ESPN, ACC Network to celebrate Jordan on Friday: 2/3/23

By R.L. Bynum

Friday will be Michael Jordan Day on ESPN and ACC Network as the channels will feature extensive programming that spotlights No. 23 on 2/3/23.

Highlights of the Carolina and NBA great’s career will be part of multiple studio shows, while you’ll want to set your DVRs because ACCN will air four Tar Heels games from the 1981, 1983 and 1984 seasons.

ESPN studio shows will provide Jordan content and highlights, including the 7 a.m., noon and 6 p.m. editions of “SportsCenter,” “Get Up” at 8 a.m., “First Take” at 10 a.m. and “NBA Today” at 2 p.m. Additionally, ACCN will have Jordan-related content, interviews and guests during “ACC PM” at 4 p.m. and “Bald Men on Campus” at 9 p.m.

Here are the Carolina games that ACC Network will air:

— 10 a.m. | No. 2 North Carolina 74, Kansas 67 (Nov. 28, 1981): In his first college game, Jordan scored 12 points as the Tar Heels topped the Jayhawks in Charlotte. Graphics during the game refer to him as “Mike Jordan.”


— Noon | No. 3 North Carolina 80, No. 19 Wake Forest 78 (Jan. 27, 1983): Jordan led the Tar Heels with 17 points, while Matt Doherty made two free throws with three seconds left to lift the Tar Heels past the Deacons at the Greensboro Coliseum.
— 2 p.m. | No. 1 North Carolina 69, Virginia 66 (Jan. 18, 1984): Jordan scored 23 points as the Tar Heels held off the Cavaliers. UNC led by as many as 21 before Virginia mounted a comeback to cut the lead to one point with under five minutes left to play at Carmichael Auditorium.
— 11 p.m. | No. 1 North Carolina 96, No. 16 Duke 83, 2 OTs (March 3, 1984): In his final home game at UNC, Jordan scored 25 points, and added four rebounds and three assists to lead the Tar Heels past the Blue Devils in Carmichael Auditorium.

Jordan scored the game-winning shot as the Tar Heels won 1982 NCAA title and ACC championship in his freshman season. He earned national player of the year honors (1984), was a two-time consensus first-team all-American (1983 and 1984), ACC Player of the Year (1984) and a two-time first-team all-ACC selection (1983, 1984) before achieving one of the most decorated careers in NBA history.

During his storied 15-year NBA career, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles, earned six NBA Finals MVP awards, five NBA Most Valuable Player honors and 14 NBA All-Star selections, and won the NBA scoring title 10 times.

Friday Jordan programming

7 a.m. — “SportsCenter,” ESPN
8 a.m. — “Get Up,” ESPN
10 a.m. — “First Take,” ESPN
10 a.m. — Kansas vs. North Carolina, Nov. 28, 1981, ACCN
Noon — “SportsCenter,” ESPN
Noon — North Carolina vs. Wake Forest, Jan. 27, 1983, ACCN
2 p.m. — North Carolina vs. Virginia, Jan. 18, 1984, ACCN
3 p.m. — “NBA Today,” ESPN
4 p.m. — “ACC PM,” ACCN
6 p.m. — “SportsCenter,” ESPN
9 p.m. — “Bald Men on Campus,” ACCN
11 p.m. — North Carolina vs. Duke, March 3, 1984, ACCN

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