1992–93 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1992–93 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team represented the University of North Carolina
in the 1992-93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference
. They finished the season 34-4 overall, won the ACC regular season title with a 14-2 record and won the 1993 national championship
. They were coached by Dean Smith
, who won his second national championship in his thirty-second season as head coach of the Tar Heels. They played their home games at the Dean Smith Center
in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
.
, Eric Montross
, Brian Reese, Donald Williams
and Derrick Phelps
. The Tar Heels started out with an 8-0 record and were ranked #5 in the country when they met #6 Michigan in the semi-finals of the Rainbow Classic. The Wolverines, led by the Fab Five
in their sophomore season, won 79-78 to on a last-second shot. North Carolina bounced back with nine straight wins before losing back-to-back road games against unranked Wake Forest
and #5 Duke
. After seven more straight wins, the Tar Heels were ranked #1 heading into the last week of the regular season (their first #1 ranking since the start of the 1987-88 season). North Carolina beat #14 Wake Forest and #6 Duke to close out the regular season and clinch the top seed in the ACC tournament. North Carolina reached the tournament final, but they lost 77-75 to Georgia Tech without Derrick Phelps who was injured. Nonetheless, North Carolina was awarded the top seed in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament
, defeating #16-seed East Carolina
(85-65), #8-seed Rhode Island
(112-67), #4-seed Arkansas
(80-74) and #2-seed Cincinnati
(75-68) to reach the final four in New Orleans.
In the national semi-finals, Smith's Tar Heels defeated his alma mater Kansas (coached by future North Carolina coach Roy Williams
) 78-68, setting up a rematch with #3-ranked Michigan in the finals.
The national title game was a see-saw battle throughout, but is remembered best for Chris Webber
's time out call with seconds left when Michigan didn't have any. Michigan was assessed a technical foul and North Carolina ended up winning 77-71, giving Smith his second national championship.
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
in the 1992-93 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
. They finished the season 34-4 overall, won the ACC regular season title with a 14-2 record and won the 1993 national championship
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. They were coached by Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
, who won his second national championship in his thirty-second season as head coach of the Tar Heels. They played their home games at the Dean Smith Center
Dean Smith Center
The Dean E. Smith Student Activities Center, usually called simply the Smith Center and popularly referred to as the Dean Dome is a multi-purpose arena in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The arena is home to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tar Heels men's basketball team, and temporary...
in Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
.
Season Summary
The 1992-93 team was led by George LynchGeorge Lynch (basketball)
George DeWitt Lynch III is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He holds the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball record for most career steals....
, Eric Montross
Eric Montross
Eric Scott Montross is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA....
, Brian Reese, Donald Williams
Donald Williams (basketball)
Donald Williams is a former American professional basketball player.Born in Garner, North Carolina, Williams played for Garner High School before going on to play at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill....
and Derrick Phelps
Derrick Phelps
Derrick Michael Phelps is an American former professional basketball player. At 6' 4" and 181 lbs., he played as a point guard....
. The Tar Heels started out with an 8-0 record and were ranked #5 in the country when they met #6 Michigan in the semi-finals of the Rainbow Classic. The Wolverines, led by the Fab Five
Fab Five (University of Michigan)
The Fab Five was the nickname for a 1991 University of Michigan men's basketball team recruitment class that is considered by some to be "the greatest class ever recruited." The class consisted of Detroit natives Chris Webber and Jalen Rose, Chicago native Juwan Howard, and Texas high school...
in their sophomore season, won 79-78 to on a last-second shot. North Carolina bounced back with nine straight wins before losing back-to-back road games against unranked Wake Forest
Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball
The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team participates in the Atlantic Coast Conference and their homecourt is the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Their only Final Four appearance was in 1962 and through the years they have produced several NBA players. The Demon Deacons have...
and #5 Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
. After seven more straight wins, the Tar Heels were ranked #1 heading into the last week of the regular season (their first #1 ranking since the start of the 1987-88 season). North Carolina beat #14 Wake Forest and #6 Duke to close out the regular season and clinch the top seed in the ACC tournament. North Carolina reached the tournament final, but they lost 77-75 to Georgia Tech without Derrick Phelps who was injured. Nonetheless, North Carolina was awarded the top seed in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament
1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...
