HOUSTON — Michael Jordan consoled the North Carolina basketball team after the Tar Heels’ heartbreaking loss to Villanova on Monday night in the NCAA championship game, North Carolina senior forward Brice Johnson told USA TODAY Sports.
Jordan, who made the game-winning shot for North Carolina in the 1982 championship game, addressed the team in its locker room.
“He was just saying he was proud of us and he’s proud to be a Tar Heel and all of those things and he just wishes the outcome was a little bit better than it was," Johnson said. “It means a lot. He’s one of the greatest to ever play the game. It’s an honor to be able to say I’m a Tar Heel along with him."
It was a somber locker room, with Johnson and junior forward Kennedy Meeks in tears while embracing each other.
Later, Kennedy hugged assistant coach Hubert Davis while the two sobbed, and Johnson grew agitated when asked if he could describe his emotions after the 77-74 loss that was sealed on Kris Jenkins’ last-second three-pointer for Villanova.
“I don’t know how to put it into words," he said. “It hurts. I can tell you that much."
