1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team
| 1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | Big Ten Conference |
| Ranking | |
| Coaches | No. 4 |
| AP | No. 3 |
| 1978–79 record | 26–6 (13–5 Big Ten) |
| Head coach | Jud Heathcote (3rd season) |
| Assistant coach | Bill Berry |
| Assistant coach | Fred Paulsen |
| Assistant coach | Dave Harshman |
| Captain | Earvin Johnson |
| Captain | Greg Kelser |
| Home arena | Jenison Fieldhouse |
| 1978–79 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | PCT | W | L | PCT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 3 Michigan State | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 26 | – | 6 | .813 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 15 Purdue | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 27 | – | 8 | .771 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 20 Iowa | 13 | – | 5 | .722 | 20 | – | 8 | .714 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ohio State | 12 | – | 6 | .667 | 19 | – | 12 | .613 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiana | 10 | – | 8 | .556 | 22 | – | 12 | .647 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Michigan | 8 | – | 10 | .444 | 15 | – | 12 | .556 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Illinois | 7 | – | 11 | .389 | 19 | – | 11 | .633 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisconsin | 6 | – | 12 | .333 | 12 | – | 15 | .444 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minnesota | 6 | – | 12 | .333 | 11 | – | 16 | .407 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northwestern | 2 | – | 16 | .111 | 6 | – | 21 | .222 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rankings from AP Poll) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Spartans were coached by Jud Heathcote in his third year and played their home games at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Michigan. They were members of the Big Ten Conference. The Spartans finished the season 26–6, 13–5 in Big Ten play, finishing in a tie for first place in the Big Ten. They received a bid to the NCAA Tournament and defeated Indiana State for the National Championship. This marked the school's first National Championship in basketball.
Previous season
The Spartans finished the 1977–78 season 25–5, 15–3 in Big Ten play to win the Big Ten championship. They beat Providence in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament and Western Kentucky in the Mideast Regional Semifinal. However, they lost to Kentucky in the Regional Final.
Season summary
MSU was led by star sophomore, Earvin "Magic" Johnson (16.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game), senior Greg Kelser (18.1 points and 8.5 rebounds per game), and sophomore Jay Vincent (13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game).[1] The Spartans started the season well, finishing the non-conference season with an 8–1 recorded including a loss to No. 13 ranked North Carolina. They entered conference play as the No. 1 ranked team in the country.
After winning their first two conference games, they lost four of their next six games to fall to a 4–4 record in the Big Ten, trailing first-place Ohio State by four games in the standings. However, Michigan State then won their next 10 games with wins over No. 7 Ohio State, at No. 15 Iowa, at No. 13 Ohio State, and No. 18 Purdue. A loss on the final day of the season to Wisconsin resulted in the Spartans slipping into a tie for the Big Ten championship with Iowa and Purdue. MSU received a bid to the NCAA Tournament because of a better head-to-head performance against Big Ten rivals and a superior overall record (21–6).[2] The Spartans finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country.
Michigan State advanced to the Final Four by defeating Lamar, LSU and No. 1-seeded Notre Dame. In the Final Four, the second Final Four appearance in school history, they faced Penn, blowing them out 101–67 to earn a trip to the Championship. There, the Spartans faced No. 1 ranked and undefeated Indiana State led by senior Larry Bird. In what was the most-watched college basketball game ever, Michigan State defeated Indiana State 75–64 to win the school's first ever basketball National Championship.[3] Earvin "Magic" Johnson was voted Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.
After two years in college, in which he averaged 17.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game, Johnson declared himself eligible for the 1979 NBA draft.[4]
Roster and stats
| 1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | Name | Pos | Year | Height | Pts | Reb | Ast | |
| 32 | Gregory Kelser | F | SR | 6–7 | 18.1 | 8.5 | 1.5 | |
| 33 | Earvin Johnson | G | SO | 6–8 | 16.1 | 7.4 | 8.2 | |
| 31 | Jay Vincent | C | SO | 6–8 | 13.7 | 5.6 | 1.4 | |
| 15 | Ron Charles | F | JR | 6–7 | 8.8 | 4.7 | 0.4 | |
| 11 | Terry Donnelly | G | JR | 6–2 | 6.5 | 1.4 | 2.1 | |
| 12 | Mike Brkovich | F | SO | 6–4 | 6.5 | 1.6 | 1.0 | |
| 35 | Rob Gonzalez | F | FR | 6–7 | 1.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | |
| 25 | Gerald Busby | F | FR | 6–4 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.2 | |
| 10 | Greg Lloyd | G | FR | 6–1 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.3 | |
| 23 | Mike Longaker | G | FR | 6–1 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
| 42 | Rich Kaye | F | SO | 6–7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |
| 21 | Don Brkovich | F | FR | 6–6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | |
| 43 | Gerald Gilkie | F | SO | 6–7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | |
| 24 | Jaime Hufffman | G | SP | 6–3 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | |
