'It's just been awesome': NC State fans welcome Wolfpack home from Final Four, remain hopeful for future

The NC State Wolfpack returned to Raleigh on Sunday after its NCAA Tournament run ended Saturday night.

The Wolfpack took off from Phoenix around 2 p.m. and arrived at the Dail Basketball Center just before 7 p.m., where NC State fans and students waited.

NC State students told WRAL News that although Saturday’s 63-50 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers was tough, they are proud of what the Wolfpack accomplished.

"Our expectations weren’t high," Justyn Wallace said. "We are proud of this team."

The Wolfpack was considered a long shot to make the NCAA Tournament. Surprisingly, the team made it to the ACC Tournament after winning five straight games, including one against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the championship game.

"Even just winning the ACC Championship... that was huge too," JT Long said. "You have to love that we beat both blue teams and sent them back home."

The Wolfpack then won four more games to win the south region of the NCAA Tournament – securing its first Final Four appearance since the "Cardiac Pack’s" championship run in 1983.

Michael Church, who was alive for the Wolfpack’s run in ‘83, said seeing the team win the conference title and make it close to a third national championship is something he will never forget.

"I am 43 years old, so I was three when they won in ‘83, and I was six or seven when they won the ACC title [in ‘87], so I don’t remember those things," he said. "This was my once-in-a-lifetime thing to see them do a run like this. It’s just been awesome."

Fans said they hope the team can use the momentum to build up the program going forward, which Head Coach Kevin Keatts echoed during his postgame press conference on Saturday.

“We have a story. When you're in any sport, you want to have a story," Keatts said. "I hope people understand that we have a heck of a basketball program. We play a unique style [and] we've got a great culture...I think the run will help."