These seven NCAA basketball fan bases are stuck in the past.
There are certain parts of being a sports fan that isn’t fun and dealing with annoying fans of other teams is high on the list. Despite the fact they have no part in their team’s success, the fans will love to remind you of their school’s proud winning tradition even though, in some cases, they haven’t won in years.
Let’s take a look at seven college basketball fan bases that are still living out the glory days of yesteryear, including the NC State Wolfpack.
7. NC State fans are still longing for the days of Jim Valvano.
Playing in the ACC is a tough racket and it is even more difficult doing so in North Carolina. Duke and North Carolina absorb the lion’s share of recruits and success in the state, but NC State has had its moments as a basketball powerhouse.
The Wolfpack pulled off one of college basketball’s greatest upsets when they knocked off Houston in the 1983 national championship game, giving them a second title to go with the one they captured in 1974. While there have been plenty of NCAA Tournament appearances since then, the Wolfpack hasn’t made it to the Elite Eight since 1986.
NC State fans think those two titles put them in the same weight class as their in-state rivals and the program does too, cycling through three coaches in 14 years. That constant turnover has made sustained success a challenge largely due to outsized expectations from fans and boosters.