Remember NCSU's 1983 Championship

Prior to the start of the 1983 basketball season, two new coaches introduced themselves to the members of the ACC Sportswriters Association. Mike Krzyzewski came to Duke. He told sportswriters how to spell his name and broadcasters (like me) how to pronounce it. "You'll get it wrong," he said, "so just call me 'Coach K.'" He was the first person I heard call him by that moniker. Jim Valvano came to NC State, and introduced himself with a humorous story about meeting the other coaches. It set the stage for two careers that have become legendary.

The late Jimmy Valvano said it over forty years ago, and I remember it well: "To win a national championship, you just need to win ten games."

Of course, that was 1983, when Jimmy V took his 'Cardiac Kids' from NC State to a national championship win over Phi Slamma Jamma, the Houston Cougars team that included future NBA stars Clyde 'the Glide' Drexler and Hakeem Olajuwon. 

Some will still disagree, but I remember the winning basket as an airball that turned a missed shot into a great pass.  With the score tied at 52-all, Houston's Benny Anders nearly stole the ball as State played for the last shot.  Dereck Wittenburg recovered it and his desperation shot fell short--but right into the hands of Lorenzo Charles and his dunk was the winning goal.  

The Wolfpack's run was a brilliant coaching job--and resulted in a rules change.  State would foul late in the game with their opponents leading, and hoped they'd miss one of the one-and-one free throws, maybe even the first, meaning State could then score on the ensuing play.  The two shots after 10 fouls rule came into being as a result of that tactic.

That wasn't Valvano's only coaching method that proved successful.  He said before the game that there was no way the Wolfpack could play a fast and furious game with the Cougars.  "We'll have to play slow and steady to have a chance," he said.

When the game began State didn't slow it down; they ran--and dominated the first half, thanks in part to Drexler picking up four first half fouls.  Because Albequerque, where the game was played, is over 5,000 feet above sea level, Jimmy V worked his team hard to get them in shape for breathing the high altitude air.  In the second half, Olajuwon had to rest several times and get oxygen.  Even so, Houston took the lead on a 17-2 run early in the second half.  But the conditioning helped as Houston's big man wasn't as effective as he might have been.  He didn't even make a play on Charles' dunk at the end.

That 10-game comment came in response to a query about how State, who had a good but not great season won the ACC's automatic bid by winning the conference tournament.  (It took four games in those days; it was five this year because there are more teams in the league.)  "Win those four to take the ACC title, then six in the NCAA...that's all it takes!" said the always humorous Valvano.  

While this year's NC State team is in the Sweet 16, almost nobody thinks they have a real chance at another championship this season...but that's also what we sports writers thought in 1983.