On March 6th in sports history, one significant event took place in 1982 during the men's basketball NCAA Division I championship game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Georgetown Hoyas at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans.
The game was a tight battle between two college basketball powerhouses, featuring legendary players such as James Worthy and Michael Jordan for North Carolina, and Patrick Ewing and Sleepy Floyd for Georgetown. The Tar Heels were coached by the iconic Dean Smith, while the Hoyas were led by the future Hall of Fame coach John Thompson.
With just 17 seconds left on the clock, Georgetown led 62-61. North Carolina's Jimmy Black managed to draw a foul and went to the free-throw line for a one-and-one. Black hit the first shot to tie the game but missed the second. In a scramble for the rebound, the ball was knocked out of bounds, giving the Tar Heels possession with just 15 seconds remaining.
During the timeout, Coach Dean Smith designed a play for Michael Jordan, then a freshman. Jordan received the ball on the left wing and took a jump shot from about 16 feet away with only a few seconds left. The shot went in, giving North Carolina a 63-62 lead. Georgetown's desperate attempt at a comeback fell short, and the Tar Heels won the national championship.
This game is often remembered as the moment Michael Jordan introduced himself to the world, hitting the game-winning shot as a freshman on the biggest stage in college basketball. It was a thrilling conclusion to a hard-fought championship game that showcased some of the best talent in college basketball history.
