RALEIGH – NC State University will pay tribute to three-time All-American David Thompson with a statue sculpted in his honor that will be placed outside of Reynolds Coliseum.
The unveiling will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, the day of the Wolfpack men’s basketball team’s annual Heritage Game at Reynolds Coliseum, and will be open to the public.
“This is such a deserved honor for the greatest basketball player to ever wear an NC State jersey,” NC State Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan said. “He is one of the most iconic players to ever play in the ACC and our hope is that this statue will ensure that generations of NC State students and fans will always remember the legacy and contributions of David Thompson.”
Thompson is widely recognized as one of the greatest players in college basketball history. A 2008 ESPN story ranked him as one of the ten best college basketball players of all-time, and he is regarded as one of greatest athletes in Atlantic Coast Conference history.
The Boiling Spring, N.C., native played three seasons at NC State from 1972-75 and was a unanimous first-team All-American at the conclusion of all three seasons. He was also named the ACC Player of the Year all three seasons.
He was named the Associated Press National Player of the Year in 1974 and 1975 and remains one of just five players in college basketball history to win multiple AP National Player of the Year honors.
Thompson immediately made his mark on the Pack, helping lead NC State to an undefeated season (27-0) in 1973. The Pack dominated the 1972-73 season and was at the top or near the top of the polls all season as Thompson averaged 24.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Thompson returned in the 1973-74 season and led the Wolfpack to a 30-1 record and the school’s first NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball National Title.
In the Final Four, Thompson and the Wolfpack met up with UCLA, the seven-time reigning National Champions and the only team to have defeated NC State that season. The Pack trailed 74-67 in the second overtime when Thompson’s heroics helped lead NC State back. Thompson pulled down a defensive rebound and made the go-ahead basket with under one minute remaining and then made two free throws with 38 seconds to go to give the Pack a 78-75 double overtime win in a game that is still considered one of the greatest Final Four games ever played.
Thompson finished the game with 28 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Bill Walton and the Bruins.
Two nights later, the Pack won the National Title over Marquette, 76-64, behind 21 points from Thompson. Thompson was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
To make it into the NCAA Tournament, the Pack defeated fourth-ranked Maryland, 103-100, in overtime in the 1974 ACC Championship, in a game that is routinely considered one of the best games in college basketball history.
As a senior, Thompson averaged 29.9 points, still the highest single season average in NC State history. He scored an NC State and ACC record 57 points in an early season win over Buffalo State. The Pack started the season ranked No. 1 in the nation and never fell out of the top-10, but lost in the ACC Championship game to end its season. The Pack finished the season ranked seventh in the nation but because the NCAA Tournament at that time only allowed the conference champion into the tournament its season was over.
Thompson closed his career with 2,309 points in 86 career games. He led the ACC in scoring all three seasons and was NC State and the ACC’s career scoring leader when he graduated.
But the biggest difference was stopping Miami on the last four possessions of overtime. “Defense wins games when the shots aren’t falling,” Jim Valvano.
Some comments really stood out to me: NC State forced 17 Miami turnovers, but had just four of its own.
The Pack finished the game with a 23-7 advantage in points off turnovers, a 16-3 advantage in second chance points and a 52-36 in points in the paint.
Miami shot 56.9 percent from the field compared to just 44 percent for NC State, but the Pack attempted 24 more shots (75 to 51) than the Canes.
Joiner’s toughness and poise when the game gets to critical moments is such a big part of our ability to win these close ones. What a huge difference having that experience. ZERO turnovers! AGAIN!. Only 4 turnovers for the entire team! Add the constant offensive pressure applied by Smith and you got yourself a basketball team.
Thought we were in trouble when Dusan went down.
Really thought the season was going south when we lost our second starter.
Then Gantt showed up and played well, giving us a chance.
And now Ross outplayed Gantt!
BEST WIN OF THE SEASON!!
Another ‘toughness’ win for the Pack! This time with Ross gettin into it! Seems like KK has a nice rotation going.
This was a key win against one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the conference.
No doubt. That’s a type of win that builds grit. Ross was huge. I thought we were doomed to lose when we seemed unable to hit a shot for that stretch in the second half. There was one point where we failed to get the rebound 4 times before Miami decided to then hit their shot. I did not think that game would go our way but in true Cardiac Pack spirit, they somehow found a way to win. To Miami’s credit, they were clutch and didn’t seem to miss a shot (and crucial ones at that) especially toward the… Read more »
I keep feeling every game so far that we’ve won is vital and I’m going to say, a road win at Georgia Tech would be real nice for us. I believe this stretch has been huge, but we need to keep churning these Ws out. Maybe I’m just not satisfied. And the way our players have been playing, I get a sense they aren’t satisfied either. I get a sense something is clicking right now. Something nice.
“when we hungry, we eat”
Julius Hodge.