Jimmy V and NC State Stun Heavily Favored Houston for NCAA Title
| Memorable Sports Moments |
   |
| Invite Your Friends to Rate |
In the 1983 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, North Carolina State, coached by Jim Valvano, won the national title with a 54-52 victory in the final game over Houston, coached by Guy Lewis. The ending of the final is one of the most famous in college basketball history, with Lorenzo Charles' dunk at the buzzer of an airball shot from 30 feet by Dereck Whittenburg providing the final margin. This contributed to the nickname given to North Carolina State, the "Cardiac Pack", a reference to their often close games that came down to the wire - in fact, the team won 7 of its last 9 games after trailing with a minute left in the game. Both Charles' dunk and Valvano's running around the court in celebration immediately after the game have been staples of NCAA tournament coverage ever since. North Carolina State's victory has often been considered the greatest upset in college basketball history and one of the best in sports' history.
