1974 N.C. State crowned ACC's greatest team

WRALSportsFan

1974 N.C. State crowned ACC's greatest team

By Ryan Craig

Jul 11, 2008

710

comments

After a week's worth of voting, the verdict is finally in.

According to you, the fans, the 1974 N.C. State Wolfpack squad is the greatest basketball team in the history of the ACC. The Pack earned 64% of the vote (3,572-2,031), easily outgaining their opponent in the finals, the Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill-led 1992 Blue Devils.

The 1974 State squad, led by David Thompson, Tom Burleson, and Monty Towe, lost only once on their way to the national title, beating Bill Walton and the seven-time defending champion UCLA Bruins along the way.

State wouldn't have even made it to the NCAA Tournament that year if they hadn't beaten Len Elmore's Maryland Terrapins in what was arguably the greatest game ever played , because at that time only the ACC Tournament winner made it to the "Big Dance."

When asked about who would win the hypothetical game between the two star-studded teams, Wolfpack legend Tom Burleson wouldn't guarantee a victory, but did comment on who he thought would get the better of the Laettner/Burleson matchup in the post.

"Well, Laettner's not a true 7-footer," said the 7-foot-2 Burleson. "He's gonna fall into the same category as Elmore as far as he's a great center, but Laettner's not seven feet tall...and I've never had anybody under seven feet that could guard me."

While he admitted that the Bobby Hurley vs. Monty Towe matchup would be close, the Newland Needle thought Thompson would put the '74 squad over the top.

"It's like Elmore used to say, 'you just don't know how stinkin' good David Thompson is until you play against him'. David probably would have lifted us over and above them - whenever he needed to turn it up, he'd turn it up."

Most Recent Comments

Tommy Burleson, the "Newland Needle", anchored that State team in the middle, dominated in the greatest game ever played vs. Maryland, and handled Bill Walton in the final four; and to paraphrase an old politician,..."Christian Laettner is no Bill Walton",... Laettner and that Duke team were great, but they would have found out the same thing every other team found out during those early years in the 70's, that PACK team was the best ever!

Wow. I'm not reading 700 comments.

My 2 cents: State '74 has not been crowned the greatest ACC team ever, just the least hated.

Burleson, please. I hate Duke more than anybody. And I hate Laettner more than any soul that was ever born. But he would eat your freakin lunch.

Most Duke fans know in their hearts that the refs bailed them out of that 20-point deficit and stuck it to Maryland in the Final 4 a few years back, Carolina_Duke. Some readily admit it. So why does that make other fans stupid for pointing out the obvious?

Hey Ordinary Citizen...

You might want to consult reality before making stupid accusations and dumb statements. Michigan State won the 2000 National Championship, after Florida beat both Duke and UNC.

I'm glad the hard-earned cash that you think Duke pays the NCAA to win their championships ran out that year because the foul count was 3 - 1 against Duke.
The year before, no offensive fouls were called the whole game until a phaton call was made on Chris Carrawell that wiped out a tying basket with 90 seconds to play.

So evidently the credit ran out???

Maryland was given a gift of a championship in 2002 when -- oops -- another admitted (by the player that committed the foul) mugging was let go.

It's one thing to be upset about a team winning -- or your team not making it -- but Duke being GIVEN championships is about the stupidest thing you can write.

the most valuable player award is given to the outstanding player in the acc tournament. the award is names after EVERETTE CASE,I DON'T SEE ANTHING SAYING unc in his name. this is for ugottabekiddinme-frank mcquire was carolina coach in 1957.

WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan