Moses Sparks the G'town Villanova game from 1985 was better than the '82 game with UNC in my opinion. Hell, I'll take '88 Kansas Danny & the Miracles over that game. UNC was SUPPOSED to beat Georgetown. NC State was not supposed to be anywhere near the tournament or that Houston team.
I watched the documentary "30-30" and it so emotional. We go to Reynolds Coliseum and it is so hard to realize the hard times until they won. RIP Jimmy Valvano
and RIP Lorenzo, he died in a car crash 6 years before your comment in 2011, he was the person who made the game winning dunk. And watch it again please, the coach K parts will hit even harder.
What I remember most about this is NC State team was that 1983 was the height of basketball excellence on Tobacco Road. Such fierce rivalries between Duke, UNC, NC State and Wake Forest. But this team managed to get the whole state of North Carolina to lay down their arms and root for the underdog Pack. It was a crazy and exciting time to be alive. I will never forget it.
I was a sophomore at UNC watching this game. I was pulling for the Wolfpack and glad they won. Championship trophy went 28 miles up the road from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. Still one of the greatest national championship games ever.
The last time I watched this game was on April 4, 1983 in my grandparents' kitchen on a tiny (but at least color) TV. It never occurred to me to look for it here on CZcams, but it popped up and I watched the whole darn thing again. Loved every minute for the second time! As I type this, I'm looking above my desk at the framed Sports Illustrated cover (poster sized) dated 4/11/83 ($1.75!!!) signed by none other than Dereck Wittenberg, Thurl Bailey, and Sidney Lowe. Thanks for posting! Go Wolfpack!
GET OVER IT STUPlD, DO U HEAR RON OR NICOLE COMPLAINING? IF RONNIE IS NOT SHOWING ANY CONCERNS WHY ARE YOU STUPlD, GET OVER IT, THAT WAS BETWEEN OJ AND HIS WIFE, STAY OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS. IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR. LET THEM WORK THINGS OUT PRIVATELY. GIVE THEM SOME SPACE AND PRIVACY
I was there. Amazing game. Even got on TV. About 1;35 left in the first half, I'm holding a sign that says "Phi Pack Attacka"…still have the hat, which I had made with NCSU across it. One of my life's greatest memories.
You know what’s under appreciated? The fact that NC State held Phi Slamma Jamma to zero FGs in the last four minutes and zero points in the last three. Jimmy V’s defense and fouling philosophy was pure genius. RIP to Jimmy, Lorenzo, and Billy Packer
Don't forget how two years later, eight seed Villanova in the second half only allowed ONE field goal (basket) by the defending champs! They remain the lowest seed ever to win it all though my alma mater (KY) did come in second as an eight seed in 2014.
@@tommymaroon4189 But they're probably not an eight (or in 1983's case a six) seed this time though...sadly my own alma mater (UK) didn't put up much of a fight this year :(
I had predicted January 1983 when they beat VA at VA with Ralph and beat the Tarheels at NC that they would win the NCAA and my husband said..... they would HAVE to win the conference since they've lost too many games to get an invite...... :) My bowling league said I was insane with Houston and Louisville being so strong that season hah
They never would have lost so many if Whittenburg hadn't been out with injury in the toughest part of their schedule. At full strength, they were one of the best teams in the country all along. After he came back, they went 11-0.
Still my favorite all time sports moment! No way NC State should have been on the same court with Houston, but THEY NEVER GAVE UP!!! I was in 8th grade and I was pulling for the PACK, what a moment!!! Don't give up! Don't EVER GIVE UP!!!!
And what "Mr. Rickroll" (Rick Astley) said, "Never Gonna Give You Up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you; Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell no lies and hurt you".
I wasn’t brave enough to bet the sports editor of my college newspaper when he offered to take Houston straight up against anyone silly enough to take NC State, but I remember thinking the Wolf Pack definitely had a chance to win. They were a top-10 team b4 Wittenburg hurt his foot in the regular season. They beat Ralph Sampson and Virginia at least once if not twice. Sure, they were fortunate to get out of the first two rounds of the NCAAs, but by the finals they had already proven they could match anyone, especially with no shot clock.
I remember watching this live on tv. It was a classic and the best ending in NCAA history. The players looked great - no tattoos - just men playing a great game.
I saw this game live on TV too, the shocking ending, no one saw it coming. Saw the USA men's hockey team beat the Soviets in the olympics live too, up in Canada, we had the live feed. Couple of great sports moments.
I find it kind of ironic that the teams that played in "The Game of The Century" both lost to NC State in National Championship Games. UCLA in 1974 and Houston in 1983. Spoken by a Houston Alum this hurts to this day.......and I was born in 1982. Anyway......congrats to NC State. they deserved it.
And they did it despite shooting 39% from the field. This was also the first time NC State ever played Houston. They played seven months later on 11/19/83 with much of the same teams, minus Drexler for Houston, minus whittenburg and bailey, but with Spud Webb for State. Since it was the first game of the season that means they technically played two games in a row. Houston was ranked #3. State won again. They've played twice since, the last time being in 2001. State won both of those games as well.
Jimmy V. What a wonderful human being and super class act he was. An inspiration for all to always remember, even in the toughest of times in life, no matter what, "Never Ever Quit".
Can't help but watch this and smile. Survive and Advance is my favorite EPSN 30 for 30 film and really got me into this piece of college basketball history.
I was born and raised in NC. I remember watching this at Holden Beach NC. Easter weekend 1983. Fantastic game. I now live in all places Houston, TX. I hear them talk about losing this game all the time. Houston coach Guy Lewis was a class act. RIP for him as well as Valvano and Lorenzo Charles. Would be nice to see NC State and Houston back among the elites again. Until then let's enjoy this classic.
The call on radio (which I heard on the 30 For 30 film "Survive And Advance") was even better: "The Cinderella team has done it! The Glass Slipper fits! The Wolf Pack has won the National Championship".
This game is the hallmark. My mom (who cared nothing about basketball) liked to talk about how my then 53 year old and totally un-athletic Dad bumped his head on the 8 foot ceiling, jumping up in the air when Charles scored. RIP Lorenzo Charles.
