David’s Last (Hobbled) Stand

NC State Chancellor John Caldwell hands David Thompson his retired No. 44 jersey on Senior Day 1975.

 

This is a game I had never written about until traveling to Washington this afternoon for the 2024 ACC title game between NC State and North Carolina. If you enjoy reading "One Brick Back" and would like to help offset research expenses for stories such as this one, please make a small donation to the cause and help keep posts like this free of ads.

North Carolina 70, NC State 66
Greensboro Coliseum
March 9, 1975

GREENSBORO--The wonderful, incredible and as of yet unmatched career of three-time All-America forward David Thompson came to an abrupt halt, just as Phil Ford’s bright star began to rise.

In the 1975 Atlantic Coast Conference Championship game, the two favored sons of the Old North State, squared off in the final game of a tournament that was immediately declared the greatest in ACC history.

While Tar Heel fans celebrated their new leader, as Ford became the first freshman to ever win the Everett Case Award as the tournament’s most valuable player, Thompson ended his record-setting career disappointedly losing to a rival he and his teammates had beaten nine consecutive times.

Thompson was hobbled both by a sore leg he suffered in Friday night’s semifinal win over Maryland and cramps that slowed him down throughout the game. He made just seven of 21 field goal attempts for 16 points.

“They were a little sore,” Thompson said after the game. “I wasn’t 100 percent. I couldn’t jump the way I normally do. There was a little pain every time I jumped.”

Head coach Norman Sloan was certain throughout pregame warmups that his superstar, who had been such an integral part of leading the Wolfpack to the 1973 and 1974 ACC titles and the ’74 NCAA championship, would not be the same as the player the Pack had grown to rely on throughout his career.

“We had no way of knowing how he’d be before the game,” Sloan said. “I don’t think he knew either, not until we got to the coliseum.”

Afterwards, Thompson and his teammates were upset, not just because they lost, but how they lost.

“It’s kind of an empty feeling to go out this way,” Thompson said. “Every ball player would like to end his career on a winning note, but we have a lot of things going against us.”

Atypical of his usual demeanor, Thompson gave a loud postgame speech railing on the officiating to the media and several teammates chimed in.

“The officiating has been ridiculous this year,” he said. “I’m very angry about it. People have been bumping us and knocking us around all year. I get tired of it. On 90 per cent of the shots I’ve taken this year, I’ve been fouled. Apparently, the officials feel if they call it, they’ll be accused of protecting David Thompson.”

The game remained close in the second half, but the Tar Heels were in control after scoring 11 consecutive points to take a 63-55 advantage. Ford scored eight of those points, then began running the Dean Smith’s dreaded Four Corners stalling offense.

Ford, a star in the making, scored a game-high 24 points for the Tar Heels.

“I think I played my best basketball of the tournament tonight,” Ford said., the coveted net draped around his neck. “We always thought we could win.”

Mitch Kupchak’s defense and rebounded were a key complement to Ford’s scoring.

“I wanted this game as much as I’ve wanted any game in my life,” said Kupchak, who had 11 points and 12 rebounds. “I think emotion was the key thing for all of us.

“The guy most responsible for that is Ford. He comes out and just fires you up. He doesn’t say much. He just grabs you and says a little something. It’s something to see a fresh doing that.”

It was a tough pill for seniors Thompson, Monte Towe, Tim Stoddard, Moe Rivers and Craig Kuszmaul to end their career after vowing to never lose to their rivals after losing a close game in Chapel Hill while playing for the Wolflet freshman team.

It was a promise that nearly came true, but the Pack fell a little short of winning its third consecutive title.

The day after the tournament, Thompson and his teammates voted not to accept a bid to the National Invitation Tournament, since both North Carolina and Maryland were headed to the NCAAs.

And just like that, King David and his court were dethroned.