Schedule and results
| Date time, TV |
Rank# | Opponent# | Result | Record | Site city, state | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular season | |||||||||||
| Nov 27, 1978* |
No. 7 | Central Michigan | W 71–54 | 1–0 |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Dec. 9, 1978* |
No. 4 | Cal State Fullerton | W 92–89 | 2–0 |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Dec 13, 1978* |
No. 3 | at Western Michigan | W 109–69 | 3–0 |
University Arena Kalamazoo, Michigan | ||||||
| Dec 16, 1978* |
No. 3 | at No. 13 North Carolina | L 69–70 | 3–1 |
Carmichael Auditorium Chapel Hill, North Carolina | ||||||
| Dec 19, 1978* |
No. 3 | Cincinnati | W 63–52 | 4–1 |
Pontiac Silverdome Pontiac, Michigan | ||||||
| Dec 28, 1978* |
No. 4 | vs. Washington State Far West Classic |
W 98–52 | 5–1 |
Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon | ||||||
| Dec 29, 1978* |
No. 4 | at Oregon State Far West Classic championship |
W 65–57 | 6–1 |
Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon | ||||||
| Dec 30, 1978* |
No. 4 | vs. Indiana | W 74–57 | 7–1 |
Memorial Coliseum Portland, Oregon | ||||||
| Jan 4, 1979 |
No. 1 | Wisconsin | W 84–55 | 8–1 (1–0) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Jan 6, 1979 |
No. 1 | Minnesota | W 69–62 | 9–1 (2–0) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Jan 11, 1979 |
No. 1 | at No. 4 Illinois | L 55–57 | 9–2 (2–1) |
Assembly Hall Champaign, Illinois | ||||||
| Jan 13, 1979 |
No. 1 | at Purdue | L 50–52 | 9–3 (2–2) |
Mackey Arena West Lafayette, Indiana | ||||||
| Jan 18, 1979 |
No. 6 | Indiana | W 82–58 | 10–3 (3–2) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Jan 20, 1979 |
No. 6 | Iowa | W 83–72 OT | 11–3 (4–2) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Jan 25, 1979 |
No. 4 | at Michigan Rivalry |
L 48–49 | 11–4 (4–3) |
Crisler Arena Ann Arbor, Michigan | ||||||
| Jan 27, 1979 |
No. 4 | at Northwestern | L 65–83 | 11–5 (4–4) |
Welsh–Ryan Arena Evanston, Illinois | ||||||
| Feb 1, 1979 |
No. 14 | No. 7 Ohio State | W 84–79 OT | 12–5 (5–4) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Feb 3, 1979 |
No. 14 | Northwestern | W 61–50 | 13–5 (6–4) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Feb 4, 1979* |
No. 14 | Kansas | W 85–61 | 14–5 |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Feb 8, 1979 |
No. 10 | at No. 15 Iowa | W 60–57 | 15–5 (7–4) |
Iowa Field House Iowa City, Iowa | ||||||
| Feb 10, 1979 |
No. 10 | at No. 13 Ohio State | W 73–57 | 16–5 (8–4) |
St. John Arena Columbus, Ohio | ||||||
| Feb 15, 1979 |
No. 8 | at Indiana | W 59–47 | 17–5 (9–4) |
Assembly Hall Bloomington, Indiana | ||||||
| Feb 17, 1979 |
No. 8 | Michigan Rivalry |
W 80–57 | 18–5 (10–4) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Feb 22, 1979 |
No. 7 | No. 18 Purdue | W 73–67 | 19–5 (11–4) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Feb 24, 1979 |
No. 4 | Illinois | W 76–62 | 20–5 (12–4) |
Jenison Field House East Lansing, Michigan | ||||||
| Mar 1, 1979 |
No. 4 | at Minnesota | W 76–63 | 21–5 (13–4) |
Williams Arena Minneapolis, Minnesota | ||||||
| Mar 1, 1979 |
No. 4 | at Wisconsin | L 81–83 | 21–6 (13–5) |
Wisconsin Field House Madison, Wisconsin | ||||||
| NCAA Tournament | |||||||||||
| Mar 10, 1979* |
(2 ME) No. 3 | vs. (10 ME) Lamar Second Round |
W 95–64 | 22–6 |
Murphy Center Murfreesboro, Tennessee | ||||||
| Mar 16, 1979* |
(2 ME) No. 3 | vs. (3 ME) No. 7 LSU Regional Semifinal |
W 87–71 | 23–6 |
Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana | ||||||
| Mar 18, 1979* |
(2 ME) No. 3 | vs. (1 ME) No. 4 Notre Dame Regional Final |
W 80–68 | 24–6 |
Market Square Arena Indianapolis, Indiana | ||||||
| Mar 22, 1979* |
(2 ME) No. 3 | vs. (9 E) No. 14 Penn Final Four |
W 101–67 | 25–6 |
Special Events Center Salt Lake City | ||||||
| Mar 26, 1979* |
(2 ME) No. 3 | vs. (1 MW) No. 1 Indiana State National Championship |
W 75–64 | 26–6 |
Special Events Center Salt Lake City | ||||||
| *Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. ME=MidEast Region. Source[7] | |||||||||||
Awards and honors
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Consensus All-American teams
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Chicago Tribune Silver Basketball
- Earvin "Magic" Johnson, All-Big Ten First Team
- Gregory Kelser, All-Big Ten First Team
Team players drafted into the NBA
| Year | Round | Pick | Player | NBA Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | Magic Johnson | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1979 | 1 | 4 | Greg Kelser | Detroit Pistons |
| 1980 | 4 | 74 | Ron Charles | Chicago Bulls |
| 1981 | 2 | 24 | Jay Vincent | Dallas Mavericks |
| 1981 | 8 | 181 | Mike Brkovich | Milwaukee Bucks |
References
- ↑ "1979 Michigan State Spartans". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
- ↑ Halls, Bill (March 21, 1989). "Magic Moment: Ten years later, Johnson vs. Bird still special". The Detroit News. p. 1E, 7E.
- ↑ Katz, Andy. "From coast to coast, a magical pair". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
- ↑ "Magic Johnson Statistics". Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-13.
- ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/michigan-state/1979.html
- ↑ http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/msu/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/misc_non_event/16-17MediaGuide.pdf
- ↑ https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/michigan-state/1979-schedule.html
- ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
- ↑ https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1980.html
- ↑ https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1981.html