83 nc state vs 85 Villanova first the Italians Jimmy v vs Massimo Derrick Whittenburg vs Gary MacLaine Lorenzo charles vs the other MacLaine Coz ell McQueen vs chuck Everson Thurl Bailey vs ed Pinckney and Sidney lowe vs Harold Pressly nc state 85 Villanova 83 the final score is the year the other team won the championship
He was just talking, though. Watch the game. NC State was trying to play all game long, and Houston was the team that tried to stall when they got ahead in the second half. The only strategy Valvano used other than just having his team play good basketball was to deliberately foul Houston's worst free-throw shooters when the Cougars started holding the ball.
But it was NOT Phi Stalla balla. That was meant as pure public deception. When his players later asked him if they were going to slow it down, his response was "Hell, no! We're going to run their ass off [sic]!" … If you watched this then you know that the only stalling, other than for the last possession, was done by Houston late in the first half.
40 years ago today. This game a classic. Jim Valvano running onto the court to find someone to hug. Rest In Peace Jimmy V and Lorenzo Charles. Memorable.
grew up in Albuquerque,still live there. I got tomm to see Louisville in the semis because they were my favorite team but couldn't get tickets to the finals
A Wolfpacker all of my life. I was 12 watching our Pack win in 1974 with David Thompson, Tom Burleson and Monte Towe. I was 21 when I brought my dad a bottle of champagne before this 1983 game started. I said, "This is for when we win." Thanks for the memories Wolfpack!
I lived in states during 1983 for ine year. And still vividly remember watching this game live on tv. I supported underdog nc state and when Lorenzo Charles dunk he ball, I got up with excitement and chair hit my big toe. The good thing about this video is that it contains while tv commercials between the game. This brings me a lot of memories for my staying in U.S.
Great job DeMatha twins, the rest of the team let's take two minutes of silence for Lorenzo Charles and also coach James Thomas Anthony Valvano living the dream and winning it
How did Charles "Lefty" Driesell miss recruiting the DeMatha twins, Sidney Lowe from D.C. and Dereck Whittenburg from Glenarden, MD as well as Thurl Bailey, who grew up in my hometown of Seat Pleasant, MD and graduated from my high school, Bladensburg High School. Still one of the greatest championship games in NCAA history and one of the best finishes ever.
Both coaches were correct. Valvano said that the game needed to be in the 50s: it was. Guy Lewis said that the team with the most dunks wins: it happened. Go Pack!
Sorry to hear about Lorenzo Charles, RIP. N.C. State was an underrated team that year, and my Coogs simply got out-coached in this game. I was 12 years old when I stayed up late to watch this on an old 12 inch screen tv. Unless UH is in the big dance, I still can't watch March Madness because of the constant replaying of Valvano running around at the end of the game looking for someone to hug. Life has been good for me for the last 32 years, but I will never, ever, get over this game. Go Coogs!
I was 13 years old when nc st won it all. In 8th grade. I will always remember this game forever. Its my favorite game of all time. Wow 35 years ago. Are you kidding me. Jimmy v would die ten years later. I wish i could go back to 1983. Anyway nc st still has not been back to the title game since. Rip jimmy and lorenzo.
Reflecting back on this classic, 36 years later, if these two teams played 100 times, Houston would win 99 out of those matchups But a one game showdown would be all that NC State would need
All the power to NC State! They were in-the-zone down the stretch! But wow, considering what this game was for and the team he had, this has to be the finest example ever of a coach having his team playing not-to-lose down the stretch.
I hate this game. .. I am from Houston and was rooting for the Cougars to win. But it was a great game and finish. they just shot a prayer at the end and had the right guy there to finish it. I remember being so upset after this game.
I'm from Avery County, NC, the home of the great Tom Burleson. He is the 7'4" center who was part of the national championship team for. N.C. State in 1974. So naturally we were pulling for State that night. I was a 18 year old senior about to graduate from Avery County High School in 2 short months. Greatest time of my life. That run they made from the time Wittenberg came back from injury to Lo's dunk was unbelievable. It was a great time to be 18 years old and watch all this. RIP Lorenzo Charles and Jim Valvano, and thanks to the entire N.C. State team of 1983 for the great memories of that championship run.
Mitch Banner I was in the 3rd grade when NC State won the National Championship in 1974, which was the year I really started following college basketball and NC State became my favorite team. David Thompson was the Michael Jordan of that time. This 1983 National Championship was great as Jim Valvano did a magnificent job of coaching.
That pressure defense cost Houston. Had they played their normal D, and boxed out, that dunk might not have been available on that airball. They did a great job denying NC State a good look at the basket, but there was nobody home to grab the "rebound" and go to OT.
+Greenwolfe Green Part that, and part they were better than most people realized. NC State played the toughest schedule in the country, with 10 games against teams that were ranked No. 1 at some point in the season. A lot of their losses were during a period of time when Whittenburg was injured and not playing. He came back for their last game before the ACC Tournament and they dropped 130 on Wake Forest, which wasn't a bad team. Before they played Houston, they had beaten UNC, Virginia, UNLV, and Virginia again during their winning streak--all top 10 teams. They weren't scared of Houston and had no reason to be. They could play with anybody.
Alansfather you are full of you know what this was the greatest upset in college basketball nc state had not played Houston In the regular season that year where as Villanova had played Georgetown twice and lost by two close scores Villanova was legit nc state had no business being in the final 4 let alone the championship game
@@johncate9541 I watched the UNC and the VA games in January and I began spouting off the NCST would take it all the way and was told that I was insane with UL and Houston being so strong that year. BAH hahahaha
Clyde Drexler looked like he was 40 years old when he was 20. Akeem was a beast. Still amazing that a bunch of drag nasties from State could beat that team. Magic!
It was a combination of bad coaching by Guy Lewis and Houston not playing good. Add in the fact it was destined for N.C. State to win. If you look at the games in ACC and NCAA tournaments 7 of 9 games were close.
@@nintendonerdsvideos4727 Well Valvano knew Houston was not a good free throw shooting team and he went for the perfect player to foul (the freshman Alvin Franklin).They also fouled in the regional finals versus Virginia when the game was tied with :54 seconds to play. Throughout that 9 game run NC State would foul and the opponents were not making their free throws.
