For years former Indiana Hoosiers basketball star and current media personality Dan Dakich has boasted that he shut down UNC star Michael Jordan in the 1984 NCAA Tournament.
While Dakich did have one of the most iconic moments in IU history with a blocked shot of Jordan to seal the win and secure an upset, a recent video is going viral for disproving his larger claim of “shutting down” the future NBA legend.
A video from the content creator Ant Wright features a film breakdown from that iconic Sweet 16 in the 1984 NCAA Tournament between top-seeded UNC and four-seed Indiana shows that the Hoosiers largely shut Jordan down in that game in spite of Dakich, not because of him.
Numerous clips throughout the game highlight Dakich trying futilely to block Jordan 1-on-1 and ultimately needing help from double teams in order to deflect shots or get Jordan off-balance. Through the video, Wright can be heard laughing as Jordan gets easy buckets whenever Dakich attempts to guard him by himself.
The fans absolutely loved it and even a few Hoosiers fans couldn’t help but laugh at seeing Dakich cut down to size by the tape itself:
Film Breakdown
Dan Dakich vs Michael Jordan pic.twitter.com/90CweDxsVk
— ᗩᑎT ᗯᖇIGᕼT (@itsAntWright) June 24, 2023
“I normally hate anyone giving Dakich attention, but THIS IS EXCEPTIONAL…Kudos,” one user replied.
“I would absolutely lose my mind if any of my guys played defense like this against HS players, let alone MJ,” another fan wrote, using a screenshot of a moment where Dakich gives Jordan tons of space.
“Love this. Dan never once played at a high level. All talk,” a third wrote.
Jordan finished the game just 6 of 14 with 13 points, one rebound, one assist and four turnovers in the 72-68 loss. Dakich, meanwhile had four points, three rebounds, three assists and a turnover of his own while Steve Alford, Stew Robinson and Uwe Blab did the heavy lifting.
Nobody can ever take away Dakich helping to hand Jordan an L in what was Jordan’s final game as a college basketball player. But it seems that the idea that Dakich can take credit for a big role in the win has been pretty thoroughly debunked here.