You can't blame injuries in the Marquette game. It was amazing that Marquette or UNC made it that far. Dean Smith is my idol. My hero. But he did some really dumb things. UNC stormed back. Marquette was gassed. And then Carolina went 4 Corners. Al McGuire was thrilled. Gave his players a chance to rest. And Dean kept Bruce Buckley in the game when he should have called timeout to sub O'Koren...and John, Walter, Mike & Tommy.
1977 was a special team. Took a plethora of injuries to keep that Natty from them.