NC State wasn't all garbage. They were 15th that year in the preseason. Houston was 11th. NC State whole starting 5 was drafted in thr NBA. Of course Houston had the better squad but that doesn't guarantee a championship. Part destiny. Part coaching. Part talent
9:57 Frank Fallon mentioned Valvano being in his "12th season". It was his 12th season overall as a Division I coach, but only his third at NC State. In later Final Fours, Fallon mentioned only the years a coach had been at the school playing. For instance, in 1987, he introduced Bobby Knight in his 16th season, which was his 16th season at Indiana, but his 22nd season overall as a Division I coach.
i was so happy this day, even as a a seven year old kid i saw every nc state game since the acc tourney, there was just something about this team that made you root them
Yes. And play to WIN at all times. Houston stalling down the stretch has to be one of the finest examples in sports history of a team playing not to lose.
Easily the biggest upset ever in the NCAA title game. So many people broadcasters have stated that it was Villanova's win over Georgetown in '85. Wrong! Villanova had battled Georgetown tough in two regular season games, and they knew how to play the Hoyas. This game shouldn't have been close. Houston made poor decisions (bad turnovers, Drexler's horrible fouls, numerous missed lay-ups, failure to pick up Whittenburg during the late stages of the game) and could not make foul shots. Another problem in this game was Guy Lewis' extended use of Akeem. He should have had more rest, as he played the entire first half and most of the second. I watched this game as a high school sophomore, and I still haven't gotten over result. It never should have happened.
Great points. Villanova lost 2 close games to Georgetown & one in overtime. Villanova lost to St John's 3 times & everytime they played the score was worse than before. They matched up with Georgetown. State didn't matchup with Houston
I am an Italian who grew up in Durham (about 20 minutes away from NCSU), and was almost 2 when this game happened. The legend of this team and Fire and Ice who followed inspired me to play basketball. I was such a great basketball player that I ended up being a wrestler for the Wolfpack . #GoPack
I was only a year old when this was played. Daddy and I talk about it like we sat down and watched it together live. I get a kick out of the commercials too. Wish I could get a brand new convertible for $9,500. 😒 I'm glad I can find great games like this to watch with players that stayed at least two years instead of all these one and dones.
I stayed in North Carolina at the time I miss Jimmy V don't ever give up of course Dean Smith was God at the time but I never forget Jimmy V his speech don't ever give up never give up
Greatest coach and motivator in the history of college basketball . Don't care about Dean Smith and coach k they should win with all the great players they have but take this group of guys and do what they did is amazing
As I remember, NC State finished in about the middle of the pack in the ACC, and then went on a run to win the ACC tournament which was the only reason they made it to March Madness. Then a similar run through the NCAA tournament to win the title. I was watching this game and taping it, one of the first things I ever recorded on a VCR. Thrilling ending. I was not rooting for Houston. They would return to the final the following year and lost again to Georgetown.
Not sure how people can possibly rank Christian Laettner's shot over this game and finish. The most amazing and improbable thing I have ever witnessed to this day.
well Laettner's shot was with Duke down by 1 is the only good reason I can come up with. I still think that was a pass and not a shot. Coach V is the reason we have the double bonus in the college game today
That Duke-Kentucky game was the greatest GAME in college basketball history and Laettner's shot, which was win or lose, helped secured that legacy. But The N.C. State-Houston game's finish was the greatest MOMENT in college basketball history having clichéd the most unlikely national championship ever. And of course N.C. State's triumph here was the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
Duke and kentucky were BOTH GREAT TEAMS! I don't want to say NC State wasn't, but on paper Houston was better than everyone!!! NC State had eeked out wins in virtually every NCAA tourney game except the final 4 matchup! This was the greatest upset of all time!
While great, I certainly wouldn't rank Laettner's shot ahead of the finish to this game. But that Duke-Kentucky game, which I saw on TV as it happened, was one of the greatest wire to wire college games I have ever seen. That was two heavyweights throwing everything they had at each other and it came down to the very last play.
That whole situation sums up what was wrong w Houston. The coaches lost track of Drexlers fouls and only thought he had two. Ok, well wouldn’t you want him out so he doesn’t get his third? Stupid coaching. Then Drexler on the breakaway, takes a horrible shot instead of taking Gannon to the hole who would have certainly had to foul him to prevent a bucket. True it was a bad call and should have been a block but it was a bad decision by Drexler. But how can you expect the players to be situational smart when the coaches were not. This game may have been one of the worst coaching jobs I have ever seen in a championship game.
Guy Lewis did the same thing vs Louisville in the final 4. Larry michaeux fouled out with 13 minutes left in the game. He lost track of the fouls. Got lucky with that one. With State it backfired
One of the greatest upsets in tournament history along with Villanova's upset victory over Georgetown. Which brings up the questions which victory and tournament run is the greatest: NC State or Villanova. I say NC State's run was the greatest because they had to win the ACC tournament just to make the NCAA tournament field of 52. And they had overcome a talented and loaded Houston team, which they only had 1 day to prepare. Villanova played Georgetown 2 times in which they were close games but it is hard to beat team 3 times and Nova knew Georgetown very well and played a perfect game. I love both upsets but I give the nod to The 1983 NC State Wolfpack.
wsnc 89 I agree. NC State was a bigger upset. John Thompson had a lot of great qualities but he was arrogant. He was gonna beat Villanova playing Villanovas game. St Johns ran them off the court because they played up tempo and the cats could not hang. Playing a half court game played right into Villanovas hands.
wsnc 89 I was a big east fan but also a Georgetown fan at that time. The first game v nova at the spectrum went into OT and the second one was also close. The Hoyas struggled twice playing a half court game v nova but demolished St. John’s three times playing up tempo. Although Villanova could not have played better, Georgetown had a flawed strategy from the jump ball that night. This was not one of John Thompson’s best moments. He stubbornly stayed in zone even though Villanova couldn’t miss, let them control the tempo and kept trying to run everything through Ewing when the Hoyas had an advantage on the wing with Williams and Wingate....both good outside shooters. All season the word was the Hoyas didn’t miss Michael graham. His night they missed him big time.
wsnc 89 I followed the big east closely then and until it broke up. I always say at that time there were two Villanovas. The one the rest of the big east saw...and the one that played Georgetown. They played the Hoyas tough. I went to the Pitt game three weeks earlier and Villanova got demolished by a NIT Pitt team. But the day of the game I warned people it was gonna be close. I had the Hoyas by 5.
