North Carolina Tar Heels: 1981 vs 1968, Bracket Challenge
The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge has rematch, err a prematch, and it might be different this time.
The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge continues with a prequel of sorts. The 1982 team just faced off with the 1969 team and they await the winner of this matchup. This matchup happens to be 1968 vs 1981, the same teams just the year before.
As such it is interesting to note that both teams pick up a senior scorer in the move backward. The Heels lose Jordan and pickup Al Wood at the height of his powers. This of course brings the revelation that you would rather have senior Wood over freshman Jordan. The 1968 team gains perhaps a better pickup, they do not lose anybody and gain Larry Miller as a senior.
Yes, there is some regression between the two teams. Bill Bunting made a big leap his senior year and Charlie Scott was less productive in his first year as a player (but still pretty good at 17 PPG). Sam Perkins and Rusty Clark held their production between the seasons while James Worthy actually averaged fewer points than Perkins on the season in 1981.
The 1968 team also actually had Dick Grubar for its entire NCAA run. That did not help them when they ran into Lew Alcindor in the NCAA final.
The 1981 team had a weaker bench than its successor team, though you can find Matt Doherty there along with other familiar faces.
More from North Carolina Tar Heels
- NC Colleges Provide Coronavirus Results from Athletic Departments
- UNC Football gets Commitment from Top Cornerback
- Four North Carolina players selected in first round of MLB Draft
- UNC Destroyed by Coach Duggs and Tennessee in NCAA Football 14
- UNC Basketball: Former Tar Heel star calls out Roy Williams
1968 Rotation
Starters
C Rusty Clark
F Bill Bunting
F Larry Miller
G Charlie Scott
G Dick Grubar
Key Reserves
North Carolina Tar Heels Basketball
1981 Rotation
C Sam Perkins
F James Worthy
F Al Wood
Key Reserves
F Matt Doherty
Comments
I will say it again, trading Wood for Jordan did not hurt the 1981 team. Wood averaged eighteen points per game that season. Worthy’s drop off was not even that big. The problem is that the 1968 team swapped Scott’s 1969 season for Miller’s almost identical 1968 year AND still had Scott averaging seventeen a game (instead of Fogler’s modest contribution). Bunting lost ten points per game but that was made up for by Scott.
I would go into more detail, but I just covered essentially the same teams just a matchup ago. The addition of Larry Miller is decisive here. The 1968 team regresses less than the 1981 team and that will give them victory in the matchup. Not by much, but they will get their shot at the 1982 squad next round.
Result
The Final Four Bracket Challenge will continue with the 2008-2009 game. I really really hope 2009 wins. That won’t happen until this evening at the earliest, so enjoy actual basketball when the current Tar Heels play the Oregon Ducks tonight around 9:00 PM.