UNC Basketball Premieres Documentary on 1993 Championship Team Led By Dean Smith

A documentary about the North Carolina Tar Heels' 1993 national championship team premiered Jan. 10 after the Wake Forest game. Raycom Sports produced the one-hour show with ESPN. You can watch it on the Watch ESPN app and several streaming platforms.

"We're No. 1! 1993 North Carolina Tar Heels" tells the story of how this squad claimed the title during the 1992-93 season with the leadership of head coach Dean Smith. The film pulls from old footage, home videos, photographs, and game broadcasts.

George Lynch, Brian Reese, Derrick Phelps, Donald Williams, and current assistant coach Pat Sullivan all appear in interviews. Eric Montross died in 2023 after fighting cancer. His children, Andrew and Sarah, speak for him in the documentary.

Montross became a main focus. Travis Stephenson, who played with him and knew him well, discussed losing his friend. "Eric passing changed some stuff permanently for a lot of people, including me. Cause he was invincible, right? He was Superman," Stephenson said, according to The Fayetteville Observer.

Players and coaches met at Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery to discuss that season. Stephenson felt the absence of Montross, Smith, and Bill Guthridge.

Lynch earned team MVP honors in 1993. His pressure defense was paired with Phelps in a double team that forced Chris Webber's timeout call during the championship game against Michigan.

Williams scored at least 25 points in back-to-back Final Four games. No player has done this since. Radio voices Woody Durham and Mick Mixon provided commentary throughout the documentary.