Turnovers and missed FT's killed UH down the stretch. Give credit to State for knocking down those outside jumpers to keep them in the game, most of which were 3's that didn't count as 3's because of the rules at that time. It was a shame there was no shot clock back then, State held the ball for the last full minute of the game so UH couldn't get the ball back. Like to think Dream and Drex took some of the lessons they learned about playing in big games and used them later to win their ring in 95. What a classic.
I grew up in North Carolina and I'll never forget that night. We could hear people cheering all over in our very small town. We were drinking that disgusting 1983 NCAA CHAMPIONS N.C. STATE. The cans were awesome but the soda gross. But that night was one helluva night. I was only 9 but I will never ever forget "The Cardiac Pack."
Olajuwon made a critical mistake not blocking out Charles there at the end. He was watching the ball in the air without any awareness that Charles was behind him. A few minutes earlier he make a bad pass to halfcourt that helped NC State get back in the game. Seems like he was affected by the altitude, but the shouldn't exuse those plays.
"Smart move by Guy Lewis to get Drexler out of there"...Packer! He had 4 fouls. IN THE FIRST HALF!!!!! Smart move would have been to get him out after two fouls.
Never give up. I am not sure if Jimmy V said that then, but he did at the ESPY Awards shortly before his death. I had so much respect for him at that Game, up until his death. RIP Jimmy V.
@@gynandroidhead I remember those jerseys and those games at the Rosemont Horizon on NBC. Great players. Coach Ray Meyer. Oregon St had #1 seeds in those days also and lost the 1st game which was in the 2nd round
@@gynandroidhead I think that 1st round bye in the ncaa tournament hurt some teams. They got rid of that bye in 1985. If your an independent or a team that played an early conference tournament you'd go 2 weeks without playing a game. In basketball that's too much time off. That's rust not rest
@@gynandroidhead The Pac 10 didn't have a conference tournament in those days. The year Louisville beat UCLA in that real close title game Oregon St was the #1 overall seed. No conference tournament. 1st round bye and lost to Lamar. UCLA was 4th in the Pac 10 with no bye and made it to the title game and they should've beat Louisville that night
Jim said, "If it's 100 to something, we'll never win. We'll see when the scores in the 50s". Your referee is Henry Nichols. Paul Housman, left linesman; Joe Forte, right linesman.
The Greatest game in NCAA Championship history. I will never forget this game and the great Jim Valvano. RIP Lorenzo Charles.
Moses Sparks the G'town Villanova game from 1985 was better than the '82 game with UNC in my opinion. Hell, I'll take '88 Kansas Danny & the Miracles over that game. UNC was SUPPOSED to beat Georgetown. NC State was not supposed to be anywhere near the tournament or that Houston team.
Absolutely agree with you on that. The games were so much more entertaining and better back then
Refs cheated less back then.
No doubt. Such an upset of an awesome team. Sidney Lowe brought NC State back from sure defeat. Crazy to watch now with the old rules. Peace ✌
It wasn’t the greatest game. This was a great exciting sloppy game. It wasn’t high scoring. Duke-UNLV 1990 Was greater than this,
I watched the documentary "30-30" and it so emotional. We go to Reynolds Coliseum and it is so hard to realize the hard times until they won. RIP Jimmy Valvano
and RIP Lorenzo, he died in a car crash 6 years before your comment in 2011, he was the person who made the game winning dunk. And watch it again please, the coach K parts will hit even harder.
@@johnlee24227 That game winning dunk was a BOSS MOVE!!!
What I remember most about this is NC State team was that 1983 was the height of basketball excellence on Tobacco Road. Such fierce rivalries between Duke, UNC, NC State and Wake Forest. But this team managed to get the whole state of North Carolina to lay down their arms and root for the underdog Pack. It was a crazy and exciting time to be alive. I will never forget it.
Yeah, the whole state was unified for a brief moment in '83. Everyone was pulling for Jimmy V and the pack
I was a sophomore at UNC watching this game. I was pulling for the Wolfpack and glad they won. Championship trophy went 28 miles up the road from Chapel Hill to Raleigh. Still one of the greatest national championship games ever.
The last time I watched this game was on April 4, 1983 in my grandparents' kitchen on a tiny (but at least color) TV. It never occurred to me to look for it here on CZcams, but it popped up and I watched the whole darn thing again. Loved every minute for the second time! As I type this, I'm looking above my desk at the framed Sports Illustrated cover (poster sized) dated 4/11/83 ($1.75!!!) signed by none other than Dereck Wittenberg, Thurl Bailey, and Sidney Lowe. Thanks for posting! Go Wolfpack!
GET OVER IT STUPlD, DO U HEAR RON OR NICOLE COMPLAINING? IF RONNIE IS NOT SHOWING ANY CONCERNS WHY ARE YOU STUPlD, GET OVER IT, THAT WAS BETWEEN OJ AND HIS WIFE, STAY OUT OF THEIR BUSINESS. IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR. LET THEM WORK THINGS OUT PRIVATELY. GIVE THEM SOME SPACE AND PRIVACY
Was on the NC State campus for this game as a student. I'll never forget this game or the after party on Hillsborough Street.
my Gdad heard people in raleigh yelling outside out in north raleigh. he went out and yelled too
I was there. Amazing game. Even got on TV. About 1;35 left in the first half, I'm holding a sign that says "Phi Pack Attacka"…still have the hat, which I had made with NCSU across it. One of my life's greatest memories.
Thanks for posting this. I've been looking for something besides my old VHS copy of this game.
I noticed that sign. First time I've watched this game all the way through since 1983.
Phi Stalla Balla
thats too sweet
PHI SLAMMA CHOKE-A!!!!
You know what’s under appreciated? The fact that NC State held Phi Slamma Jamma to zero FGs in the last four minutes and zero points in the last three. Jimmy V’s defense and fouling philosophy was pure genius. RIP to Jimmy, Lorenzo, and Billy Packer
Don't forget how two years later, eight seed Villanova in the second half only allowed ONE field goal (basket) by the defending champs! They remain the lowest seed ever to win it all though my alma mater (KY) did come in second as an eight seed in 2014.
@@JohnSmith-zw8vp and who knows, maybe NC State will channel their 1983 magic to win March Madness again tonight and Monday
@@tommymaroon4189 But they're probably not an eight (or in 1983's case a six) seed this time though...sadly my own alma mater (UK) didn't put up much of a fight this year :(
@@JohnSmith-zw8vp yeah. I’m a Baldwin Wallace student, a D3 school, so I watch the tournament for fun
Still the greatest NCAA run ever. What an awesome team and what an awesome coach. RIP V and Lo, well done.
