GREENSBORO, N.C. -- When he first thought about it, Marcus Melvin's reaction was to say no. The junior center didn't see any similarities between his North Carolina State team and the one that 20 years ago shocked everyone by winning the ACC tournament and eventually the national title.

"Nah," he said, "we have a few more weapons."

	Marcus Melvin's 23 points may have helped State secure an NCAA bid.

But then he thought about it. He remembered Coach Jim Valvano's "Don't give up speech." He remembered hearing about that team's us-against-the-world mentality. He remembered that just like his team, they most likely needed to win the ACC tournament just to get invited to the NCAAs. He remembered that nobody thought they could do it.

And quickly, he reconsidered.

"You know, it does seem kinda similar," Melvin said. "Not a lot of people expected much of us and yet here we are in the championship. So yeah, it does seem like the same thing."

Sure, the personnel is different. The '03 model lacks an outside shooter like Dereck Whittenburg, a point guard like Sidney Lowe, a sharp-shooting contributor off the bench like Terry Gannon. But the '83 model had nobody with the all-around talent like Julius Hodge, who dropped 31 on Wake Forest Saturday and is the only player in the ACC's top 10 in scoring (4th), assists (8th) and rebounds (10th).

"Those guys never gave up and neither do we," Melvin said. "And we've talked about that as a team. We never want to be known as the N.C. State team that threw in the towel. That's not how this school is. We will fight to the very end. And maybe, history will repeat itself."

Maybe.

The Wolfpack looked impressive in the second-half of an 87-83 semifinal win over the ninth-ranked Demon Deacons, shooting a blistering 63-percent from the floor in the second half, while holding Wake to just 40-percent. But standing between N.C. State and its NCAA date with destiny is Duke. The same Duke that smoked the Wolfpack 91-61 in last year's championship game. The same Duke that hasn't loss an ACC tournament game since 1998.

The 2003 Blue Devils might not be loaded with NBA talent, but just ask North Carolina how good they are. Just like State, the Tar Heels entered Saturday's semifinal against the Blue Devils with visions of an ACC title and NCAA tournament bid dancing in their heads.

By Saturday night, they were on I-40 headed back to Chapel Hill, heads bowed, voices soft, egos humbled, after the Blue Devils surgically removed them from NCAA consideration with a 75-63 win. Duke cruised to a 54-33 lead at halftime.

"Say what you will about Duke, but they're playing great basketball right now," UNC guard Melvin Scott said. "Their perimeter guys, their inside guys, everybody is clicking. Beating them won't be easy."

Especially in the ACC tournament. Duke will be going for a record-setting fifth straight tournament title Sunday. None of the 14 players on the current Duke roster have experienced an ACC tournament loss.

So there's the challenge for N.C. State. Want to be assured of playing in the Big Dance? Want to rub shoulders with the big boys next week when more than half of the nation's Division I teams are watching at home?

Prove that destiny is better than reality.

"We're at a point right now where I think we can play with anybody," N.C. State junior guard Scooter Sherrill said. "The last week, we've been more focused, more excited and we have that extra bit of adrenaline. I don't know how to put it -- we just come to play."

In January, N.C. State beat Duke, 80-71. And truth be told, depending on what happens in the other conference tournaments, there's a good chance N.C. State won't even need a win over Duke to get into the field of 64.

But nothing's certain. N.C. State has an RPI of 63. It was just 3-6 on the road in the ACC during the regular season. And before Saturday's win over Wake, it was just 1-6 against ranked teams.

By taking care of business against the Blue Devils on Sunday, the Wolfpack can watch the tournament selection show without a case of Rolaids.

"Obviously, anything we've done in this tournament has only helped our chances," State coach Herb Sendek said. "We remain optimistic. But all of the final answers will come out tomorrow."

Sendek has told his team, "don't look in the rearview mirror and try not to look ahead." Thus far, it's worked. But as much as he preaches patience, as much as he says a potential NCAA bid is out of his hands, he used one reporter's question Saturday to brag about the depth of talent in the ACC (hint, hint).

"You guys watch this league," he said to a group of reporters. "The ACC is a strong league. The games being played this weekend have been at a high level."

And then there's junior guard Scooter Sherrill, who admits he's spent much of his free time in Greensboro vegging in his hotel room keeping track of the fury of upsets in other conference tournaments.

"Man, I'm watching ball constantly," Sherrill said. "That's all I do -- cheer for the favorites."

It was a similar situation 20 years ago. And on Saturday, sitting in section 124 of the Greensboro Coliseum, quietly wearing a gray N.C. State pullover, was former Wolfpack guard Sidney Lowe. The same Sidney Lowe that was the on-floor leader of the '83 team, the same Sidney Lowe that was named ACC tournament MVP that year.

And just like Melvin, Lowe, who in November resigned as head coach of the NBA's Memphis Grizzlies, didn't immediately see the similarities between his N.C. State team and the current one. When asked about it, he actually rolled his eyes, cocked his head back and asked, "Who told you that?"

But then, just like Melvin, he thought about it. He remembered the chemistry his team had 20 years ago and the chemistry he's seen on the Greensboro Coliseum floor this weekend. And just like Melvin, he reconsidered.

"You know what, there are some things there," he said. "There are some similarities. With chemistry, with team unity, with playing as a team, it's a lot like the group I played with. In a way, it's kind of scary."

Just how scary remains to be seen.

Wayne Drehs is a staff writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at wayne.drehs@espn3.com.