Remembering N.C. State's 1983 Champions

The Cardiac Pack and N.C. State's Amazing 1983 season

 

The 1983 season was as exhilarating, and unexpected, as any in ACC basketball history.

North Carolina won the national title in 1982, and the Tar Heels returned Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins. Virginia featured 7-foot-4 center Ralph Sampson and loomed as a dominant force in ACC play.

N.C. State? The Wolfpack was only 7-7 in the ACC and 22-10 overall the year before. But State had a spunky young coach in Jim Valvano, a brilliant backcourt in seniors Sidney Lowe and Dereck Whittenburg and a star forward in Thurl Bailey. 

They also had uncommon desire and came to be called "the Cardiac Pack" with one close win after another.

This season, WRAL will go back 25 years to show you what was happening on this date in that season, with our original video when available. We'll have this special section up throughout the year for you to enjoy.

Enjoy the journey this season as we take you back to the Cardiac Pack.

 

  1. N.C. State's 1983 Schedule and Results

    Follow the Wolfpack game by game as it moves marches toward the NCAA title

    1. Apr. 4, 2008
  2. Remembering 1983: Charles' Amazing Dunk Gives Wolfpack NCAA Title

    Lorenzo Charles grabs a Dereck Whittenburg miss and scores as time expires and State beats Houston, 54-52.

    1. Apr. 4, 2008
  3. Wolfpack Rolls Into Title Game With Win over Georgia

    N.C. State will play powerful Houston in the national championship on Monday night.

    1. Apr. 4, 2008
  4. Charles' Free Throws Give Pack Stunning Win Over Virginia

    The Wolfpack ends the career of Ralph Sampson and earns a spot in the Final Four with a victory in the West Regional final.

    1. Apr. 4, 2008
  5. N.C. State Gets a Rare Easy Win In NCAA Triumph Over Utah

    The Wolfpack rips Utah but has a showdown with Virginia ahead in the regional final.

    1. Mar. 24, 2008
  6. Pack Stops UNLV 71-70 in West Regional Play

    Inspired Bailey leads State to an upset of the Runnin' Rebels.

    1. Mar. 21, 2008
  7. Wolfpack Barely Survives Against Pepperdine

    Pepperdine misses critical foul shots, allowing N.C. State to survive in the NCAA first round.

    1. Mar. 21, 2008
  8. N.C. State Upends Virginia for ACC Title

    The victory gives the Wolfpack the ACC's automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.

    1. Mar. 21, 2008
  9. Wolfpack Shocks UNC in ACC Semifinals

    State wins in overtime, 91-84, to advance to ACC championship game against Virginia.

    1. Mar. 21, 2008
  10. Charles' Free Throws Give State ACC Win over Wake

    State whipped Wake at the end of the regular season but narrowly prevails in the ACC Tournament.

    1. Mar. 21, 2008
  11. Wolfpack Finishes Regular Season By Crushing Wake

    State heads to ACC Tournament with 17-10 overall record.

    1. Mar. 5, 2008
  12. Pack Falls to Maryland, 67-58

    State loses its second straight game with Whittenburg in the lineup.

    1. Mar. 3, 2008
  13. Remembering '83: Whittenburg Returns, But Pack Falls at UVa

    Virginia fans chant "N-I-T!" at the Wolfpack as Cavaliers win, 86-75

    1. Feb. 27, 2008
  14. Remembering '83: Red-Hot Pack Rolls over Duke

    Dereck Whittenburg returns to practice, could be playing soon.

    1. Feb. 24, 2008
  15. Remembering '83: N.C. State Stuns UNC in Reynolds

    Coach Jim Valvano earned his first win over North Carolina, as State downed the defending national champion 70-63.

    1. Feb. 20, 2008
  16. Lowe Scores Career-High 23 in Win over UNC-W

    State beats UNC-Wilmington, will next face defending champion North Carolina.

    1. Feb. 16, 2008
  17. Notre Dame Knocks Off State, 43-42

    Terry Gannon misses a shot at the end that would have won it for N.C. State.

    1. Feb. 12, 2008
  18. Remembering '83: Pack's Backcourt Blitzes Clemson

    Sidney Lowe matched his career high with 21 points, while Ernie Myers pitched in 27 more, as State knocked off Clemson 90-83.

