North Carolina Tar Heels: 1982 vs 1968, Bracket Challenge

The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge continues with the hardest game yet, the 1982 National Title team versus the 1968 team.

The North Carolina Tar Heels won the 2017 Men’s Basketball Championship Monday night. That means that the 2017 team’s season is over. The North Carolina Tar Heels Final Four Bracket Challenge still continues, although obviously the next Bracket Challenge will have to be reseeded when and if it occurs.

The Bracket Challenge is now in its third round of games, and it is providing some trouble. The 2016-1957 ended up being a surprise and this current matchup of 1968 vs 1982 could go the same way.

How do I say that? If you have witnessed the previous Bracket Challenge rounds, you know that the 1982 team beat the 1969 team to get here. You would also know that the 1968 beat the 1981 team to get here. That is how close these teams seem to be, and no simulator exists to get me out of the decision making process.

The 1968 team has all the elements of the 1969 team except they have a healthy Dick Grubar, a senior Larry Miller, and a less productive Bill Bunting.

The 1982 team gains a better version of James Worthy, but the trade of senior Al Wood for the freshman Michael Jordan is highly dubious. Trading for 1984 Jordan would be a great trade, but he wasn’t on the 1982 team. This is similar to the 1968 team having to settle for 1968 Charlie Scott (17 points per game) over 1969 Charlie Scott (22 points per game).

This is very much a game where the mythmaking has to be disregarded to get any kind of real result.