Originally Posted by
davekay1971
Whittenburg got injured for State during the season, which caused the Pack all kinds of problems during the ACC season. UVa was widely considered a national title contender, along with UNC, Houston, Louisville, and a couple other teams. The Pack started the year well, but things fell apart pretty badly with Whittenburg out. When he got back from injury, however, State started to roll again. They tore Wake Forest a new one in the first round of the ACC tournament - punking them something like 110-70 or thereabouts. Still, I think they had to go to OT to beat UVa, and there is some doubt as to whether they would have made the NCAAs without winning the ACC - they would certainly have been a bubble team. Having to go to OT to beat Pepperdine in round 1 definitely did not make the Pack look like a contender to take it all the way. I remember that the final 4 was largely looked at as Varsity and JV - Houston played Louisville in the first game, which people thought was the de facto national championship game (and would have been a worthy championship game). For State to beat Houston really was a tremendous upset, but it was the whole run, starting with the ACC tournament, which was breathtaking. If you all get a chance, catch any replay of those games. It'll remind you that, as long as you make the tournament, you can win it. Very cool.