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SALT LAKE CITY — March has rarely seen so much madness as 30 years ago today, April 4, 1983 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. North Carolina State, the heaviest of underdogs battling the unbeatable Phi Slama Jama of the Houston Cougars.
Against all odds, and against Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler and BYU head coach Dave Rose, the Wolfpack had come together and had the Cougars cornered. Tie game, seven seconds left. Sidney Lowe passes the ball to Thurl Bailey. Bailey throws it to Derrick Whittenburg.
Whittenburg takes a desperation 30 foot shot with 2 ticks left on the clock. It's short. But teammate Lorenzo Charles is there to snatch it out of the air and softly lay it over the rim as the buzzer sounds.
Game over!
The mighty had fallen. David knocked out Goliath. The unimaginable was imagined. One of the greatest upsets in final 4 history just happened. The scene of Head Coach Jim Valvano running around the gym trying to find someone to hug is a memory that will last forever in our basketball minds.
Now, three decades later, three of the players from that national championship team are together again with the Utah Jazz. Thurl Bailey, former Jazz player and current Jazz broadcaster. Sidney Lowe, Jazz assistant coach and Derrick Whittenburg who is a scout for the Jazz. They are all co-workers and more importantly friends, bound by that moment 30 years ago today.
