NC State graduate here. We’ll never have the accolades UNC or Duke has. But we’ll always have one of the greatest runs ever, and one of the most beloved coaches ever leading the way. GO PACK!

I can't believe they haven't made this team a movie... It's a legendary story.

I was a freshman at NC State in 1983. Now on the 40th anniversary, I still remember every detail and game of that season - was the ONLY time I ever failed a class because we partied in the court yard after EVERY game, which went into overtime. Hence the term, Cardiac Pack!!! Hail NC State.

Jim Valvano . One of the most underrated college coaches ever. He would have made a good NBA coach if it wasn't for cancer that took his life too soon. One of biggest upsets in the history of sports beating Phi Slamma Jamma.

"They won it. On the dunk." RIP Billy Packer

Lorenzo Charles looked to be in a state of shock after the dunk. That dunk will live on forever RIP Brother!

It has been 40 years since Houston faced North Carolina State for the national championship. May Lorenzo Charles, Billy Packer and Jim Valvano all rest in peace. Amen.

Forty years ago tonight! This moment STILL gives me chills.

That was the best air ball in history. If that ball hits the rim the game goes into overtime.

This is THE moment in all the years of college basketball. Legendary tournament run, legendary game winner to win it all.

As a Tarheel fan this is when the Cinderella March madness all began.Now my bias will say the Tarheels winning it all in 82 was more exciting but this is when March madness truly started.

The best March Madness game EVER! I remember NC State was getting blown out. My little brother was going for Houston, me for NC State. All he was saying for the whole game just about was "Phi Slama Jama" every time Houston scored. When Lorenzo hit that dunk, my brother was doing the same thing as that kid who was beating on the floor.

Watched this game with 15 co-workers close to the State campus . Hillsborough Street was crazy all night long .

That Houston team was so ridiculously loaded. There's no way NC State belonged in the same gym with them. Here's to grit and guts. It can overcome glitz and glam.

From being dead in the water against Pepperdine to this!!!

Absolute BEDLAM at my house that night as we are a Wolfpack family. I was 9 and can still see my dad absolutely losing it with emotion.

Imagine how great the world could be if coach v and Lorenzo where still with us

Still gives me goose bumps... "they won it! On the dunk..."

If you know about the entire postseason of NC State that year, you will realize that this is the biggest sports miracle ever and Valvano was the magic that did it

Incredible. I was a senior at NC State that year. Me and my friends went beserk.

God bless Lorenzo Charles. RIP.

My favorite will always be Jim Valvano's mad dash looking for someone to hug because everyone else was taken lol

"They won it! .... on the dunk!" Doesn't get better than his call of NC State Championship in 1983.

THE single greatest play in collegiate basketball history.

What a season! The Cardiac Pack! Happened to see Derrick Whittenburg today in WIlmington,NC. Still exciting!

Will forever remember the Cardiac Pack and that fantastic run. I miss you dad!

"Oh that's a long way..." Just the single greatest ending I can remember - awesome!!

I still use this moment for inspiration

Watched this game with friends in Raleigh -- took me hours to come down from the experience that evening.

This was before the shot clock era in college basketball. 🏀

Ahead of the game, NC State was talking of a controlled, slow tempo game, as they knew they weren't capable of running end to end with Houston. And at the tip of the ball, they played full court full speed. Houston had bought the pre-game fake out, and didn't expect State to come out running.

Cardiac Pack is still one of the greatest teams to ever do it, especially considering only 5 guys made the NBA but none of them had considerable careers. A bunch of guys got together & beat a team consisting of 2 of the NBA’s Top 75 players all time, that just doesn’t happen anymore man.

40 years later and it still the greatest championship game ever that I ever watched. I don't like Houston and I was so happy for NC State.

Wait so there was no shot clock back then?? They seriously just milked the clock for 44 seconds. I learned something new today

Huston had Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Spiderman and Luke Cage. NC State had Jim Valvano. The rest is history

Fundamentals you have to box out no matter what ...

Who’s here when they about to run it back?

The most iconic moment in NCAAT history. The NC state 1983 run has always been the most impressive and unbelieveable moment of all time. NC state literally had no chance against that completely indomitable houston team, yet they still won.

Watch closely and you’ll see Hakeem step outside the paint giving Charles a yard of space, at least

Next year, it will be 40 years since this incredible run happened.

It’s amazing how stunned Lorenzo Charles is. Like he doesn’t realize he just won the game.

I remember watching this as a kid at 13 years old NC State was my team and still are but I was jump up and down it was great miss you Jimmy V

NC State Wolfpack wins the National Championship at New Mexico...home of the Lobos. Kinda poetic.

I was a teenager when two of the biggest upsets in College Basketball happened. This one with NC State vs Houston and the other was two years later (SR year in high school) Villanova beats Georgetown.

Survive. And Advance. 🙂

Raleigh Proud!! NC.STATE UNIVERSITY. Born, Raised and live here. 16 yes when they won it. Remember it well.

