Chris Webber’s blunder
On April 5, 1993 – 1993: North Carolina wins the NCAA Tournament, but the final will forever be remembered more for Chris Webber’s blunder.
N.C. leads 73-71 when Webber, Michigan’s All-American sophomore forward, rebounds Pat Sullivan’s missed free throw with 20 seconds left. Webber travels, but no referee calls it. Given a second chance, he hurriedly dribbles across midcourt, stopping in front of Michigan’s bench. Then he signals for a timeout with 11 seconds remaining.
The only problem is that the Wolverines are out of timeouts.
Donald Williams hits two free throws after the technical and another two after a foul, wrapping up the Tar Heels’ 77-71 victory in the Superdome in New Orleans.
After the game, Webber sits chagrined and thoroughly miserable in the locker room. “I just called the timeout and that probably cost us the game,” he says.
Webber’s mistake overshadows N.C.’s comeback from a 67-63 deficit to a 72-67 lead with a minute left. Williams scores a game-high 25 points, including hitting 5-of-7 shots from three-point range, and is named the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player. He dedicates his performance to the ailing Jim Valvano, the former North Carolina State coach who first recruited him.
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