#1
Survive and Advance-that’s what Valvano says
Well said bro ☝️💪💪
I've seen the end of this game 100000 times... but it was nice to see how the whole game unfolded... thanks man
What has been rarely said was that NC State was the first team with 10 losses to win the NCAA Championship
That NC State team beat 2 future HOF NBA Superstars.
I had predicted January 1983 when they beat VA at VA with Ralph and beat the Tarheels at NC that they would win the NCAA and my husband said..... they would HAVE to win the conference since they've lost too many games to get an invite...... :) My bowling league said I was insane with Houston and Louisville being so strong that season hah
They never would have lost so many if Whittenburg hadn't been out with injury in the toughest part of their schedule. At full strength, they were one of the best teams in the country all along. After he came back, they went 11-0.
NC State was also the first team to win 6 games in the NCAA tournament for their championship
Still my favorite all time sports moment! No way NC State should have been on the same court with Houston, but THEY NEVER GAVE UP!!! I was in 8th grade and I was pulling for the PACK, what a moment!!! Don't give up! Don't EVER GIVE UP!!!!
And what "Mr. Rickroll" (Rick Astley) said, "Never Gonna Give You Up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you; Never gonna make you cry, never gonna say goodbye, never gonna tell no lies and hurt you".
I wasn’t brave enough to bet the sports editor of my college newspaper when he offered to take Houston straight up against anyone silly enough to take NC State, but I remember thinking the Wolf Pack definitely had a chance to win. They were a top-10 team b4 Wittenburg hurt his foot in the regular season. They beat Ralph Sampson and Virginia at least once if not twice. Sure, they were fortunate to get out of the first two rounds of the NCAAs, but by the finals they had already proven they could match anyone, especially with no shot clock.
Seen it 1000 times i still get choked up as a die hard Wolfpack fan!
Don't give up, don't ever give up.... Jimmy V❤️❤️❤️ #1983WolfPac......
I remember watching this live on tv. It was a classic and the best ending in NCAA history. The players looked great - no tattoos - just men playing a great game.
I saw this game live on TV too, the shocking ending, no one saw it coming. Saw the USA men's hockey team beat the Soviets in the olympics live too, up in Canada, we had the live feed. Couple of great sports moments.
Villanova NC was a much better ending, for nearly a whole minute NC state plays keep away. No shot clock was a complete embarrassment.
So many forget that the play-by-play voice for this game was Gary Bender. Not Brent Musburger (he was the host).
Who cares how they look? All I care about is getting the ball in the basket and not let the other team get the ball in the basket!
@@JohnSmith-zw8vp oh I thought you knew I care.
I find it kind of ironic that the teams that played in "The Game of The Century" both lost to NC State in National Championship Games. UCLA in 1974 and Houston in 1983.
Spoken by a Houston Alum this hurts to this day.......and I was born in 1982. Anyway......congrats to NC State. they deserved it.
And they did it despite shooting 39% from the field. This was also the first time NC State ever played Houston. They played seven months later on 11/19/83 with much of the same teams, minus Drexler for Houston, minus whittenburg and bailey, but with Spud Webb for State. Since it was the first game of the season that means they technically played two games in a row. Houston was ranked #3. State won again. They've played twice since, the last time being in 2001. State won both of those games as well.
Fall of 1983, NC State won by 12. I remember that game well too.
Jimmy V. What a wonderful human being and super class act he was. An inspiration for all to always remember, even in the toughest of times in life, no matter what, "Never Ever Quit".
Can't help but watch this and smile. Survive and Advance is my favorite EPSN 30 for 30 film and really got me into this piece of college basketball history.
Bravo! I bleed University of Tennessee orange but, I became a Wolfpack fan that night! Long Live Jimmy V!
Who would've thought that NC State "OUTDUNKED" Houston....Their 1st points and last points of the game came on dunks....
Yeah, Guy Lewis was right about one thing. The team with the most dunks usually wins the game.
I was born and raised in NC. I remember watching this at Holden Beach NC. Easter weekend 1983. Fantastic game. I now live in all places Houston, TX. I hear them talk about losing this game all the time. Houston coach Guy Lewis was a class act. RIP for him as well as Valvano and Lorenzo Charles. Would be nice to see NC State and Houston back among the elites again. Until then let's enjoy this classic.
2024. It might happen. Just a couple of games away at this point. Sweet 16, same bracket.
Great game great call. What I love is Billy Packer sounds as surprised as the rest of it "They Won It" On the Dunk. . . Enuf said
He sure does...My favorite call during that game.
The call on radio (which I heard on the 30 For 30 film "Survive And Advance") was even better: "The Cinderella team has done it! The Glass Slipper fits! The Wolf Pack has won the National Championship".
This game is the hallmark. My mom (who cared nothing about basketball) liked to talk about how my then 53 year old and totally un-athletic Dad bumped his head on the 8 foot ceiling, jumping up in the air when Charles scored. RIP Lorenzo Charles.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I remember Jimmy V. Being asked how can they stop phi slamma jamma and his response was with phi stalla balla. Classic!
I got tumors all over my body and I'm worried about someone in the back holding up a 30 second sign
83 nc state vs 85 Villanova first the Italians Jimmy v vs Massimo Derrick Whittenburg vs Gary MacLaine Lorenzo charles vs the other MacLaine Coz ell McQueen vs chuck Everson Thurl Bailey vs ed Pinckney and Sidney lowe vs Harold Pressly nc state 85 Villanova 83 the final score is the year the other team won the championship
If Clyde the glide had came back for his Sr year they would have beaten Georgetown in 84
He was just talking, though. Watch the game. NC State was trying to play all game long, and Houston was the team that tried to stall when they got ahead in the second half. The only strategy Valvano used other than just having his team play good basketball was to deliberately foul Houston's worst free-throw shooters when the Cougars started holding the ball.
But it was NOT Phi Stalla balla. That was meant as pure public deception. When his players later asked him if they were going to slow it down, his response was "Hell, no! We're going to run their ass off [sic]!" … If you watched this then you know that the only stalling, other than for the last possession, was done by Houston late in the first half.