    1. Feb. 9, 2008
  19. State Crushes Citadel for North-South title

    The Wolfpack gets its third consecutive road victory.

    1. Feb. 5, 2008
  20. Wolfpack Survives against Furman, 51-48

    Wolfpack wins despite poor play in North-South Doubleheader.

    1. Feb. 5, 2008
  21. Myers Leads Pack to 74-64 Win over Tech

    Freshman Ernie Myers scores 25 points for the Pack, the third ACC game in a row he has scored at least that many.

    1. Feb. 21, 2008
  22. Terps Beat Pack Despite Strong Shooting by Gannon, McClain

    Lefty Driesell's team wins 86-81 in College Park, Md.

    1. Feb. 21, 2008
  23. NC State Inks Valvano to Long-Term Contract

    Coach Jim Valvano has signed a new long-term contract that he says will ensure he spends the rest of his career on the Wolfpack sidelines.

    1. Jan. 26, 2008
  24. Myers' 35 Points Levels Duke, Halts Skid

    Ernire Myers dropped 35 points on Duke, as State beats Duke 94-79 to end a three game losing streak.

    1. Jan. 26, 2008
  25. Wolfpack Falls at Home to No. 6 Memphis State

    Valvano says he feels "snakebit" after another loss.

    1. Jan. 26, 2008
  26. Wolfpack Whips Wake Forest, 91-73

    1. Feb. 21, 2008
  27. Remembering '83: Jordan, UNC Beat N.C. State, 99-81

    N.C. State, without Dereck Whittenburg, loses in Chapel Hill as Jim Valvano says the Pack learns how far it needs to go to be competitive.

    1. Jan. 20, 2008
  28. Freshman Myers Leads N.C. State Past Ga. Tech

    State wins its first game without injured guard Dereck Whittenburg as Ernie Myers scores 27 points.

    1. Jan. 15, 2008
  29. Whittenburg Injured as Pack Loses to Virginia

    Whittenburg suffers a broken foot as State's season is suddenly in serious jeopardy.

    1. Jan. 12, 2008
  30. Freshman Myers Comes Through in Win at Clemson

    Myers, Thurl Bailey each score 25 points.

    1. Jan. 7, 2008
  31. Young Players Shine in Win over Fairleigh Dickinson

    Terry Gannon and Ernie Myers come off the bench to lead N.C. State to victory.

    1. Jan. 3, 2008
  32. Dec. 21: Wolfpack Learns Lesson in Loss at Louisville

    Whittenburg has 22 points as State falls, 57-52.

    1. Dec. 21, 2007
  33. Harold Thompson Lends Hand vs. Michigan State

    1. Dec. 11, 2007
  34. Dec. 3, 1982: Wolfpack Blasts N.C. A&T, 100-70

    State moves to 2-0 win victory.

    1. Dec. 4, 2007
  35. Nov. 29, 1982: N.C. State vs. Western Carolina

    N.C. State opens the 1982-83 season with a win over Western Carolina at Reynolds Coliseum.

    1. Nov. 29, 2007
  36. Nov. 15, 1982: Thurl Bailey Interview

    Wolfpack star Thurl Bailey discusses the year ahead.

    1. Nov. 28, 2007
  37. Oct. 14, 1982: State Picture Day

    Look back to Bob Holliday's coverage of N.C. State as it prepared for the 1983 season.

    1. Nov. 29, 2007
  38. "When March Went Mad:" The Stunning Final Game

    N.C. State shocks Houston for the 1983 national title

    1. Dec. 10, 2007
  39. "When March Went Mad:" Fourth Excerpt

    As N.C. State gets ready for the championship game, Valvano delivers a memorable talk

    1. Dec. 10, 2007
  40. "When March Went Mad:" Third Excerpt

    The weekend in Corvallis, Ore., is unexpected for N.C. State, both on and off the court.

    1. Dec. 10, 2007
  41. "When March Went Mad:" Second Excerpt

    In the 1983 season, N.C. State's stunning win over North Carolina gave the Wolfpack the critical lift it needed.

    1. Dec. 5, 2007
  42. "When March Went Mad:" First Excerpt

    WRAL will look back at N.C. State's 1983 national champions this season, with video of that amazing year. This week, we run excerpts from a new book that tells the story of the season.

    1. Dec. 3, 2007