I am most excited in that we are getting to those teams that ended the season cutting the nets down, because I’ve been feeling a bit grim recounting the unfortunate conclusions to (one too many) great seasons.

To us, those losses that sent our boys home still hurt…but, in terms of national perception, the Heels had the incredible Final Four run from ’91-’00 that made up for lost ground. Throw in the ’93 and ’05 titles, and you have some happy thoughts…are we there yet?

Note that I called it one of the “most annoying and infuriating upsets.” Weber was more painful mainly because it was the end of the season. It was also flat out humiliating. The loss to NCSU in the ACC finals was like dragging nails across a chalk board over and over. First of all it was NCSU and no matter how you slice, talent or not, they were 17-14 and had a losing ACC mark because they were not a very good team. They did not suffer any major injuries and simply fell part after starting the season 12-4.

Secondly, the fact UNC won both games handily and was 16-0 in ACC games and only had two losses overall when the title game was played added to the general feeling that UNC should win the game with ease only to see them score 25 points in the first half when they were averaging 91 ppg.

HP is correct that this is one of those games that adds stock to the legend of Jim Valvano which may be a little overwrought but such is human nature.

Also bear in mind that this was the second time in five years UNC had lost to NCSU in the ACC Tournament. The Heels did get the best of them in 1985 but 1983 became all the rage because the Pack did in 1987 what they did in 1983 and that was squeak into the NCAAT by getting the automatic bid.

When you add the fact UNC had lost a ACC title for the 2nd time in three seasons, failed to win the ACC title for the 2nd time after finishing 14-0 and NCSU had actually won two ACC titles since UNC won their last one in 1982 it was the kind of loss that made you feel like you picked the wrong week to quit drinking.

Karl helped Majerus with the gameplan to defeat Arizona in the Elite Eight, not UNC in the Final Four…at least that’s the way I remember it. Can’t really see George Karl helping anybody gameplan against his Heels, especially in the Final Four.

Yes, this was a Tar Heel team that certainly could have won it all.

1. My UNC consciousness begins in 1995.

2. NC State was, no matter how you slice it, a talented team. Harold Arcineux was a one-man show, absolutely destroying us. Also, Weber was an elimination game; NC State was not.

3. As far as I know, we didn’t have a double digit lead in the second half against Syracuse only to go completely cold and let the Orange shoot the lights out.

What I meant was Smith was not necessarily a star. In the NBA you usually have three key players and everyone else are role players who make key contributions. Smith was definitely that though he did set a record for threes in a NBA Finals game with six against Orlando.