N.C. State taketh (1983) and N.C. State giveth away (2014)
What goes around comes around?
In 1983, North Carolina State basketball Coach Jim Valvano had his Wolfpack foul their way to the NCAA title. Valvano’s strategy was to put pressure on the opposing team’s poorest foul shooter in an era where every foul after six resulted in a one-and-one. The Wolfpack won its last 10 games, six by using this ploy.
In the championship game, with the score tied, Valvano still had his team foul,and Houston freshman Alvin Franklin missed the front end of a one-and-one. And then … well that Lorenzo Charles highlight has likely been seen by every college basketball fan.
So what happens Thursday in the NCAA tournament? The Wolfpack found out how the other half lives, or lived in1983. North Carolina State blew a 59-45 lead against Saint Louis in the last five minutes by missing 10 of 20 free throws. The Billikens won in overtime, 83-80.
Karma?
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