1974 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1974 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was held in Greensboro, North Carolina
at the Greensboro Coliseum
from March 7-9. North Carolina State
defeated Maryland
in overtime 103-100 to win the championship. Tommy Burleson
of NC State was named the tournament MVP.
The Final pitted arguably the two best teams in the country and has long been regarded by many to be the greatest ACC game in history — and one of the greatest college games ever. The game was instrumental in forcing the expansion of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
to 32 teams, thus allowing more than one bid from a conference. That Maryland team, with six future NBA draft picks, is considered the greatest team that did not participate in the NCAA tournament.
Many considered it the all-time greatest college basketball game until Duke
pulled off the last-second overtime finish in the 1992 NCAA East Regional final
for a 104-103 win over Kentucky
. "I know they call the Duke-Kentucky game the greatest now," said Burleson in 1999 at a 25-year commemoration of the 1974 game, "but we're still the greatest ACC game ever."
NC State went on to win the 1974 NCAA Tournament
, dethroning Bill Walton
and 7-time defending national champion UCLA
in the semifinals in another classic, before defeating Marquette
in the final.
* Denotes Overtime Game
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
at the Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro Coliseum
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is an entertainment complex located in College Hill neighborhood of Greensboro, North Carolina. Opening in 1959, the arena was one of the largest venues in the South, with a seating capacity of over 7,000...
from March 7-9. North Carolina State
NC State Wolfpack men's basketball
The NC State Wolfpack men's basketball team represents North Carolina State University in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Wolfpack currently competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, of which it was a founding member....
defeated Maryland
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
in overtime 103-100 to win the championship. Tommy Burleson
Tommy Burleson
Tommy Loren Burleson is an American and former collegiate and professional basketball player...
of NC State was named the tournament MVP.
The Final pitted arguably the two best teams in the country and has long been regarded by many to be the greatest ACC game in history — and one of the greatest college games ever. The game was instrumental in forcing the expansion of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
to 32 teams, thus allowing more than one bid from a conference. That Maryland team, with six future NBA draft picks, is considered the greatest team that did not participate in the NCAA tournament.
Many considered it the all-time greatest college basketball game until Duke
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
pulled off the last-second overtime finish in the 1992 NCAA East Regional final
1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1992 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 19, 1992, and ended with the championship game on April 6 in Minneapolis, Minnesota...
for a 104-103 win over Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball
The Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team, representing the University of Kentucky, is the winningest in the history of college basketball, both in all-time wins and all-time winning percentage. Kentucky's all-time record currently stands at 2058–647...
. "I know they call the Duke-Kentucky game the greatest now," said Burleson in 1999 at a 25-year commemoration of the 1974 game, "but we're still the greatest ACC game ever."
NC State went on to win the 1974 NCAA Tournament
1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It was the first tournament to officially be designated as a Division I championship—previously, NCAA member...
, dethroning Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
and 7-time defending national champion UCLA
UCLA Bruins men's basketball
The UCLA Bruins men's basketball program, established in 1920, owns a record 11 Division I NCAA championships. UCLA teams coached by John Wooden won 10 national titles in 12 seasons from 1964 to 1975, including 7 straight from 1967 to 1973. UCLA went undefeated a record 4 times, in 1964, 1967,...
in the semifinals in another classic, before defeating Marquette
Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball
The Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's 1977 team, coached by Al McGuire, won the NCAA championship. Currently the team competes in the Big East Conference. It last played in the NCAA Division I...
in the final.