I know some of you were probably suicidal after our loss, but on the ACC Network following our game was the first two episodes of "The Tournament", that is a documentary on the ACC Tourney. It was pretty interesting.
Some highlights/thoughts:
1) The ACC actually broke off of the Southern Conference, NC State, UNC, Duke, South Carolina, Maryland, Clemson and Wake. Virginia joined later that year, when the ACC wanted an even 8 teams. UVa was selected over WVU and VT.
2) NC State Coach Everett Case who was from Indiana brought the "tourney" concept to the ACC. It was modeled after the Indiana HS state hoop tourney. The ACC was the first who did this, and the first to give their automatic bid to the NCAA to the winner of the tourney and not the regular season. As this was the case, Case would have his teams more built for a tournament than a long regular season run.
3) The amount and quality of highlights was amazing from that time. I have to admit. But it was startling and shocking to actually see guys firing in two handed set shots. And also shooting FT's underhanded. And it was amazing, some of the two handed set shots were in from 20-22 feet. It looked like guys could really shoot then. Probably not working on dunks.
4) I didn't realize Dick Groat never played in the ACC. He graduated Duke in 1952 and the ACC started in 1953.
5) NC State was the original dominant team. They won the first 3 ACC tourneys as they were led by Everett Case. Case was the guy who started the "cutting down the nets" thing after tourney wins.
6) The landscape changed when UNC hired Frank McGuire. McGuire was a New Yorker and started a pipeline of players from NYC to Chapel Hill. In 1957, UNC led by a NYC Jewish kid, Lenny Rosenbluth went undefeated and won the NCAA title over Kansas and their Center named Wilt Chamberlain. Rosenbluth won player of the year honors over Chamberlain.
7) There were many Jewish kids from NYC then coming into the ACC, Art Heyman at Duke would be another. The show didn't really touch about any ethnic slurs and hardships faced by those guys in then segregated North Carolina. Maybe they will in later episodes. This was only the first two episodes.
8) No African Americans yet to enter the league. As a matter of fact, won't for another 10 years. It was 1967 before Charlie Scott played for ACC.
Anyways, it is worth the watch.
Some highlights/thoughts:
1) The ACC actually broke off of the Southern Conference, NC State, UNC, Duke, South Carolina, Maryland, Clemson and Wake. Virginia joined later that year, when the ACC wanted an even 8 teams. UVa was selected over WVU and VT.
2) NC State Coach Everett Case who was from Indiana brought the "tourney" concept to the ACC. It was modeled after the Indiana HS state hoop tourney. The ACC was the first who did this, and the first to give their automatic bid to the NCAA to the winner of the tourney and not the regular season. As this was the case, Case would have his teams more built for a tournament than a long regular season run.
3) The amount and quality of highlights was amazing from that time. I have to admit. But it was startling and shocking to actually see guys firing in two handed set shots. And also shooting FT's underhanded. And it was amazing, some of the two handed set shots were in from 20-22 feet. It looked like guys could really shoot then. Probably not working on dunks.
4) I didn't realize Dick Groat never played in the ACC. He graduated Duke in 1952 and the ACC started in 1953.
5) NC State was the original dominant team. They won the first 3 ACC tourneys as they were led by Everett Case. Case was the guy who started the "cutting down the nets" thing after tourney wins.
6) The landscape changed when UNC hired Frank McGuire. McGuire was a New Yorker and started a pipeline of players from NYC to Chapel Hill. In 1957, UNC led by a NYC Jewish kid, Lenny Rosenbluth went undefeated and won the NCAA title over Kansas and their Center named Wilt Chamberlain. Rosenbluth won player of the year honors over Chamberlain.
7) There were many Jewish kids from NYC then coming into the ACC, Art Heyman at Duke would be another. The show didn't really touch about any ethnic slurs and hardships faced by those guys in then segregated North Carolina. Maybe they will in later episodes. This was only the first two episodes.
8) No African Americans yet to enter the league. As a matter of fact, won't for another 10 years. It was 1967 before Charlie Scott played for ACC.
Anyways, it is worth the watch.
