For the second time in 18 years, N.C. State will play in the men's basketball showcase named for its former coach. The Wolfpack will face Connecticut in the Jimmy V Classic on Dec. 4 in New York.

Jim Valvano coached at N.C. State for ten seasons and led the Wolfpack to the 1983 national title.

For the first time since Jim Valvano was coaching, North Carolina faces N.C. State when it has both a competitive team and a coach who cares about the rivalry. Les Robinson and Sidney Lowe cared, but never had the horses. As memorable as Lowe’s one victory was, the 2007 “Red Blazer Game,” he lost the next 10 meetings.

Herb Sendek definitely had capable teams -- and was fortunate enough to face UNC during the darkest days of the Matt Doherty Era -- but, famously and lamentably, did everything he could to downplay the rivalry. Over the past few years, the most heated incidence of this rivalry was played at N.C. Central: the Pro-Am matchup two summers ago between the incoming freshmen who are now sophomores.

Bob Valvano, brother of the late N.C. State coach Jim, told an
interesting story today about the famous 1983 Wolfpack national
championship.

Subbing for vacationing host Brian Kenny on ESPN
Radio, Valvano recalled that Jim Valvano had two cherished keepsakes
from the Pack’s unlikely march to the title over Houston in
Albuquerque, N.M.

What UNC basketball fans really have to sweat out in ‘08-’09 isn’t so much Tyler Hansbrough’s injury, or Marcus Ginyard’s injury, or Ty Lawson’s injury-in-waiting.

Instead, it’s that so many sportswriters and coaches are in total agreement that the Tar Heels are a lock to win the national championship. The last time so many experts were in such total agreement on a single subject, long-shot Syracuse beat Roy Williams’ Kansas team for the 2003 NCAA title in New Orleans.