COLLEGE BASKETBALL / NCAA MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP GAME : And, if Jordan’s Mom Had Her Way . . .

Dean Smith might have had another national title had Michael Jordan remained in school one more year.

Jordan turned pro in 1982 after North Carolina had won the title, even though “Mrs. Jordan (Michael’s mother) was very much against it,” Smith recalled.

“Houston, Portland and Chicago had the top three picks and I remember Michael wasn’t positive he wanted to end up all the way out in Portland,” Smith said.

“So I called up Portland on his behalf. Houston was choosing between Jordan and (Hakeem) Olajuwon. But the Portland people told me they were looking for a big man with the second pick, either Olajuwon or Sam Bowie, so I told Michael and that was that.

“Portland ended up with Bowie and Michael ended up . . . well, I forget,” Smith joked. “What ever did become of Michael?”