The Road to Madness: How the 1973-1974 Season Transformed College Basketball Paperback – November 1, 2016

I grew up as a teenager during those years in the North Carolina piedmont, readjusting to life back in my hometown after Daddy retired from military service.Learned very quickly about the passion for basketball there. And, about David Thompson. Our local high school hosted the conference basketball tournament in February 1971, and I got my first look at this physical marvel.Memories of that tournament stay with me to this day. He was like nothing I've seen before or since.When I saw him again at NC State in 1973 he was still phenomenal but diminished from what I saw in 1971 due to an injury requiring surgery after his sophomore season. Yet, he was still good enough to be named first-team All-American.I remember so many back then saying dreams of a team from our state winning it all and dethroning UCLA was delusional to the extreme. Yet it happened.I don't believe anyone could foresee what happened after the inclusion of a second conference team was voted in that summer of 74.Lefty plays it down, but I believe that 73-74 Terrapin team was what ultimately led to getting that second conference team added in 74. Villanova 85, Kansas 88, and many others certainly could never have happened without them.This book truly fills in all those gaps. Well done!

I purchased this book from an independent 3rd party seller on Amazon because it was half the price off the regular retail price and was advertised as “condition used—very good. When it arrived it was shipped in a bubble wrap envelope, and was absolutely in brand new pristine condition. I am happy!

Loved the book. A very informative and entertaining read. I was 13 during this epic college basketball season and obsessed with anything related to sports. I have fond memories of the events depicted in this book but the author's meticulous research greatly deepened my knowledge of the games, players, and coaches. Very satisfying read.

As a growing adolescent, I was simply obsessed with NC State basketball star, David Thompson. His 1973-1974 team, one of the greatest in college basketball history, simply captured my imagination and made my years of viewing him oh so special. The fact that I live only 25 miles away from the Greensboro Coliseum, the site of the team's 1974 NCAA Championship makes it that much more special. This book is great, especially for the history of the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that led to the game occurring in Greensboro, NC. It filled in a lot of the background puzzle for me that I had not known, and helps to make the argument that the game between the long-time NCAA champion UCLA and NC State in the semi-finals that year, and the hype surrounding it, laid the foundation of what eventually became known as “March Madness.” This is such an enjoyable book, and speaking with clear bias, it is so enjoyable to me because it allowed me to re-live such a fun part of my childhood. It's fantastic!

While I am admittedly an NC State fan and this was their greatest team ever, this book is about the season - not a team - and its impact on the evolution of college basketball. Maryland, UCLA, Kansas, Notre Dame, UNC, Marquette, and even Oral Roberts at one point all take their share of center stage. Great background on the history of the sport, the tournament, television coverage and even the broader historical context. A must read for any college basketball fan.

Great book, even if you are not a college basketball fan. Very interesting as to how March Madness came to be.

Detailed story of the rise in college basketball popularity. The author seems to borrow heavily from Curry Kirkpatrick’s SI reporting. Not much new here.

What a great read about a great season in college basketball history. Really fantastic insight on UCLA, NC State, Kansas, and Marquette. Also some good stuff about other teams such as Maryland and North Carolina. If you are a fan of any of those schools or of college basketball history this book is a must read