Roy Williams Can’t Forget 1984 UNC: “We Had Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins and Brad Daugherty”
Former North Carolina coach Roy Williams recently reflected on one of the most talented teams he ever witnessed in Chapel Hill, the 1984 Tar Heels. While that squad ultimately fell short of winning a national championship, Williams insists that the sheer talent and depth of the roster still makes it one of the greatest in college basketball history.
“That 1984 North Carolina team, we didn’t win a national championship, but we had Michael Jordan, Sam Perkins, and Brad Daugherty,” Williams recalled. “That kind of lineup doesn’t come around very often. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
The team entered the 1983–84 season with sky-high expectations. Dean Smith’s program was already considered one of the best in the nation, and with Jordan returning for his junior year alongside veterans like Perkins and a young but dominant Daugherty, the Tar Heels were widely viewed as the favorites to cut down the nets in March.
North Carolina delivered during the regular season, finishing with a stellar record and earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Jordan was playing some of his best college basketball, showing flashes of the explosiveness and determination that would later define his NBA career. Perkins, a steady All-American, provided leadership and versatility, while Daugherty gave UNC a dominant presence in the paint at just 18 years old.
Williams, who at the time was still an assistant coach under Dean Smith, remembers the practices just as much as the games. “You had Michael going full speed every possession, Sam with his smooth inside-outside game, and Brad, who was still learning but already had such a natural feel. The competition in practice was unbelievable. Some days it felt like our scrimmages were tougher than the games.”
Despite their dominance in the regular season, the Tar Heels fell short in the NCAA Tournament. In one of the most surprising upsets of the decade, UNC was knocked out by Indiana, coached by Bob Knight. The loss stunned the basketball world, as many assumed the Tar Heels were destined for the title.
Williams admits that defeat still lingers. “When you look back, it’s hard not to feel that was a missed opportunity. We had everything — talent, coaching, depth, and experience. Sometimes, though, that’s the beauty and the pain of the NCAA Tournament. One bad night can end it all.”
What makes that team so memorable, however, is what its players became after leaving Chapel Hill. Michael Jordan, of course, went on to become arguably the greatest basketball player of all time. Sam Perkins carved out a long and productive NBA career, known for his shooting touch as a big man. Brad Daugherty became a five-time NBA All-Star with the Cleveland Cavaliers before injuries cut his career short.
“People talk about Kentucky’s teams or Duke’s teams over the years, but when you look at the pro careers those guys had, I don’t think there are many rosters that compare,” Williams said. “It’s one of those teams where history will always ask: ‘How did they not win it all?’”
Even without a national championship banner, the 1984 Tar Heels remain legendary in UNC history. Their combination of future NBA stardom and unforgettable moments on the court have left an imprint on generations of Tar Heel fans. For Roy Williams, the memory of coaching that group remains one of the most vivid snapshots of his early career.
“I’ve been lucky to coach and watch some of the best players in the game,” Williams concluded. “But that 1984 team was special. When you have Jordan, Perkins, and Daugherty in the same locker room, you don’t forget it. You never forget it.”
