RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – It’s been 41 years since Jim Valvano led the North Carolina State University men’s
basketball program to its last Final Four appearance — and then an NCAA title win. Following N.C. State’s upset victory over Duke in the Elite Eight on Sunday evening, many Wolfpack fans honored the legendary coach, leaving flowers and several other decorations at his gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery in Raleigh. A touching tribute was also paid to former N.C. State star and 1983 national champion Lorenzo Charles, who is also buried at the same cemetery. This comes after the Wolfpack’s magical run through March Madness, which began with winning five games in five days in the ACC Tournament earlier this month to earn an NCAA Tournament berth. The Wolfpack, entering the tournament as a No. 11 seed, became the Cinderella story of this year’s postseason, cutting down the nets in Dallas this past weekend. This mirrors a similar run that Valvano and his team pulled off in 1983 when the Wolfpack defeated the famous “Phi Slama Jama” Houston Cougars that starred future
NBA Hall of Fame players Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. N.C. State head coach Kevin Keatts and his team look to keep their magical run going as the Wolfpack square off against No. 1 seed Purdue on Saturday night at State Farm Stadium in Glendale,
Arizona. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:09 p.m. EST.