, defeating #16-seed East Carolina
East Carolina Pirates men's basketball
The East Carolina Pirates men's basketball team represents East Carolina University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in Conference USA...
(85-65), #8-seed Rhode Island
Rhode Island Rams men's basketball
The Rhode Island Rams men's basketball team is a college basketball program that competes in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic Ten Conference representing the University of Rhode Island. The team is currently coached by Jim Baron, who is in his 10th year...
(112-67), #4-seed Arkansas
Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball
The Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team represents the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The school's team currently competes in the Southeastern Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 2008...
(80-74) and #2-seed Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bearcats men's basketball
The Cincinnati Bearcats basketball team is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of the University of Cincinnati in Cincinnati, Ohio. They currently compete in the Big East Conference and are coached by Mick Cronin. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in...
(75-68) to reach the final four in New Orleans.
In the national semi-finals, Smith's Tar Heels defeated his alma mater Kansas (coached by future North Carolina coach Roy Williams
Roy Williams (coach)
Roy Williams is head coach of the men's basketball team at the University of North Carolina. After averaging nearly an 80% win percentage in 15 seasons at the University of Kansas, he became the eighteenth head coach at North Carolina when he replaced Matt Doherty in 2003...
) 78-68, setting up a rematch with #3-ranked Michigan in the finals.
The national title game was a see-saw battle throughout, but is remembered best for Chris Webber
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
's time out call with seconds left when Michigan didn't have any. Michigan was assessed a technical foul and North Carolina ended up winning 77-71, giving Smith his second national championship.
Roster
| Name | # | Position | Height | Year | Home Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eric Montross Eric Montross Eric Scott Montross is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA.... |
00 | Center | 7–0 | Junior | Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S... |
| Pat Sullivan | 3 | Forward | 6–8 | Junior | Bogota, NJ Bogota, New Jersey As of the 2010 Census, Bogota had a population of 8,187. The median age was 38.6. The racial and ethnic composition of the population was 61.0% White, 9.4% Black or African American, 0.8% Native American, 9.8% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander, 14.8% some other race and 4.1% reporting... |
| Larry Davis | 4 | Guard | 6–3 | Freshman | Denmark, SC Denmark, South Carolina Denmark is a city in Bamberg County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 2,934 at the 2009 census.-Geography:Denmark is located at .According to the... |
| Henrik Rödl Henrik Rödl Henrik Rödl is a retired German professional basketball player, and currently a basketball coach. He played college basketball in the US for coach Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina... |
5 | Forward | 6–8 | Senior | Heusenstamm, Germany Heusenstamm Heusenstamm is a town of over 18,000 in the Offenbach district in the Regierungsbezirk of Darmstadt in Hesse, Germany.- Geography :- Location :The town lies on the river Bieber. Heusenstamm is one of 13 towns and communities in the Offenbach district... |
| Scott Cherry Scott Cherry Scott Cherry is an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at High Point University. He replaced Bart Lundy.-High School Career:... |
11 | Guard/Forward | 6–5 | Senior | Ballston Spa, NY Ballston Spa, New York Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Saratoga County. The village is named after Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of two... |
| Derrick Phelps Derrick Phelps Derrick Michael Phelps is an American former professional basketball player. At 6' 4" and 181 lbs., he played as a point guard.... |
14 | Guard | 6–3 | Junior | Pleasantville, NY Pleasantville, New York Pleasantville is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 7,019 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Pleasantville is home to a campus of Pace University and to the Jacob Burns Film Center... |
| Donald Williams Donald Williams (basketball) Donald Williams is a former American professional basketball player.Born in Garner, North Carolina, Williams played for Garner High School before going on to play at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.... |
21 | Guard | 6–3 | Sophomore | Garner, NC Garner, North Carolina Garner is a town in Wake County, North Carolina, United States and a suburb of Raleigh. The population was 17,757 at the 2000 census and was 27,533 in 2009.-Geography:Garner is located at .... |
