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This article is part of a series of top North Carolina athletes and teams. As North Carolina sports betting launched in March, take a look at the top athletes across North Carolina college and professional sports.
When people think of college basketball in North Carolina, their minds immediately jump to Duke or UNC. While those are historic NCAA programs, there are a few other Division I schools in the state that have won a national title in their history. What about North Carolina State? Let’s take a look at NC State national championships in basketball and the school’s Final Four history.
NC State National Championships in Basketball
North Carolina State has won two national championships in program history. The first came in the 1974 NCAA Tournament. The second is one of the most iconic moments in NCAA history as NC State won on a last-second dunk to beat Houston in the 1983 tournament.
Future NBA star David Thompson was the leader of the NC State championship team in 1974. He averaged 26.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game that season. He scored 21 points and had 7 rebounds with 3 steals in the title win over Marquette.
In the 1983 tournament, Lorenzo Charles turned Dereck Whittenburg’s deep three-point attempt into an alley-oop to win the game. Charles jumped to catch what would have been an airball and slammed it home just in time to give NC State the 54-52 win.
| Year | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team |
| 1974 | North Carolina State | 76–64 | Marquette |
| 1983 | North Carolina State | 54–52 | Houston |
Read More: How many titles does UNC have?
NC State’s National Championship Appearances
NC State has appeared in two national championship games and won them both. The team hasn’t appeared in any other national title games in school history.
| Year | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team |
| 1974 | North Carolina State | 76–64 | Marquette |
| 1983 | North Carolina State | 54–52 | Houston |
Read More: How many titles does Duke have?
How Many Final Fours has NC State Appeared in?
NC State has reached the Final Four four times in school history. The Wolf Pack reached the Final Four in 1950, 1974, 1983, and 2024. North Carolina State won the national title in 1974 and 1983.
In 1950, NC State lost to City College of New York in the Final Four. The Wolfpack won the National Third Place game 53-41 over Baylor that year.
| Season | Record | NCAA Tournament | Coach |
| 2023-24 | 26-15 | Lost in Final Four | Kevin Keatts (26-14) |
| 1982-83 | 26-10 | Won National Championship | Jim Valvano (26-10) |
| 1973-74 | 30-1 | Won National Championship | Norm Sloan (30-1) |
| 1949-50 | 27-6 | Lost in Final Four | Everett Case (27-6) |
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NC State Coach with the Most National Championships
Jim Valvano and Norman Sloan are the only two head coaches in NC State history to have won a basketball national championship. Sloan’s team went 30-1 in the 1973-74 season and beat Marquette in the title game.
Valvano’s championship team went 26-10 and pulled off a major upset of Houston in the 1983 national championship game. Valvano helped NC State reach three Elite Eights in four years in the mid-80s.
Quick Facts About NC State Basketball
Here are some quick facts about the history of NC State basketball.
How many basketball national championships does NC State have?
North Carolina State has won two national championships in men’s basketball (1974, 1983).
How many Final Fours has NC State made?
North Carolina State men’s basketball has reached four Final Fours in program history (1950, 1974, 1983, 2024).
How many Elite Eight’s has NC State made?
North Carolina State has made seven Elite Eight appearances in men’s basketball (1950, 1951, 1974, 1983, 1985, 1986, 2024).
What conference is NC State in for basketball?
NC State competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in basketball.
Where is NC State University located?
North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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