Remembering '83: Whittenburg Returns, But Pack Falls at UVa

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Remembering '83: Whittenburg Returns, But Pack Falls at UVa

By Tim Peeler, GoPack.com

Feb 27, 2008

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Charlottesville, Va. — The taunting shouts of “N-I-T, N-I-T” echoed in the ears of N.C. State’s basketball players as they left the court of University Hall Tuesday afternoon following an 86-75 loss to third-ranked Virginia that ended the Wolfpack’s four-game winning streak.

That secondary post-season tournament is not what the Wolfpack had in mind when it entered the 1982-83 season ranked No. 16 in the preseason. And Saturday is not exactly what they had expected with the return of senior guard Dereck Whittenburg, who had been declared out for the season after suffering a broken foot against the Cavaliers in Raleigh just over six weeks ago.

But Whittenburg returned, coming off the bench after the game’s first television timeout and immediately exciting his teammates with a 3-pointer less than a minute later. His long-range bomb came just moments after teammate Sidney Lowe had drained a similar long-range shot, giving the Wolfpack a 13-10 advantage.

It seemed like old times again for the backcourt that has been together since they were sophomores at DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Md.

That lead stretched to as many as five points on two occasions in the opening period, the last time when ever-improving sophomore Lorenzo Charles scored an easy layup from a Sidney Lowe pass to give his team a 27-22 lead with 8:25 remaining in the half.

But the Cavaliers followed with a 3-pointer from Tim Mullen and outscored the Wolfpack 18-4 over the next six minutes, thanks primarily to the offense of senior Rick Carlisle. He scored 11 of those 18 points, with short-range jumpers and drives to the lane.

While the Wolfpack limited three-time All-America center Ralph Sampson to just seven points and seven rebounds in the opening half, Carlisle exploded for 15 points.

Meanwhile, the Wolfpack’s offense seemed to be more confused with Whittenburg back in the lineup than inspired. During his eight-game absence, Jim Valvano’s team played more of an uptempo game, getting away from the half-court motion offense that makes Whittenburg so effective.