Tom Burleson and David Thompson NC State 1974 Part 4 of 4

[wlhardy]

N.C. State was out for blood because UCLA had beaten them the previous December. A lot of fans hated UCLA because they were the best team for many years but even John Wooten admitted in an interview many years ago that the Bruins LOST that play-off game, it was not just luck on the part of State. UCLA lost 4 games that season--one to Notre Dame, 2 to Oregon teams & then to State. When they lost their 3rd game I had a feeling that State would probably beat them--and they did. Great season!

[Doug091549]

As UCLA fan, I still have some bile well up whenever I think of that game. Seeing this video and realizing what nice guys my opponents were has helped somewhat. Its funny how clearly I remember that game. UCLA was up by 7 with only a few minutes left in triple overtime. No 24 second clock then, Wooden could have called a stall and have easily won the game. Then there was a controversial never been called before or again "hooking foul" by Wilkes. Too bad the game was in NC; it needed neutral turf

[nysaxman]

just want to point out that wooden used the stall tactic many times...against villanova in the 1971 ncaa tournament...against maryland in a 1973 game which they won 65-64. why he chose not to use it against nc state we'll never know. as a david thompson and nc state fan...i'm glad he didn't .

[markgregory22]

Great example of how a "game" can bring people together in a positive way during a time when there was little else promoting it.

[babazarr]

Is there a video of the ucla game out there somewhere? My dad says it was easily the greatest game he ever saw, and I can't find anything other than thompson blocking Walton.

[gocelts34n7]

thompson dropped 28 on ucla that next day and topped ucla on the way to the national title. david thompson was so sick.

[ciscopack]

Great guys!