Timothy Brannan

'74: a Basketball Story Timothy Brannan

The untold drama of the 1974 NCAA Basketball Champions: the North Carolina State University Wolfpack As the 1973-74 college basketball season began, most experts expected John Wooden's UCLA Bruins-led by All-American Bill Walton-to win its eighth straight national championship. Only one team truly challenged them: an archetypal Naismith team--the NC State Wolfpack led by the dynamic trio Tommy Burleson, David Thompson, and Monte Towe recognized by many at the time as the best one-two-three punch in college basketball. Their historic run for the national championship was accentuated by challenges, successes, and failures. It was one of personal sacrifice and determination by a group of young men who pulled together amidst adversity to become one of the great college basketball teams ever.