NC State’s 1974 championship team is historically renowned as one of the most legendary basketball teams in ACC history. That year, the Wolfpack swept the conference through the season’s entirety, then miraculously thwarted John Wooden’s UCLA dynasty from winning its eighth consecutive national championship.

Former Technician sports editor Jim Pomeranz was there to witness it all and has recently brought the team’s stats and stories to life since releasing his new book, “1973-74: Reliving the NC State Wolfpack’s Title Run.”

The book contains a collection of Technician recaps, commentaries and features written throughout the season, giving readers an in-depth look at the team’s dominant campaign through the eyes of our school’s very own students.

In his junior year as a political science major, Pomeranz began writing for the Technician sports section because he was upset with the lack of coverage of intramural sports.

“I was not a writer when I started writing for the Technician,” Pomeranz said. “I just had the desire to write.”

The Sanford native immediately found his niche and soon followed his father’s footsteps, becoming the section editor in 1974. What a year it was to cover Wolfpack basketball.

“They were the typical, built basketball team,” Pomeranz said. “The ‘74 team, I believe, would win at least nine out of 10 times if they played the ’83 team—maybe 10 out of 10.”

Few can talk about the ‘74 squad without mentioning David Thompson in the same sentence.

Thompson, a junior at the time, was as talented and dynamic as any player in the history of the game. As a 55 percent shooter, Thompson averaged 26 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. Coaches could plan all they wanted, but every defensive scheme was doomed when the 6-foot-4 phenom was on the floor. 

“It’s hard to describe a player of that ability. The leaping, the gracefulness,” Pomeranz said. “It’s easy to say David Thompson, I believe, is the best basketball player to have ever played college ball, especially in the ACC.”

Thompson made his team great, but his supporting cast made the team unbeatable. The Wolfpack’s leadership came from junior point guard Monte Towe barking orders in the backcourt. The 5-foot-7 floor general was always counted on to run the team and did so by managing the team’s tempo and efficiency in the offense.

The Wolfpack was at no disadvantage on the boards with senior Tommy Burleson casting his 7-foot-4 shadow on the frontcourt. The freakishly long center skied for 12.2 rebounds per game and scored reliably down low with 18.1 points on average, often using his smooth and un-guardable jump hook advantageously.

“Tommy Burleson had the most emotion of the three—he got excited the most,” Pomeranz said. “You would want one of those three players on any team, and they all shot over 50 percent from the floor, phenomenal.”

Led by legendary head coach Norm Sloan, the Wolfpack marched into the season in full force and defeated every team in the ACC, finishing its regular season with the 24-1 record. NC State’s sole loss came at the hands of the UCLA Bruins, a team led by all-American legend Bill Walton. Months later, the two teams met again.

Pomeranz attributed his most memorable experience with the team to watching desperately from courtside in the final minutes of the rematch between the Pack and the Bruins in the final four at the Greensboro Coliseum.

“I’m a student first and a writer second,” Pomeranz said. “We’re down by seven, and I’m going, ‘oh no, this can’t end like this.’ You’re pretty much in awe of what’s going on.”

The heavyweight bout went toe-to-toe between the nation’s two best teams. Though the Bruins’ attacks were almost impossible to defend, a string of comebacks helped the Wolfpack push the game into double overtime. 

Down by seven, with 3:30 remaining, the Wolfpack forced several turnovers and went on a 13-3 run to defeat UCLA, 80-77. NC State advanced to the finals where it met and cruised past Marquette to cap off its national championship run.  

“What you find out about writing a book is what belongs and what doesn’t, and once you think you’re finished, you’re not,” Pomeranz said. “Writers today, they never quit learning—never.” 

Pomeranz resides in Cary with his wife, Nancy. He has two children and two grandchildren. Having enjoyed authoring his first book, Pomeranz looks to write a follow-up novel about the stories and shared experiences surrounding the title run that NC State’s students and fans were all a part of.