Michael Jordan once expressed his love for an argyle pattern. Inevitably, the North Carolina Tar Heels would wear that argyle pattern on the basketball court. It was far from a Jordan-only decision, but more than 30 years ago, the uniform design thoughts of a university icon who became one of basketball’s all-time greatest players — many say the greatest — played a factor.
If anything, it might have helped sway the opinion of someone considered by some to be even more Tar Heel than Jordan — the opinion of one eventual Hall of Fame coach in Dean Smith. As a discussion among Hall of Famers in their respective fields resulted in planning a revised look for one of college basketball’s top programs, the voice of the legendary coach carried the most weight.
Fans of the past couldn’t miss the distinctive Carolina blue uniforms then, and fans of today recognize the argyle design that accompanies many of the university’s athletic uniforms. They have been on display in both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. The men’s team advanced to the Sweet 16 over the weekend with a win over Michigan State. The women’s team fell to undefeated overall top seed South Carolina in a second-round game Sunday.
Smith’s and Jordan’s endorsements of new North Carolina basketball…
