We're running a tournament to find out who is the best ACC Team of all-time. Read more about it here.
Today's elite 8 matchup features the 2 seed North Carolina Tarheels 2008-09 against the 10 seed North Carolina State Wolfpack 1982-83.
NC State 82-83 Path
UNC 08-09 Path
Game 1
NC State 82-83: 75
UNC 08-09: 72
NC State leads the series 1-0
Notes: With 2.2 seconds remaining, Terry Gannon curled off a screen at half court took two dribbles and knocked down his only three point shot of the game to give NC State the game one win at the buzzer. Gannon was one of four Wolfpack players in double-figures with 10 points, while Sidney Lowe led the Pack with 13 points. Thurl Bailey added 12 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks and Ernie Myers scored 12 points as well. UNC was led by 14 points and 6 rebounds from Tyler Hansbrough, while Danny Green was the only other player in double-figures with 11 points. Roy Williams was very frustrated with his team to start the second half, and played the infamous "Blue" team for nearly 4 minutes at the beginning of the half, before returning his starters to the floor. The move appeared to work initially as a 8-0 run got the Heels back in the game, but ultimately wasn't enough.
Game 2
UNC 08-09: 87
NC State 82-83: 68
The series is tied 1-1
Notes: No heroics were needed in game two as Tyler Hansbrough scored 21 points and grab 8 rebounds to lead UNC to the win. As in the previous series, Hansbrough did much of his work from the free throw line, making 13-14 free throws. Ty Lawson scored 14 points, Wayne Ellington scored 13 points, and Danny Green scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds to provide scoring balance in the win. Thurl Bailey led the Pack with a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds and added 3 blocks in the loss.
Game 3
UNC 08-09: 101
NC State 82-83: 58
UNC leads the series 2-1
Notes: Six UNC players reached double-figures and five finished with at least 15 points in game three as UNC pounded NC State 101-58. Deon Thompson and Danny Green scored 19 points a piece and Wayne Ellington added 17 points as the UNC offensive attack shot 63% from the floor. UNC outrebounded NC State 39-22 and held the Pack to just 41% shooting in the win. Sidney Lowe led NC State with 12 points and 5 assists and Dereck Whittenburg was the only other player in double-figures with 10 points.
Game 4
UNC 08-09: 86
NC State 82-83: 60
UNC wins the series 3-1
Notes: Ty Lawson scored 22 points and Tyler Hansbrough added 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead UNC 08-09 to the final four. UNC shot 52% from the floor and made 86% of their free throws in an efficient effort from the the UNC offense. Thurl Bailey did all he could totalling 23 points and 9 rebounds, but it wasn't enough for the Pack. UNC 08-09 will move on in the tournament to face the winner of #3 UNC 81-82 against #11 Duke 85-86.
Tomorrow we will have our final elite 8 matchup as #3 UNC 81-82 takes on #11 Duke 85-86.