0:45 They won it! On the Dunk

One of my teen favorite memories

I'll never forget being on the couch while my parents sat in their chairs, me half asleep, trying to stay awake. Had school the next morning. When they won I jumped up with my dad, and he ran outside yelling NC State. One of my fondest childhood memories.

Played by todays rules Stste wins easily. All of their 2nd half baskets,except for the last one, was a 3 pointer.

RIP Lorenzo Charles

I met him when I was at my brother Frank’s you could tell how he loved to tell that story cool 🤟

apparently “live by the 3 die by the 3”also applies do dunks

The thrill of victory!

I remember it was said whoever had the most dunks would win the game. Everyone if course expected that to be Houston, well, the team with the most dunks did win. State had 2, Houston had 1. Such fond memories from my college days watching that on a little tv in our dorm room and then going crazy for hours thereafter. So special! Would love to see something like that again this year. So far, so good...

I just found out my mother was at that game. I'm from Albuquerque. What an astonishing game ending! I'm glad she was there and wish I had been.

Probably THE March Madness moment for many years. Possibly overshadowed now since it's been 40 March's ago.......

There was actually about a second left after Charles dunked it, but there was no way the refs were going to do anything about it after the insanity began on the court.

Crazy

Jim Valvano looking for someone to hug...the heartbreak of Phi Slama Jamma getting all the way only to lose on, of all things, a DUNK...this has it all.

great announcing. If you notice, after the word "Dunk", he waits over a minute and lets the visuals speak, before he says another word. Not like Romo

This game, follow two years later by Villanova win over Georgetown put the "Madness" into March Madness.

It all started with the Round 1 game against Pepperdine, a game State had no business winning, as they were down six with a minute to play. (I came home late from a party and started watching in the last few minutes of regulation) Remember, no shot clock and no 3-point shot back then. Incredibly, with good defense, timely fouling and Pepperdine missing free throws (a foreshadowing to this game), they tied the game and took it to double overtime and won it. As big as that was, the wins over UVA and Ralph Sampson, first in the ACC Tournament Finals which put them in the NCAA's and then upsetting them again in West Regional final may have been the biggest win, as UVA was expected to be a Final Four team.

And “Boom” goes the Dino-Mite 😎

hakeem olajuwon, the greatest defender in NBA history, doesn’t box out on this play. not a huge college basketball fan so seeing this was a shock

Boo Corrigan was a ball boy at that game. He's since worked his way up to AD at NC State!😮

April 4, 2023. The 40th anniversary of the most emotional ending in the history of college basketball

This is devastating for the university of Houston. I don't understand how they blew it.

RIP Jimmy V

Phi Slamma Jamma one of the most talented squads ever! Too bad for them there was no shot clock.

Back into the final four 2024.

Nice 🔥 💎😎

41 years later, NC State is 2 wins away from another unlikely natty!

Never been back.

0:44 the scream 3:24 Musburger with the betting line.

Remember this game very well.

This and the Duke/Kentucky Sweet 16 game ten years later.

"They won it, on the dunk!"

The only Dunk of the game

The most unlikely, most unreal finish to a basketball game, at the time. There were 3 dangerous passes, maybe even 4, vs a superior team, athletically. The last one nearly got taken the distance by the cougars. Then a wild bomb that falls two feet short of the hoop, followed by a game winning dunk. What a finish!

I loved Jimmy V

I love you Valvano wolf pack

The closest to a major championship upset was Butler vs Duke but still NC State was the game

I remember this game.... The sports press had been going on and on about how great Houston was.... And they were a great team almost like a NBA team... But somehow the Wolfpack beat them..

The greatest moment in the history of college basketball...probably college sports, period.

Go Pack!

I could care less what team people cheer for...Obviously mine is Bama...BUT, this is the single greatest moment (on so many levels) in college basketball history...BAR NONE!!!

Drexler almost stole that ball.

Free throws

rip jim valvano

I think Olajuwon was the first player in college to win the national championship MVP Award, despite playing for the losing team.

They made A jim valvano movie and I believe sonny schroyer played either the ad or football coach. Yes that sonny schroyer who played enos on the dukes of hazard. Never give up. Never ever give up.

Olajuwon--STAY CLOSER TO THE BASKET!!!!! Clyde was directing to him to just that but #34 left his post when he thought Benny Anders had stolen the ball from Whittenburg.

Over a flat footed Hakeem. And that was the last time he didn't box out.

RIP Lorenzo, dead driving a bus.

They got lucky, they’re just passing around and not even looking at the basket till time was almost out.

From this to the bills comeback and oilers leaving town, the Astros cheating scandal, to the Rockets winning their championships when Jordan was playing baseball, Houston is a spooky sports city.

Honestly why did they team draw up such a horrible play? if they only needed 2 points to win it. Just a horrible play on both teams.

Jimmy V BABY🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀🏀

That was great great strategy. N Hakeem didn't box out