 In 1952 the team lost in the first round to St. John's and future North Carolina head coach Frank McGuire.The Wolfpack's six-year winning streak against North Carolina came to an end in January 1953, as the Wolfpack, ranked #17 in the country, lost to the unranked Tar Heels in Raleigh, 70–69.It was the first match between the two schools since the hiring of Frank "the man" McGuire the previous summer.