40 years ago today. This game a classic. Jim Valvano running onto the court to find someone to hug. Rest In Peace Jimmy V and Lorenzo Charles. Memorable.
The defense of 80's college game tougher than NBA today
grew up in Albuquerque,still live there. I got tomm to see Louisville in the semis because they were my favorite team but couldn't get tickets to the finals
Loved Jimmy V.
One of the reasons I attended
NCSU after Highschool
A Wolfpacker all of my life. I was 12 watching our Pack win in 1974 with David Thompson, Tom Burleson and Monte Towe. I was 21 when I brought my dad a bottle of champagne before this 1983 game started. I said, "This is for when we win." Thanks for the memories Wolfpack!
I lived in states during 1983 for ine year. And still vividly remember watching this game live on tv. I supported underdog nc state and when Lorenzo Charles dunk he ball, I got up with excitement and chair hit my big toe. The good thing about this video is that it contains while tv commercials between the game. This brings me a lot of memories for my staying in U.S.
Great job DeMatha twins, the rest of the team let's take two minutes of silence for Lorenzo Charles and also coach James Thomas Anthony Valvano living the dream and winning it
How did Charles "Lefty" Driesell miss recruiting the DeMatha twins, Sidney Lowe from D.C. and Dereck Whittenburg from Glenarden, MD as well as Thurl Bailey, who grew up in my hometown of Seat Pleasant, MD and graduated from my high school, Bladensburg High School. Still one of the greatest championship games in NCAA history and one of the best finishes ever.
I watch this every year on 4/4. THANK YOU, NC STATE.
Love these 1983 commercials LOL so cool
It sure was awesome
I was only one when this went down. It's nice to see what the world was like when I was little. I get a kick out of the computers!! 🤣🤣🤣
Both coaches were correct. Valvano said that the game needed to be in the 50s: it was. Guy Lewis said that the team with the most dunks wins: it happened. Go Pack!
Sorry to hear about Lorenzo Charles, RIP. N.C. State was an underrated team that year, and my Coogs simply got out-coached in this game. I was 12 years old when I stayed up late to watch this on an old 12 inch screen tv. Unless UH is in the big dance, I still can't watch March Madness because of the constant replaying of Valvano running around at the end of the game looking for someone to hug. Life has been good for me for the last 32 years, but I will never, ever, get over this game. Go Coogs!
I was 13 years old when nc st won it all. In 8th grade. I will always remember this game forever. Its my favorite game of all time. Wow 35 years ago. Are you kidding me. Jimmy v would die ten years later. I wish i could go back to 1983. Anyway nc st still has not been back to the title game since. Rip jimmy and lorenzo.
Never will forget this game!!!
Reflecting back on this classic, 36 years later, if these two teams played 100 times, Houston would win 99 out of those matchups
But a one game showdown would be all that NC State would need
They played again to start the 83-84 season…Houston had Hakeem, Young and Anders…NC State only had Lorenzo Charles…State beat them again 76-64
All the power to NC State! They were in-the-zone down the stretch! But wow, considering what this game was for and the team he had, this has to be the finest example ever of a coach having his team playing not-to-lose down the stretch.
I hate this game. .. I am from Houston and was rooting for the Cougars to win. But it was a great game and finish. they just shot a prayer at the end and had the right guy there to finish it. I remember being so upset after this game.
I love this game being from North Carolina and a Wolfpack fan. Was never a Tarheel fan.
Next year, it will be 40 years since this incredible run happened and I still get chill bumps to that ending. THEY WON IT!! ON THE DUNK!!
I will always remember watching the game at Players Retreat!!!! Go Pack...Survive and Advance!
It was crazy mr v had a dream and it came true as a Wolfpack fan for life it was amazing
The ending of this game sums up the glory of winning and the agony of defeat....sports man
1966 Texas Western Miners "The team that changed the game forever" - 1983 NC State Wolfpack "The team of Destiny and Cinderella team".
I'm from Avery County, NC, the home of the great Tom Burleson. He is the 7'4" center who was part of the national championship team for. N.C. State in 1974. So naturally we were pulling for State that night. I was a 18 year old senior about to graduate from Avery County High School in 2 short months. Greatest time of my life. That run they made from the time Wittenberg came back from injury to Lo's dunk was unbelievable. It was a great time to be 18 years old and watch all this. RIP Lorenzo Charles and Jim Valvano, and thanks to the entire N.C. State team of 1983 for the great memories of that championship run.
Mitch Banner
I was in the 3rd grade when NC State won the National Championship in 1974, which was the year I really started following college basketball and NC State became my favorite team. David Thompson was the Michael Jordan of that time. This 1983 National Championship was great as Jim Valvano did a magnificent job of coaching.
@@acsmooth110 Amen, brother.
That pressure defense cost Houston. Had they played their normal D, and boxed out, that dunk might not have been available on that airball. They did a great job denying NC State a good look at the basket, but there was nobody home to grab the "rebound" and go to OT.
Sometimes you catch lightening in a bottle and that is exactly what happened to N.C. State that year. A great story !!!!!!!
+Greenwolfe Green Part that, and part they were better than most people realized. NC State played the toughest schedule in the country, with 10 games against teams that were ranked No. 1 at some point in the season. A lot of their losses were during a period of time when Whittenburg was injured and not playing. He came back for their last game before the ACC Tournament and they dropped 130 on Wake Forest, which wasn't a bad team. Before they played Houston, they had beaten UNC, Virginia, UNLV, and Virginia again during their winning streak--all top 10 teams. They weren't scared of Houston and had no reason to be. They could play with anybody.
Alansfather you are full of you know what this was the greatest upset in college basketball nc state had not played Houston In the regular season that year where as Villanova had played Georgetown twice and lost by two close scores Villanova was legit nc state had no business being in the final 4 let alone the championship game
@@johncate9541 I watched the UNC and the VA games in January and I began spouting off the NCST would take it all the way and was told that I was insane with UL and Houston being so strong that year. BAH hahahaha
Clyde Drexler looked like he was 40 years old when he was 20. Akeem was a beast. Still amazing that a bunch of drag nasties from State could beat that team. Magic!
the team had the intestinal foritude to foul in a tie game
It was a combination of bad coaching by Guy Lewis and Houston not playing good. Add in the fact it was destined for N.C. State to win. If you look at the games in ACC and NCAA tournaments 7 of 9 games were close.
