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10 best Final Four teams of all time

By Nathaniel Reeves

Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former UCLA Bruins player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to the crowd at half time between the Washington State Cougars and the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Former UCLA Bruins player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar waves to the crowd at half time between the Washington State Cougars and the UCLA Bruins at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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UNDATED: University of North Carolina’s Michael Jordan #23 provides defence during a game. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
UNDATED: University of North Carolina’s Michael Jordan #23 provides defence during a game. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

6. 1982 North Carolina Tar Heels 

With two future Hall of Famers on the roster, the Tar Heels were finally able to break through under Dean Smith in 1982 with two memorable wins in the Final Four.

Following a loss in the championship game the year before, the Tar Heels entered the 1982 NCAA Tournament with a record of 27-2. James Worthy and Sam Perkins each turned in All-American campaigns, while a young Michael Jordan emerged as a promising freshman with 13.5 points per game.

The Tar Heels survived a scare from James Madison in the opening round before advancing to the Final Four, their seventh appearance under Smith. North Carolina began its Final Four campaign with a five-point triumph over upstart Houston, which featured Clyde Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon.

That earned the Tar Heels a date with Sleepy Floyd, Patrick Ewing and No.6 Georgetown for another chance at a title. With 15 seconds left, Jordan hit a midrange jump shot to give North Carolina a 63-62 lead, and Georgetown’s Freddie Brown inexplicably threw the ball straight to Worthy on the next possession.

North Carolina has won three titles since with a chance at another in 2017, but the 1982 squad still stands out as the best Final Four team in school history.

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