Monday, March 30, 2009

Top 5 national champs from N.C.

Since 1957, Triangle-area ACC teams have won eight national basketball championships, each carving its own place in history. Here's one look at how the best of those teams rank against each other:

1. N.C. State, 1974: With David Thompson, Tommy Burleson and Monte Towe, the Wolfpack took down the UCLA dynasty while Thompson proved to be a player for the ages.

2. North Carolina, 1982: With Michael Jordan introducing himself to the world, the Tar Heels with James Worthy and Sam Perkins finally delivered Dean Smith a national championship.

3: Duke, 1992: Living with enormous expectations, Christian Laettner, Bobby Hurley and Grant Hill answered every challenge -- and threw in a miracle against Kentucky in the process.

4. Duke, 2001: A great example of team basketball with Shane Battier, Jason Williams, Mike Dunleavy and Carlos Boozer.

5. North Carolina, 2005: With Sean May, Raymond Felton and Marvin Williams, the Tar Heels made Roy Williams' return to Chapel Hill complete.

-- Ron Green Jr.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can't believe you left out NC State's conquest in '83! A team with heart and soul. Think again!

Anonymous said...

I have to agree with Anon 8:43 with the way NC State went thur the ACC Tournament & their upset of Phi Slamma Jamma. Plus Bailey, Lowe, & Wittenburg, McQueen, & Charles had great heart.....

Anonymous said...

Yeah ... you have to include NC State 1983.

Anonymous said...

Come on... '57 UNC team, undefeated, took down Wilt the Stilt and Kansas. How can they not be on the list???

Anonymous said...

Oops, Ron. It's 9 titles total:
Carolina 1957
NC State 1974
Carolina 1982
NC State 1983
Duke 1991
Duke 1992
Carolina 1993
Duke 2001
Carolina 2005

Anonymous said...

Another vote for '83 win by NCSU over Houston. The C.O. needs to republish with an apology for this glaring omission. But I forgot, Where will the 2X for Duke and UNC go now? The Observer is as blatant in their biases as MSNBC is up Obama's rear end.

Ace Hamilton said...

Another vote for 1957. Just because it was a long time ago shouldn't diminish the accomplishment.

David I said...

One more vote for the 1957 UNC Championship, aka "McGuire's Miracle". How in the world do you forget to mention an undefeated season, back to back triple overtime victories IN the Final Four especially when the title game was played in Kansas City, MO against Kansas? I'm not sure how any of your top 5 beat that type of performance. Especially considering everyone at the time thought Kansas with Wilt Chamberlain would certainly beat the Heels. You need to update your list or at least try and explain why this game isn't on it.

Anonymous said...

just so all of you know the Tar Heels have 5 national titles. 1924

Anonymous said...

Who can remember 1957? Teams in the South were not even integrated then.

Anonymous said...

sorry, anonymous, 1924 doesnt count. if there's not a national title game, there's not a national title.

Anonymous said...

so what youre saying is that all the college football champions prior to the bowl system dont count bc there was not national title game. should that rule apply to all sports???

Anonymous said...

How about the '91 Duke team that took down undefeated UNLV? Some called that the biggest upset in NCAA Tourney history, and it set the stage for the Duke dynasty.

Anonymous said...

I think the question that comes to mind here is "Best or Most Impressive" If you look at Best teams to me that looks at talent and I can see why 83 State 91 Duke and 57 UNC are left off, but when it comes to most impressive I def. think you have a legit agruement for all 3. I am a Carolina fan and young one at that, personally I think 57 UNC should be there before 05! To go undefeated in College basketball no matter the era is impressive as it has only been done a handful of times. When it comes to talent I can see why 83 was left off but you have to atleast acknowledge how impressive of a run it was for the Cardiac Pack. My top 5 would be in no particular order 1974 State (DT was amazing) 1982 UNC (played like a team) 1992 Duke (as much as I hate Duke this team was special) 1957 UNC (Undefeated enough said)and 2001 Duke (just more talent than 05 UNC or 83 State).

MichaelProcton said...

Come on...the '01 Duke team was out right DOMINANT! Didn't win a tourney game by less than 10 points that year.