@@nintendonerdsvideos4727
Well Valvano knew Houston was not a good free throw shooting team and he went for the perfect player to foul (the freshman Alvin Franklin).They also fouled in the regional finals versus Virginia when the game was tied with :54 seconds to play. Throughout that 9 game run NC State would foul and the opponents were not making their free throws.
NC State wasn't all garbage. They were 15th that year in the preseason. Houston was 11th. NC State whole starting 5 was drafted in thr NBA. Of course Houston had the better squad but that doesn't guarantee a championship. Part destiny. Part coaching. Part talent
I was four years old, when it happened. Amazing.
Jim McKay use to say: The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat
9:57 Frank Fallon mentioned Valvano being in his "12th season". It was his 12th season overall as a Division I coach, but only his third at NC State. In later Final Fours, Fallon mentioned only the years a coach had been at the school playing. For instance, in 1987, he introduced Bobby Knight in his 16th season, which was his 16th season at Indiana, but his 22nd season overall as a Division I coach.
i was so happy this day, even as a a seven year old kid i saw every nc state game since the acc tourney, there was just something about this team that made you root them
Moral of the story:
Make. Your. Free. Throws.
Kir, the last Go-Back there u go
Yes. And play to WIN at all times. Houston stalling down the stretch has to be one of the finest examples in sports history of a team playing not to lose.
The 83 Pack brought a wealth of inspiration to NCAA fans everywhere.
Hilarious that Chevrolet gets prime time airtime at the end of the game for donating just a $1000 to be shared by both schools.
40 years ago today. RIP Jim Valvano and Lorenzo Charles.
Still one of my favorites.
If Houston could have made a free throw down the stretch they could have won.
Probably so
This team created magic at the NC State campus, it was a great time to be a sophomore !
1039sflem lukcy you, I was only 3....didnt become a Pack fan till I was 5. UGH
nice. my wolfpack connection was watching gannon thru high school
Easily the biggest upset ever in the NCAA title game. So many people broadcasters have stated that it was Villanova's win over Georgetown in '85. Wrong! Villanova had battled Georgetown tough in two regular season games, and they knew how to play the Hoyas. This game shouldn't have been close. Houston made poor decisions (bad turnovers, Drexler's horrible fouls, numerous missed lay-ups, failure to pick up Whittenburg during the late stages of the game) and could not make foul shots. Another problem in this game was Guy Lewis' extended use of Akeem. He should have had more rest, as he played the entire first half and most of the second. I watched this game as a high school sophomore, and I still haven't gotten over result. It never should have happened.
Great points. Villanova lost 2 close games to Georgetown & one in overtime. Villanova lost to St John's 3 times & everytime they played the score was worse than before. They matched up with Georgetown. State didn't matchup with Houston
I am an Italian who grew up in Durham (about 20 minutes away from NCSU), and was almost 2 when this game happened. The legend of this team and Fire and Ice who followed inspired me to play basketball. I was such a great basketball player that I ended up being a wrestler for the Wolfpack . #GoPack
Now, THAT is one of the BEST calls EVER!!!
greatest game ever thanks
I see Bryan Cranston in that Howard Johnson commercial lol
KO Zippio in a game played in the ABQ no less
I was only a year old when this was played. Daddy and I talk about it like we sat down and watched it together live. I get a kick out of the commercials too. Wish I could get a brand new convertible for $9,500. 😒 I'm glad I can find great games like this to watch with players that stayed at least two years instead of all these one and dones.
Yeah but Chevy was bragging on their low 9.9% interest rate lol. That's crazy
Watching again after NC State made this year’s Final Four.
I wish we still had see through cars like they did in 1983. 1:28:51. I wish still had 9.9% financing like they did in 1983. They won it on the dunk.
Fantastic post.
I stayed in North Carolina at the time I miss Jimmy V don't ever give up of course Dean Smith was God at the time but I never forget Jimmy V his speech don't ever give up never give up
Greatest coach and motivator in the history of college basketball . Don't care about Dean Smith and coach k they should win with all the great players they have but take this group of guys and do what they did is amazing
As I remember, NC State finished in about the middle of the pack in the ACC, and then went on a run to win the ACC tournament which was the only reason they made it to March Madness. Then a similar run through the NCAA tournament to win the title. I was watching this game and taping it, one of the first things I ever recorded on a VCR. Thrilling ending. I was not rooting for Houston. They would return to the final the following year and lost again to Georgetown.
No one talks about Valvano’s brilliant 2nd half strategy of using the bonus to put Houston on the line. Played to their weakness and won.
That game was on my 19th birthday and I watched it at my girlfriend's house in Wilmington, NC.
I just realized Bryan looks like Stephan Maurberry’s Dad 🤣…..especially when pouting after the loss.
Not sure how people can possibly rank Christian Laettner's shot over this game and finish. The most amazing and improbable thing I have ever witnessed to this day.
well Laettner's shot was with Duke down by 1 is the only good reason I can come up with. I still think that was a pass and not a shot.
Coach V is the reason we have the double bonus in the college game today
That Duke-Kentucky game was the greatest GAME in college basketball history and Laettner's shot, which was win or lose, helped secured that legacy. But The N.C. State-Houston game's finish was the greatest MOMENT in college basketball history having clichéd the most unlikely national championship ever. And of course N.C. State's triumph here was the greatest upset in NCAA Tournament history.
+Twin river 13 dunks ¡¡¡¡
Duke and kentucky were BOTH GREAT TEAMS! I don't want to say NC State wasn't, but on paper Houston was better than everyone!!! NC State had eeked out wins in virtually every NCAA tourney game except the final 4 matchup!
This was the greatest upset of all time!
While great, I certainly wouldn't rank Laettner's shot ahead of the finish to this game. But that Duke-Kentucky game, which I saw on TV as it happened, was one of the greatest wire to wire college games I have ever seen. That was two heavyweights throwing everything they had at each other and it came down to the very last play.
jim nantz will have nightmares on that game because he is an university of Houston alum
Coaching malpractice. Guy Lewis had them playing "not to lose". Also you don't let Clyde Drexler pick up 4th foul in 1st half.
And letting Drexler stay in with 3 fouls because you didn't keep track of how many fouls he had! (And it's not even the first time you did that!)
