1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team

The 1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team is considered the greatest in the school's history. The Sycamores competed as members of the Missouri Valley Conference during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, playing their home games at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Indiana. Led by first-year head coach Bill Hodges and National Player of the Year Larry Bird, Indiana State was unranked to begin the season, but swept through the regular season unbeaten. Bird led the #1 ranked Sycamores to the national title game versus the Magic Johnson-led #3 Michigan State Spartans, and ended the season as National Runner-Up with a record of 33–1 (16–0 MVC). To date, the 1978–79 Sycamores are the only team to advance this far in their first-ever NCAA appearance.

1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball
Missouri Valley Conference champions
(Regular season and Tournament)
NCAA Men's Division I Tournament, Finalist
ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 1
1978–79 record33–1 (16–0 MVC)
Head coachBill Hodges (1st season)
Assistant coaches
MVPLarry Bird
Home arenaHulman Center
1978–79 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 1 Indiana State †16–0 1.000  33–1  .971
New Mexico State11–5 .688  22–10  .688
Drake8–8 .500  15–12  .556
Southern Illinois8–8 .500  15–13  .536
Creighton8–8 .500  14–13  .519
Wichita State8–8 .500  14–14  .500
Tulsa7–9 .438  13–14  .481
Bradley3–13 .188  9–17  .346
West Texas State3–13 .188  8–19  .296
† 1979 MVC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

Roster

The Sycamores were led by Bird, the NCAA Player of the Year, and his 28.6 scoring average. He was followed by Carl Nicks’ 19.3 average.[1] The starting lineup also included Miley, Alex Gilbert and Steve Reed. Heaton and Leroy Staley were key reserves. The remainder of the roster consisted of Tom Crowder, Eric Curry, Rod McNelly, Rich Nemcek, Bob Ritter and Scott Turner.

1978–79 Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
G 5 Bob Ritter 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)189 lb (86 kg) JrNorthwest Indianapolis, IN
F 10 Scott Turner 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)193 lb (88 kg) FrNorth Lawrence Bedford, IN
G 15 Rod McNelly 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)173 lb (78 kg) FrSpeedway Speedway, IN
G/F 20 Rich Nemcek 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)182 lb (83 kg) JrMorton Hammond, IN
SG 22 Carl Nicks 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)186 lb (84 kg) JrEnglewood Tech Chicago, IL
PG 23 Steve Reed 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)166 lb (75 kg) SoWarsaw Warsaw, IN
F 24 Tom Crowder 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)197 lb (89 kg) SrNorth Vermillion Cayuga, IN
F 30 Bob Heaton 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)192 lb (87 kg) JrClay City Cory, IN
C 32 Eric Curry 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)180 lb (82 kg) JrMarie Curie Chicago, IL
C 33 Larry Bird 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)215 lb (98 kg) SrSprings Valley French Lick, IN
F 40 Brad Miley 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)194 lb (88 kg) JrRushville Rushville, IN
F 42 Alex Gilbert 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)184 lb (83 kg) JrEast St. Louis East St. Louis, IL
G/F 44 Leroy Staley 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)193 lb (88 kg) SrTampa Jefferson Tampa, FL
Head coach

Bill Hodges (Purdue)

Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Season summary

In 1979, the NCAA tournament championship game was the most-watched game in the history of the sport, in no small part because of Indiana State star Larry Bird. Bird wasn’t a one-man show, but the unheralded Sycamores rode him to a 33–0 record heading into the title game. The well-rounded Bird averaged 29 points, 14.8 rebounds, and, most significantly, six assists as he changed the way the game was played.

Offseason

Head coach Bob King suffered a stroke and was unable to continue as head coach of the Sycamores. Assistant Bill Hodges was elevated to the position of head coach.

Exhibition vs. Soviet National Team

On November 20, the touring Soviet National team came to Hulman Center to play Indiana State. ISU defeated the Soviets, 83–79, to become one of only four college teams to beat them that season.[2]

Regular season

During the 1978–79 season, Indiana State qualified for the NCAA Tournament. ISU finished the regular season 29–0, 16–0 in the Missouri Valley Conference, and earned the top ranking in the country.[2]

The only time that the perfect regular season was in jeopardy was on Feb. 1. The Sycamores were 18–0 against New Mexico State. With three seconds remaining, the Sycamores were down 83–81. New Mexico State was at the free throw line and the shot was missed. The missed shot was rebounded by Brad Miley and passed to Bob Heaton. Heaton launched a 50-foot desperation shot which banked through the net to send the game into overtime.[2]

Bird received several honors at the end of regular season. He won the USBWA College Player of the Year, Naismith[3] and Wooden Awards,[4] given to the year's top male college basketball player.

