They sold 100 or so hats before the Final Four games and then went into the arena and watched some great basketball. At this point, Whittenburg hearkened back to his high school days with Morgan Wootten at DeMatha Catholic High School, where he was taught to always catch the basketball with both hands. North Carolina State became the first team in tournament history to win six games en route to the title (the tournament being 32 teams or fewer prior to 1979, and all champions from 1979 to 1982 had first-round byes). Who Has the Most NCAA Basketball Championships? | BestColleges The ball eventually wound up in the hands of guard Sidney Lowe, who gave it to forward and fellow senior Thurl Bailey in the corner. (four, five, four). We have tools and resources that can help you use sports data. Western Conference Finals MVP. The Cougars, a notoriously poor foul shooting team with a 61.4 percent averaging entering the game, made only 10 of 19 from the free throw line. The Wolfpack became the first team to win the NCAA Tournament with at least 10 losses. Both Charles's dunk and Valvano's running around the court in celebration immediately after the game have been staples of NCAA tournament coverage ever since. MORE: A look into UConn's impressive Final Four history. The Aztecs are in uncharted territory, having never even reached the Elite Eight before this year, but they now find themselves just one win away from one of the unlikeliest championship runs in recent memory. NC. Once again, this enabled the Wolfpack to return to their standby strategy of extending the game. But Lowe hit a 22-footer before Houstons Michael Young missed the front end of a one-and-on with 2:55 to go. Anders, a 6-5 sophomore, was the only Cougar other than Olajuwon in double figures, with 10 points. The Wolfpack defenders would let the Cougars employ their slowdown strategy of passing it around. The clock, meanwhile, had ticked down to five seconds and Whittenburg was still standing a significant distance from the goal, Once he regained control, Whittenburg turned and launched a desperation shot to try and win the game for NC State. [2] UConn, the 2023 champions, have won five championships since the start of the tournament. The shot's trajectory took it to the front of the basket where Olajuwon was covering Wolfpack center Lorenzo Charles. The game was played on April 4, 1983, at The Pit in Albuquerque, New Mexico and paired top-ranked, #1 seed Midwest Regional Champions, the Houston Cougars, and sixteenth-ranked, #6 seed West Regional Champions, the NC State Wolfpack.[2]. Associated Press OGDEN They're officially known as the Wolfpack from North Carolina State. As he watched the shot, Olajuwon said he knew the shot was going to come up short but he also did not want to go for the ball too early because of the potential for goaltending. [pause] On the dunk! It also marked Drexler's final college game, as he entered the 1983 NBA Draft with a year of eligibility remaining and was selected 14th overall by the Portland Trail Blazers. As for the NC State hats? The 1983 NBA Finals was broadcast by CBS. This was the last year before the expansion to a 64-team bracket. Phi Slama Jama was a heavy favorite to win the 1983 NCAA Championship. 2 Louisville 94-81 in the semifinals Saturday. If Whittenburg had not attempted to do so in this case, Anders may have gotten the steal and a game-winning breakaway layup. ), but it actually wound up as "Fo', fi', fo." With Olajuwon on the bench, Houston head coach Guy Lewis decided that in order to protect the lead and the health of his big man at the same time, the Cougars needed to start slowing the game down. In the second half, the Cougars came out with a second wind and established control of the game, eventually taking a seven-point lead. Copyright 2023 Sporting News Holdings Limited. The March Madness finale will return to CBS in 2023 after last year's North Carolina vs. Kansas championship game aired on TBS. Prior to the playoffs, Malone predicted the team would win in four games in each of the three rounds, ending it with the statement Fo, Fo, Fo. Whittenburgoh that's a long ways. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. It also introduced a new theme music (composed by Allyson Bellink) for the CBS Sports coverage of the NBA, used an introduction of the NBA arenas (similar to the Boston Garden) until the 1989 Playoffs and later revived the second theme beginning in the 1989 Finals.[2]. VILLANOVA'S HISTORIC UPSET OF GEORGETOWN in the 1985 NCAA championship game remains one of college basketball's most memorable and compelling moments. tournament. Teammate of the Year. They went on to capture their third NBA championship as they won 65 games, and stormed through the playoffs, first sweeping the New York Knicks, and then beating the Milwaukee Bucks in five games. Bailey threw what Whittenburg would later call a "poor fundamental" overhanded pass which Houston's Benny Anders, guarding Whittenburg on the play, was in position to steal. I found myself traveling back in time to 1983 to revisit a unique story tied to NC States Cinderella run when they defeated Houstons Phi Slama Jama in the NCAA Championship game. 1982-83 NC State Wolfpack Men's Roster and Stats Previous Season Next Season Record: 26-10 (8-6, 4th in ACC MBB ) Rank: 16th in the Final AP Poll Coach: Jim Valvano More School Info NCAA Champion ACC Tourney Champ NC State (Men's) School History Roster & Stats Polls, Schedule & Results On this page: Roster Per Game Team and Opponent Stats Per Game
