Things were really different in 1983. ESPN was just getting started. Dick Vitale was still trying to be a normal sportscaster - no bombast!
The ACC had eight teams. Jim Valvano, Bobby Cremins and Mike Krzyzewski were young, new head coaches, none of them legends.
But Valvano was about to become one.
NC State had had an average to mediocre season but closed hot and had a chance to win their way into the NCAA tournament if it could beat UNC in the ACC Tournament Finals.
But it was no sure thing.
UNC, Virginia and Maryland were the ACC powers and Dean Smith had Michael Jordan and Sam Perkins, among others.