| Dante Calabria Dante Calabria Dante Calabria is a American professional basketball player.A 6'5" guard, Calabria played college basketball at the University of North Carolina under coach Dean Smith.... |
24 | Guard | 6–4 | Freshman | Beaver Falls, PA Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania Beaver Falls is a city in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,987 at the 2010 census. It is located 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, and on the Beaver River, six miles from its confluence with the Ohio River... |
| Brian Reese | 31 | Forward | 6–6 | Junior | Bronx, NY The Bronx The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated... |
| Kevin Salvadori Kevin Salvadori Kevin Michael Salvadori is an American former professional basketball player. A 7'0" center from the University of North Carolina, Salvadori went undrafted but did manage to play for the Sacramento Kings of the National Basketball Association for two seasons from 1996 to 1998.His father, Al... |
33 | Center/Forward | 7–0 | Junior | Pittsburgh, PA |
| George Lynch George Lynch (basketball) George DeWitt Lynch III is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He holds the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball record for most career steals.... |
34 | Forward | 6–8 | Senior | Roanoke, VA Roanoke, Virginia Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010... |
| Travis Stephenson | 35 | Forward | 6–7 | Senior | Angier, NC Angier, North Carolina Angier is a town in the Black River Township of Harnett County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,350 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Angier is located at 35° 30’31" North, 78° 44’15" West .... |
| Ed Geth | 40 | Forward | 6–9 | Freshman | Norfolk, VA Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach.... |
| Matt Wenstrom Matt Wenstrom Matthew William Wenstrom is a retired American basketball player. He played for the Boston Celtics in the National Basketball Association during the 1993-94 NBA season.... |
50 | Center | 7–1 | Senior | Katy, TX Katy, Texas Katy is a city located in Harris, Fort Bend and Waller Counties in the U.S. state of Texas, within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown metropolitan area... |
NCAA basketball tournament
- West
- North Carolina 85, East Carolina 65
- North Carolina 112, Rhode Island 67
- North Carolina 80, Arkansas 74
- North Carolina 75, Cincinnati 68
- Final Four
- North Carolina 78, Kansas 68
- North Carolina 77, Michigan 71
Awards and honors
- Dean Smith, Naismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the YearNaismith College Coach of the Year Award is an award given by the Atlanta Tipoff Club to one men's and one women's NCAA Division I collegiate coach each season since 1987...
- Donald Williams, NCAA Men's MOP AwardNCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerAt the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
Team players drafted into the NBA
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 1993 1993 NBA Draft The 1993 NBA Draft took place on June 30, 1993 in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The draft had some talented players at the top, but injuries and personal problems hurt many of them. Anfernee Hardaway, Allan Houston, and Jamal Mashburn all looked like possible Hall of Famers until their careers were cut... |
1 | 12 | George Lynch George Lynch (basketball) George DeWitt Lynch III is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. He holds the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill basketball record for most career steals.... |
Los Angeles Lakers Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association... |
| 1994 1994 NBA Draft The 1994 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1994 in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is notable for the fact that two NBA rookies of the year were picked in the first round, as Jason Kidd and Grant Hill were co-winners of the award for the 1994–95 NBA season... |
1 | 9 | Eric Montross Eric Montross Eric Scott Montross is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA.... |
Boston Celtics Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which... |
See also
- North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketballNorth Carolina Tar Heels men's basketballThe North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball program is the intercollegiate men's basketball of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is considered one of the most successful programs in NCAA history...
- 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball TournamentThe 1993 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 18, 1993, and ended with the championship game on April 5 in New Orleans, Louisiana...