I lived in Charlottesville from 1974-1983, then left for Virginia Tech, so I lived in Charlottesville for the time periods covered last night (UVA's 1976 championship and their inability to win it with Ralph there from 1980-83).

I wasn't following ACC hoops yet as a fifth-grader in 1976, but I do remember the buzz and excitement when UVA won it. They were a middling team that beat #17, #9, and #4 -- a great run. It was great to see Wally Walker and Marc Iavaroni talk about it.

As for 1980-83 .... SMH, I remember that UNC-UVA game where the Heels went into the 4 Corners to neuter what was, up until then, a great game and great matchup. That game is credited with ushering in the shot clock era in college ball, thus putting an end to Dean Smith's effective but disgusting to watch 4 Corners offense.

For 1983, the show of course focused on all the NC State guys and Coach V and all that. It had to. But goodness, that story has been done to death. They focused some on Ralph, and they interviewed Ralph, but they didn't mention any other UVA players, didn't interview any other UVA players, and didn't interview Terry Holland. I understand why; they didn't win. But I would have liked to have heard more talk of Jeff Lamp, Lee Raker, and those guys.

Everyone loves the 83 Wolfpack team, but for me, watching it dredged up the disappointment I felt when they beat Ralph's last UVA team not just in the ACC finals, but in the regional finals of the NCAAs as well. I was a big UVA fan (bigger Tech fan, but big UVA fan) and wanted to see Ralph get a ring.

I will say this: my father despised Terry Holland as a coach. Hated him. The coach, not the person, mind you. He used to rail that Holland was completely incapable of coaching the top player (ever?) in college basketball to an ACC championship or an NCAA championship.

The 1983 ACC final was perfect evidence of that. UVA was in control of that game, leading by either six or eight points (maybe even 10, I don't remember what the show said), and with about 7 minutes to go, Valvano started double-teaming Ralph -- Cosell McQueen in front, Thurl Bailey behind. No problem, that means the rest of them are playing 4-on-3, right? Adjust and figure out how to score.

But no -- they showed several clips of UVA trying to force the ball into Ralph, only to turn it over, and NC State came roaring back to win. As time has gone by, I've come to agree with my late father more and more, that Holland was a mediocre coach. I'd be interested in what UVA fans of that era have to say about it.

Oh, one more thing: the UNC teams of that era .... GEEZ. Worthy, Perkins, Jordan. As a *team*, they were much more loaded than the Hoos, who had Ralph and some good players, but not the phalanx of superstars that UNC had.