@flatonia I agree with you 💯.
That whole situation sums up what was wrong w Houston. The coaches lost track of Drexlers fouls and only thought he had two. Ok, well wouldn’t you want him out so he doesn’t get his third? Stupid coaching. Then Drexler on the breakaway, takes a horrible shot instead of taking Gannon to the hole who would have certainly had to foul him to prevent a bucket. True it was a bad call and should have been a block but it was a bad decision by Drexler. But how can you expect the players to be situational smart when the coaches were not. This game may have been one of the worst coaching jobs I have ever seen in a championship game.
And going into a slow down when you are pulling away Nd killing them on offensive boards.
Guy Lewis did the same thing vs Louisville in the final 4. Larry michaeux fouled out with 13 minutes left in the game. He lost track of the fouls. Got lucky with that one. With State it backfired
One of the greatest upsets in tournament history along with Villanova's upset victory over Georgetown.
Which brings up the questions which victory and tournament run is the greatest: NC State or Villanova. I say NC State's run was the greatest because they had to win the ACC tournament just to make the NCAA tournament field of 52. And they had overcome a talented and loaded Houston team, which they only had 1 day to prepare. Villanova played Georgetown 2 times in which they were close games but it is hard to beat team 3 times and Nova knew Georgetown very well and played a perfect game. I love both upsets but I give the nod to The 1983 NC State Wolfpack.
wsnc 89 I agree. NC State was a bigger upset. John Thompson had a lot of great qualities but he was arrogant. He was gonna beat Villanova playing Villanovas game. St Johns ran them off the court because they played up tempo and the cats could not hang. Playing a half court game played right into Villanovas hands.
@@Biggdoom344
I agree. Villanova controlled tempo and came in the game unintimidated against Georgetown. Nova played the perfect ballgame that night.
wsnc 89 I was a big east fan but also a Georgetown fan at that time. The first game v nova at the spectrum went into OT and the second one was also close. The Hoyas struggled twice playing a half court game v nova but demolished St. John’s three times playing up tempo. Although Villanova could not have played better, Georgetown had a flawed strategy from the jump ball that night. This was not one of John Thompson’s best moments. He stubbornly stayed in zone even though Villanova couldn’t miss, let them control the tempo and kept trying to run everything through Ewing when the Hoyas had an advantage on the wing with Williams and Wingate....both good outside shooters. All season the word was the Hoyas didn’t miss Michael graham. His night they missed him big time.
wsnc 89 I followed the big east closely then and until it broke up. I always say at that time there were two Villanovas. The one the rest of the big east saw...and the one that played Georgetown. They played the Hoyas tough. I went to the Pitt game three weeks earlier and Villanova got demolished by a NIT Pitt team. But the day of the game I warned people it was gonna be close. I had the Hoyas by 5.
2011 UCONN is def up there too.
PUT THE FINAL FOUR BACK IN ALBUQUERQUE NM THE PIT
NC States lead up to the Final was also a story , won a few in OT and a few by 1, they Survived and Advanced
Turnovers and missed FT's killed UH down the stretch. Give credit to State for knocking down those outside jumpers to keep them in the game, most of which were 3's that didn't count as 3's because of the rules at that time. It was a shame there was no shot clock back then, State held the ball for the last full minute of the game so UH couldn't get the ball back. Like to think Dream and Drex took some of the lessons they learned about playing in big games and used them later to win their ring in 95. What a classic.
40 years ago. R.I.P Jimmy V Lorenzo Billy Packer & Guy Lewis
I grew up in North Carolina and I'll never forget that night. We could hear people cheering all over in our very small town. We were drinking that disgusting 1983 NCAA CHAMPIONS N.C. STATE. The cans were awesome but the soda gross. But that night was one helluva night. I was only 9 but I will never ever forget "The Cardiac Pack."
Olajuwon made a critical mistake not blocking out Charles there at the end. He was watching the ball in the air without any awareness that Charles was behind him. A few minutes earlier he make a bad pass to halfcourt that helped NC State get back in the game. Seems like he was affected by the altitude, but the shouldn't exuse those plays.
"Smart move by Guy Lewis to get Drexler out of there"...Packer! He had 4 fouls. IN THE FIRST HALF!!!!! Smart move would have been to get him out after two fouls.
Packer is a clown!!!!!!!
Those commercials tho!
" Don't give up, Don't ever give up"
I don't feel sorry for Houston, but I do feel sorry for the millions of people who bought a Chevy Citation at 9.9% interest.
How great was this game and the '80s.
incredible game
Great Game & "W" for Jimmy V BABY!
Never give up. I am not sure if Jimmy V said that then, but he did at the ESPY Awards shortly before his death. I had so much respect for him at that Game, up until his death. RIP Jimmy V.
This was amazing RIP Coach Valvano
What I remember is that we lost to NC in the first round. Pepperdine. Missed it by that much!
Clyde and Hakeem were just to good😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I wish I could go back in time and let Ray Meyer and Guy Lewis play each other in a National Championship game.
DePaul had some great teams in the early 80's. Either 1980 or 81 they were the #1 overall seed. I'll never forget that year Boston College upset them
@@mongoslade277 DePaul was 79-3 in those three seasons and lost their first game of the tournament every year.
@@gynandroidhead I remember those jerseys and those games at the Rosemont Horizon on NBC. Great players. Coach Ray Meyer. Oregon St had #1 seeds in those days also and lost the 1st game which was in the 2nd round
@@gynandroidhead I think that 1st round bye in the ncaa tournament hurt some teams. They got rid of that bye in 1985. If your an independent or a team that played an early conference tournament you'd go 2 weeks without playing a game. In basketball that's too much time off. That's rust not rest
@@gynandroidhead The Pac 10 didn't have a conference tournament in those days. The year Louisville beat UCLA in that real close title game Oregon St was the #1 overall seed. No conference tournament. 1st round bye and lost to Lamar. UCLA was 4th in the Pac 10 with no bye and made it to the title game and they should've beat Louisville that night
Guy Lewis was right at 3:32 ... the team with the most DUNKS wins the game... in this case, 2 to 1 !!!
Jim said, "If it's 100 to something, we'll never win. We'll see when the scores in the 50s".
Your referee is Henry Nichols. Paul Housman, left linesman; Joe Forte, right linesman.
RIP Jimmy