New ’50s ’60s ’70s ’80s 1990s ’00s ’10s Era THROUGH ACC Basketball THE DECADES Visit JournalNow.com for more content on the history of ACC men’s basketball. — Compiled by Dan Collins GREATEST HITS Duke 104, Kentucky 103 (OT): March 28, 1992, Wake Philadelphia Forest’s Christian Laettner snagged Grant Hill’s 70-foot pass, Tim Duncan turned and hit the shot heard around the sporting world. The victory in the championship game of the East Re- gional kept Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils marching ALL- inexorably to their second consecutive national title. Wake Forest 82, UNC 80 (OT): March 12, DECADE 1995, Greensboro With one floating 10-foot jumper, Randolph Chil- TEAM dress lifted the Deacons to their first ACC title in 33 G Randolph Childress, seasons and broke the record for points in an ACC Wake Forest Tournament that had stood since 1957. Childress Second-team consensus made 12 of 22 shots from the floor and 9 of 17 from All-America 1995; first-team 3-point range, including one infamous basket over All-ACC 1994, 1995 and sec- Jeff McInnis after his crossover dribble left McInnis ond-team 1993; first-team sprawled on the Greensboro Coliseum floor. All-ACC Tournament 1994, AP PHOTO 1995; Everett Case Award PHOTO AP 1995 Christian Laettner’s Randolph Childress’ winning shot winning shot G Grant Hill, Duke against Kentucky against UNC First-team consensus All- America 1994 and second- team 1993; ACC player of the year 1994; first-team All-ACC 1993, 1994 and second-team 1992; second-team All-ACC COACH Tournament 1991, 1992, 1994 QUOTES OF THE DECADE OF THE F Antawn Jamison, UNC “When the press asked me over the years about my “It seems like every team wants to beat Carolina for National player of the retirement plans, I told them the truth, which was that I some reason. Our fans would rather have us beat Carolina year 1998; first-team con- didn’t have my life blueprinted, but the first time Oct. 15, than Duke any day. I don’t know what it is. When you walk DECADE sensus All-America 1998 the day of the first practice, rolled around and I wasn’t into the gym, you can feel, I don’t want to say hatred, but Mike Krzyzewski, Duke and second-team 1997; ACC excited and enthusiastic about my job, I would retire.” it just seems crazy. You can hear them yelling vulgar things NCAA championships player of the year 1998; first- – Dean Smith and stuff at the Carolina fans.” team All-ACC 1996, 1997, 1991, 1992; ACC champion- 1998; first-team All-ACC l l l – Guard Curtis Marshall of N.C. State ships 1992, 1999 and Tournament 1997, 1998; Ev- l l l erett Case Award 1998 “Everyone wants to know about roles. I don’t know ACC runner- what roles — make your own roles. Brian Davis didn’t have “His strength is his demeanor, his personality, his at- up finishes 1991, 1998; F Christian Laettner, a role, he made his role. Thomas Hill didn’t have a role, he titude, his court presence, his fearlessness.’’ NCAA Tour- Duke made his role. We can get into that thing where you stop — Dave Odom on Tim Duncan nament competing and you just want someone to tell you, ‘This is National player of the year l l l 1990, 1991, 1992; first-team consensus the amount of effort I want from you.’” – Mike Krzyzewski 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999; Final Fours 1991, All-America 1992 and sec- l l l “I’ve not had a leader who has done a better job with ond-team 1991; ACC player of my team. He was the bridge to get us back to our elite 1992, 1994, 1999; ACC coach of the year 1997, 1999 the year 1992; first-team All- “Rodney is our Mr. Clutch, the Jerry West of our basket- status, and I will forever be grateful to him. He did more ACC 1991, 1992 and second- ball team. He’s the ice man out there.” team 1990; first-team All- than play — he led, worked and committed himself to me First runner-up ACC Tournament 1991, 1992 – Jim Valvano on Rodney Monroe and Duke basketball. I feel a special bond with Trajan.” Dean Smith, UNC and second-team 1989, 1990; l l l — Mike Krzyzewski on Trajan Langdon Everett Case Award 1992 l l l Second runner-up “In the time I’ve been at Virginia, the only players with Dave Odom, Wake Forest C Tim Duncan, WFU a comparable impact are Ralph Sampson and Jeff Lamp. “If there’s a better low-post player in the country, I don’t National player of the I still sense there are some people who are surprised want to see him.’’ — Bobby Cremins on UNC’s Eric Montross year 1997; first-team con- he made the (U.S National) team. I hear comments like ARRIVALS sensus All-America 1996, l l l ‘He’s a really nice player,’ but they don’t mention him with Team 1997; ACC player of the year Stacey Augmon, Billy Owens and Alonzo Mourning. I think 1996, 1997; first-team All- “I remember watching him and seeing how he just Florida State (1991-92) ACC 1995, 1996, 1997; first- they should.” stood out physically more than anybody. You’re usually team All-ACC Tournament — Jeff Jones, a former player and coach at Virginia, on Bryant Stith looking at kids, and you’re thinking how skinny they are. Commissioner John Swofford (1997) 1995, 1996, 1997; Everett l l l And you never had that opinion about Rodney. He was Case Award 1996 always built like a man among boys as an athlete.’’ Coaches “His hand speed is incredible, so that’s No. 1. His ball- — Randolph Childress of Wake Forest on his first impressions Rick Barnes (1994) at handling ability, No. 2. He can put a lot of different dribble of future teammate Rodney Rogers Clemson; Steve Robinson moves together to get guys off him. He can flat out handle SECOND l l l (1997) at Florida State; Bill the ball.’’ — Bobby Hurley of Duke on Kenny Anderson of Georgia Tech Guthridge (1997) at UNC; l l l “There’s never been a more fitting way to end a career Les Robinson (1990) and TEAM in the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Never. He Herb Sendek (1996) at N.C. G Bobby Hurley, Duke “The toughest guy in college basketball is Chris Cor- truly is special.’’ State; Jeff Jones (1990) and Pete Gillen (1998) at Virginia G Rodney Monroe, chiani. If I ever go to war, I want him on my team.’’ — Dave Odom on Randolph Childress’ record-setting N.C. State – Al McGuire 1995 ACC Tournament Players (birthday) Tyler Zeller 1-17-90; Mason F Bryant Stith, Virginia Plumlee 3-5-90; Michael F Rodney Rogers, Snaer 6-21-90; Iman Shump- Wake Forest AP PHOTO ert 6-26-90; Seth Curry 8-23-90; Lorenzo Brown C Joe Smith, Maryland 8-26-90; Richard Howell GAME CHANGERS 9-26-90; John Henson 12-28- 90; C.J. Harris 2-19-91; Erick Early departures to the NBA next seven awards for ACC player of Green 5-9-91; C.J. Leslie 6-25- NOW the year went to players who played 91; Joe Harris 9-7-91; Harrison There was nothing new about an as seniors. Rogers and Antawn Barnes 5-30-92; Austin Rivers AVAILABLE ACC player with eligibility remaining Jamison (1998) left after their junior 8-1-92; Shane Larkin 10-2-92 leaving for professional basketball. seasons, and Joe Smith (1995) and Robert McAdoo, a transfer from Elton Brand (1999) after their sopho- DEPARTURES Vincennes Junior College, left in 1972 more seasons. after his only season at North Caro- Commissioner lina. Skip Wise left after his freshman Expansion Eugene F. Corrigan (1997) season at Clemson for the ABA’s Balti- more Claws, only to have the team Florida State joined the ACC for the Coaches fold during the 1975-76 preseason. 1991-92 basketball season, marking Cliff Ellis (Clemson, 1994); Yet by the early 1990s, it had the first new arrival since Georgia Pat Kennedy (Florida State, Tech in 1979-80. The Seminoles’ entry 1997); Dean Smith (UNC, become the exception rather than 1997); Jim Valvano (N.C. the rule for a star player to remain expanded the ACC into Florida and gave it nine schools. State, 1990); Les Robinson in college for all four seasons of his (N.C. State, 1996); Terry Hol- $26.95, John F. The ACC remained a nine-school eligibility. Antawn Jamison left UNC for land (Virginia, 1990); Jeff Blair, Publisher Starting in 1993, the year Rodney conference until the addition of Miami Jones (Virginia, 1998) the NBA after his junior season. Rogers was a junior, only three of the and Virginia Tech in 2004-05. CASSANDRA SHERRILL.