1. 1974 NC State

Record: 30-1, 12-0 (1st place)
ACC Tournament: Won
NCAA Tournament: Won
Final AP Ranking: 1
All-ACC Players: David Thompson (ACC POY), Monte Towe (1st), Tom Burleson (2nd)
All-Americans: David Thompson (National POY)

An overdue post to close out this series.

I don’t think this is a controversial choice, but it’s not an inarguable one either. Certainly 1957 North Carolina, with its undefeated record, has an argument. 1992 Duke has an argument as well. Perhaps arguments could be made for other teams. But in the final analysis, I think the ’74 Wolfpack has the strongest claim to be the best team in ACC history. Look at all the boxes they check:

• Won the national championship
• Won the ACC Tournament
• Undefeated in the ACC regular season
• One loss overall (1957 UNC and 1973 NC State are the only other teams with less than two)
• Had the national and ACC POY (and greatest player in ACC history)
• Had three of the top six vote-getters for All-ACC, one of only 10 teams in ACC history to do that
• Played the toughest schedule in the nation (according to Simple Rating System on sports-reference.com)
• Went 6-0 against North Carolina and Maryland, both ranked in the Top 5 all year
• Beat UCLA, winners of the previous seven national championships, in the NCAA Tournament

That about covers it, wouldn’t you say? One other point in their favor is that the 1973 team went 27-0. I’m evaluating the 1974 team on its own merits, but the 1973 team’s results at least support the conclusion that there was nothing fluky about the 1974 season.

They played fast. They are one of only seven ACC teams to average 90+ points per game. The fastest-paced teams in league history were probably in the mid-1950s, but after than, Thompson/Towe-era NC State would be at the top of the list.

It was an aesthetically pleasing brand of basketball, playing fast and making shots. Words like grace, artistry, and even majesty were invoked by admirers. Towe and Thompson perfected the alley-oop – not the rim-rattling variety that we are used to, because dunking was against the rules, but a gentler, more artistic alley-oop where Thompson would catch the ball and lay it in in one motion.

They were a great rebounding team. Burleson is one of the all-time great rebounders in the league, Thompson is perhaps the best 6’4″ rebounder ever, and Phil Spence was there to clean up any boards they left behind.

Their complementary players were better than you think. Mo Rivers and Spence were important additions that made the 1974 team better than the 1973 edition. Tim Stoddard was an excellent passer who often initiated the offense as a kind of point-forward.

Thompson, of course, was the straw that stirred the drink. His offensive efficiency was off the charts, shooting 55% from the field on 19 FG attempts per game. He was able to elevate his game at critical moments. As Bobby Jones said, “He just will not let them lose. If State needs something, Thompson will get it for them. He’s just the best I’ve ever been around.”

Their one loss was an 84-66 whipping at the hands of UCLA in the third game of the season. After going 27-0 the previous year but not being able to play in the NCAA Tournament, they needed a test. They got one, and they failed. It was probably the best thing that could have happened to them. After that, the Wolfpack met every challenge. They beat #4 North Carolina 78-77 in the Big Four Tournament; beat #3 Maryland 80-74; beat Carolina again, this time 83-80, at Carmichael; came from behind in the second half to win on the road at Purdue; won at Maryland 86-80; and tacked on a home win over the Tar Heels for good measure, closing the regular season at 22-1.

The five-game run this team went on to close the season is one of the great stretches in the history of college basketball.

1. ACC Tournament Final: A 103-100 overtime win over #4 Maryland in the “greatest game ever played”. Burleson played like a man possessed with 38 points and 13 rebounds.
2. Regional Semifinal: A 92-78 win over #5 Providence, which featured Consensus All-American Marvin Barnes. Thompson dropped 40 on them and Burleson grabbed 24 rebounds.
3. Regional Final: Ran Pitt off the court, 100-72. This was the game where Thompson hit his head on the floor and everybody thought he was dead.
4. National Semifinal: The double-OT 80-77 win over #2 UCLA, breaking the Bruins’ streaks of seven straight national titles and 30 consecutive wins in the NCAA tournament.
5. National Final: A 76-64 win over #3 Marquette to secure the national championship.