ESPN Classic to honor Dean Smith with more than 24-hour tribute

ESPN Classic will air more than 24 hours of programming to honor legendary North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith starting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. Smith passed away on Saturday night at the age of 83. He won 879 games and a pair of national championships during his 36 years with the Tar Heels.

ESPN Classic will air more than 24 hours of programming to honor legendary North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith starting on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET.

Smith passed away on Saturday night at the age of 83. He won 879 games and a pair of national championships during his 36 years with the Tar Heels.

ESPN Classic will air a special called "Remembering Dean Smith" to start the tribute. The special will be followed by classic games coached by Smith. 

• Remembering Dean Smith

North Carolina's 102-100 win over Duke in 1995 will be the first game and will be followed by the Tar Heels' comeback victory in the 1996 game against Duke. The marathon will also include the 1996 game against Maryland, the 1992 game against Duke and the 1994 game against Wake Forest.

The tribute, which will include several re-airings of the "Remembering Dean Smith" special, will run until 7 a.m. ET on Friday morning.

• SI writers and editor share their memories of Dean Smith

- Paul Palladino