 (4–0) | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Jan 24, 1983 | No. 3 | Georgia State | W 99–55 | 15–3 | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Jan 27, 1983 | No. 3 | at No. 19 Wake Forest | W 80–78 | 16–3 (5–0) | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| Jan 29, 1983 | No. 3 | vs. Georgia Tech | W 72–65 | 17–3 (6–0) | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| Feb 2, 1983 | No. 1 | at Clemson | W 84–81 | 18–3 (7–0) | Littlejohn Coliseum Clemson, SC |
| Feb 4, 1983 | No. 1 | vs. The Citadel North-South Doubleheader | W 81–36 | 19–3 | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC |
| Feb 5, 1983 | No. 1 | vs. Furman North-South Doubleheader | W 78–43 | 20–3 | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, NC |
| Feb 10, 1983 | No. 1 | No. 3 Virginia | W 64–63 | 21–3 (8–0) | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Feb 13, 1983* | No. 1 | No. 12 Villanova | L 53–56 | 21–4 | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Feb 16, 1983 | No. 3 | at Maryland | L 94–106 | 21–5 (8–1) | Cole Field House College Park, MD |
| Feb 19, 1983 | No. 3 | at NC State | L 63–70 | 21–6 (8–2) | Reynolds Coliseum Raleigh, NC |
| Feb 24, 1983 | No. 11 | Wake Forest | W 100–85 | 22–6 (9–2) | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Feb 27, 1983 | No. 11 | Clemson | W 93–80 | 23–6 (10–2) | Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, NC |
| Mar 2, 1983 | No. 8 | at Georgia Tech | W 85–73 | 24–6 (11–2) | Omni Coliseum Atlanta, GA |
| Mar 5, 1983 | No. 8 | at Duke Rivalry | W 105–81 | 25–6 (12–2) | Cameron Indoor Stadium Durham, NC |
| ACC Tournament ||||||
| Mar 11, 1983* | No. 5 | vs. Clemson Quarterfinal | W 105–79 | 26–6 | Omni Coliseum Atlanta, GA |
| Mar 12, 1983* | No. 5 | vs. NC State Semifinal | L 84–91 $^{OT}$ | 26–7 | Omni Coliseum Atlanta, GA |
| NCAA Tournament ||||||
| Mar 19, 1983* | (2) No. 8 | vs. (10) James Madison Second Round | W 68–49 | 27–7 | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, NC |
| Mar 25, 1983* | (2) No. 8 | vs. (3) Ohio State East Regional semifinal | W 64–51 | 28–7 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY |
| Mar 27, 1983* | (2) No. 8 | vs. (4) No. 18 Georgia East Regional Final | L 77–82 | 28–8 | Carrier Dome Syracuse, NY |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East Region. All times are in Eastern Time. ||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 3 | 15 | 17 | 17 | — | — | 18 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| Coaches | 2 | 2 | 17 | 16 | — | — | 16 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 8 |