With the Covid 19 pandemic cancelling sports across the globe in North Carolina we were robbed of our favorite sporting event last month in the ACC Tournament. This year marked the silver anniversary of the greatest individual performance in the 66 year history of the tournament. Randolph Childress and his brilliance leading Wake Forest to their first title in 33 years.

What made this so great? Let’s explore that question by answering all five of the basic questions.

Who?

Randolph Childress, was named one of 50 greatest players in ACC history at the conference’s 50th anniversary in 2003. He still remains in the top 10 in league history since 1986 in points (2208), free throws and three pointers made, according to sports-reference.com 

As a senior he finished in top 10 in the ACC in scoring, assists and steals per game, free throw and three points percentage.

What? 

His floater was the game winner in overtime to beat North Carolina in the final. He scored all nine of the Demon Deacons points in the extra period. That floater gave him an incredible 107 points in the tournament, passing UNC legend Lennie Rosenbluth’s 106 for the most in a single tournament, 38 years earlier. That is over 35 a game!

When?

In 1995 the ACC had another banner year especially at the top of the standings. Wake, Carolina, Maryland and Virginia all finished 12-4 in conference play and all four squads advanced to at least the Sweet 16. 

Wake had to beat two teams that finished ranked in the top 15 and made it to at least the Elite Eight (UVA and UNC) in order to take the title.

In the current college basketball world the powerful ACC had to move its tournament to starting a day earlier in order to have their own spot without competition in crowded airwaves. In 1995, the Big 12 didn’t even exist and the Pac 10 and Big 10 did not play conference tournaments. Childress and his team had a huge national spotlight to themselves.

Why?

ABC&D. Anyone But Carolina & Duke. They had won five out of six tournaments. From 60-64 Wake went to the title game every year and won back to back title in 61-62. From that five year run to 1995 the Deacons went to one title game (1978) in the next 30 years. In fact, Wake’s rivals along with NC State won 26 of 33 ACC Tournaments. All that to say it had been a long drought for Wake Forest.

As a long time fan of Virginia, a program that went titleless in the ACC for 37 years (1977-2013) I have empathy for the pure joy and satisfaction that drought breaking championship gives. I’m sure that is the same feeling State fans will have when the Wolfpack breakthrough and win their first ACC crown since 1987 (33 years and counting). 

Virginia won in 2014 by knocking off Duke in the title game. That victory was the cake. A number one seed in the NCAAs and a sweet 16 appearance was the icing. 

Wake Forest experienced nearly the exact same feeling 21 years earlier. A top seed but being upset by Oklahoma State in the round of 16. The 1995 team would be more remembered for the ACC tourney breakthrough and a temporary seat with its North Carolina schools brethren as the elite of the conference.

Wake’s tournament title gave them their fifth consecutive NCAA berth in a run of seven in row under coach Dave Odom. It would put Wake on the map as a legit alternative to Carolina or Duke. Undoubtedly it had a significant impact on local high school stars and eventual Deacs All-Americans Josh Howard and Chris Paul.

How?

In the mid 90s Dan Patrick and Keith Olbermann were stars and fixtures on SportsCenter. Patrick’s most notable catch phrase was “en fuego” or in English on fire.

 The Demon Deacons 5th year senior was the epitome of “en fuego”. Against last place Duke, Wake Forest trailed by 18 in the first half. Childress then hit 10 straight shots, hit a tournament record eight threes and scored 40. Wake turned that 18 point deficit to a 17 point win.

The next day vs #11 ranked Virginia, he dropped 30 and hit six more shots from downtown. He also contributed seven assists. Again he led Wake back from a big deficit, down eight at the half to a win.

In the final against Carolina Childress became legendary. 

Whether it was his disrespectful crossover of Jeff McGinnis on the level of Iverson over Ty Lue:

Breaking his two day three point record by connecting on nine treys. 

It was also 37 more points including all nine of Wake’s points in overtime.

Mostly it was the game winning floater with four seconds left in OT, fighting off a double team and over a help defender.

As a mid 90s movie once said “Legends never die.” Randolph Childress became a legend of North Carolina and ACC basketball with an unprecedented three day run. His run answered all the questions of what makes a performance legendary.