The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/947448
MARCH 2018 ■ 73 ■ PACK PAST tions from Sloan. Duke reserve guard Tony Barone, as he had the entire game, listened in on the strategy. "Eddie," Sloan began, "with about two and a half minutes to play …" "Coach," Biedenbach interrupted, point- ing at the 5-6 Barone, "don't you want to call time out so he won't hear our strategy?" "No," Sloan answered. "If we call time- out, they'll take this midget out and put in someone who can guard you." With 2:47 remaining and the Blue Devils still leading 8-6, Bubas sent Lewis out to put pressure on Kretzer. Eighteen seconds later, Biedenbach made an 18-foot jumper over Barone to tie the game at 8-8. Duke hit one of two free throws to retake the lead, but Kretzer was fouled and he headed to the line for a one-and-one. His first shot bounced long off the rim and into the hands of Lewis, who promptly bounced it off his leg and into Braucher's hands. Braucher, the team's second-leading scorer behind Biedenbach that season, made a go-ahead basket with 39 seconds left on the clock. On its next trip down the court, after two halves of defensive inactivity, Duke com- mitted a double-dribble turnover. Williford, the sophomore from Fayetteville, made one of two free throws to give his team an 11-9 lead with 16 seconds remaining. Duke's Dave Golden was fouled on the other end of the court, but he only made one of two free throws, leaving the Wolfpack with an 11-10 advantage. Braucher, fouled with three seconds left, made one of two free throws to complete the action in the lowest-scoring game in ACC history. The Wolfpack advanced to the champion- ship game, where it faced second-ranked North Carolina. The Tar Heels rolled to an 87-50 victory, which at the time was the most lopsided margin in an ACC title game. "Believe it or not, after that game, we were exhausted," Williford remembered. "It took everything out of us mentally to play that game against Duke." The Tar Heels advanced to the Final Four for the second consecutive year, where they lost 78-55 to UCLA and Alcindor in the title game. But getting to the ACC title game in Sloan's second year was an unexpected jumpstart for the coach's fledgling program. The Pack was 15-10 the following season, and two years later, when Williford was a senior, the Wolfpack won its first of three ACC titles under Sloan. And 50 years later, the 12-10 outcome is the most infamous outcome in tournament history. ■ Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker. You may contact him at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu. POWERING THE CAROLINAS AND VIRGINIA SINCE 1935 SPECIALIZING IN: Residential/Commercial/ Service & Maintenance/ Industrial/ Traffic Signals/Governmental/Health Care/ Institutional/Hospitality NC Division Offices: Fayetteville, Greenville, Raleigh, Wilson/Rocky Mount, Wilmington, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Watson Energy Solutions & Services VA Division Offices: Richmond, Virginia Beach SC Division Office: Charleston Corporate Services: 1500 Charleston St., Wilson, NC 27893 Phone: 252-237-7511 / Fax: 252-243-1805 www.watsonelec.com SALES SERVICE INSTALLATION Carpet • Ceramic • Vinyl Hardwood • Laminate Custom Rugs • Binding Cabinets • Countertops GO PACK!! Office: (919) 661-2361 Cell: (919) 369-5216 raysfloorsandmore@nc.rr.com 7 Days a week Low Rates • • Various sizes available • Fenced/lighted/cameras • Insurance • Personal • Commercial • Boats • RVs • Mobile homes • Trucks • Outside storage available 2107 Hwy. 70 East, Garner 27529 Take I-40E Exit 306 to 70 E. Go 1 mile on the left WOLFPACKER • PO BOX 2331 • DURHAM, NC 27702 • 1-800-421-7751 Wolfpack Grilling Visit: TheWolfpackerOnline.com GRILL COVER Commercial grade, mold-resistant, breathable vinyl with draw- string bottom. UV-resistant ink. Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. Grill covers are made to order and shipped direct from the manufacturer. GRILL MAT $49.95 + FREE S&H Choice of Two Designs #2296: Block NCS #2297: Grill Cover #2296-SS "Go Pack!" PLEASE ADD SALES TAX FOR ITEMS SHIPPING TO: (NC 7.5%, IN 7%, MI 6%) Delivery Limited To Continental U.S. Small Cover: 55" W x 36" T x 21" D $51.95 + $15.00 S&H Large Cover: 66" W x 36" T x 21" D $54.95 + $15.00 S&H