Schedule and results
Date
time, TV		 Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
11/19/1978*
1:30 p.m.		 Russia National Team W 83–79 
 24 – Nicks  13 – Bird  6 – Miley  Hulman Center 
Terre Haute, Indiana
Regular Season
11/25/1978*
7:30 p.m.		 Lawrence College W 99–56  1–0
  27 – Nicks  15 – Gilbert  10 – Bird  Hulman Center (8,476)
Terre Haute, Indiana
11/27/1978*
7:35 p.m.		 at Purdue W 63–53  2–0
  22 – Bird  15 – Bird  4 – 2 Tied  Mackey Arena (14,123)
West Lafayette, Indiana
12/2/1978*
7:35 p.m.		 at Evansville W 74–70  3–0
  40 – Bird  9 – Bird  2 – Bird  Roberts Municipal Stadium (12,488)
Evansville, Indiana
12/4/1978*
7:30 p.m.		 Illinois State W 78–76  4–0
  31 – Bird  19 – Bird  7 – Reed  Hulman Center (10,189)
Terre Haute, Indiana
12/8/1978*
 vs. East Carolina
Hatter Classic		 W 102–79  5–0
  32 – Bird  9 – Bird  3 – 2 tied  Edmunds Center (3,510)
Deland, Florida
12/9/1978*
 vs. Cleveland State
Hatter Classic		 W 102–71  6–0
  37 – Bird  15 – Bird  6 – Nicks  Edmunds Center 
Deland, Florida
12/12/1978*
 No. 20 at Ball State W 93–85  7–0
  31 – Bird  14 – Bird  8 – Nicks  Irving Gymnasium (6,880)
Muncie, Indiana
12/16/1978*
 No. 20 Butler W 109–71  8–0
  48 – Bird  19 – Bird  11 – Reed  Hulman Center (10,153)
Terre Haute, Indiana
12/30/1978*
 No. 11 Morris Harvey W 99–63  9–0
  34 – Bird  15 – Bird  7 – Reed  Hulman Center (10,184)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1/3/1979
 No. 11 Tulsa W 101–89  10–0
(1–0)		  27 – Bird  19 – Bird  6 – Bird  Hulman Center (9,076)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1/6/1979
 No. 11 at West Texas State W 98–77  11–0
(2–0)		  32 – Bird  20 – Bird  7 – Reed   (4,575)
Amarillo, Texas
1/9/1979*
 No. 9 North Carolina A&T W 83–64  12–0
  26 – Bird  16 – Bird  7 – Bird  Hulman Center (9,336)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1/13/1979
 No. 9 Bradley W 93–74  13–0
(3–0)		  27 – Bird  18 – Bird  10 – Bird  Hulman Center (10,037)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1/15/1979
 No. 9 New Mexico State W 73–69  14–0
(4–0)		  24 – Bird  13 – Bird  6 – 2 Tied  Hulman Center (10,226)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1/18/1979
8:00 p.m.		 No. 5 at Wichita State W 94–84[5]  15–0
(5–0)		  31 – Bird  10 – Bird  7 – Nicks  Levitt Arena (10,584)
Wichita, Kansas
1/20/1979
2:35 p.m.		 No. 5 at Creighton W 90–80[6]  16–0
(6–0)		  29 – Bird  8 – Bird  9 – Reed  Omaha Civic Auditorium (8,908)
Omaha, Nebraska
1/22/1979
7:35 p.m.		 No. 5 Southern Illinois W 88–79  17–0
(7–0)		  31 – Bird  17 – Bird  8 – 2 Tied  Hulman Center (10,291)
Terre Haute, Indiana
1/27/1979
8:00 p.m.		 No. 3 Creighton W 77–69[7]  18–0
(8–0)		  17 – Bird  15 – Bird  9 – Bird  Hulman Center (10,229)
Terre Haute, Indiana
2/1/1979
7:35 p.m.		 No. 2 at New Mexico State W 91–89 OT 19–0
(9–0)		  37 – Bird  17 – Bird  9 – Bird  Pan American Center (13,684)
Las Cruces, New Mexico
2/3/1979
 No. 2 at Tulsa W 66–56  20–0
(10–0)		  22 – Bird  22 – Bird  9 – Nicks  Tulsa Convention Center (8,996)
Tulsa, Oklahoma
2/6/1979
7:35 p.m.		 No. 2 Drake W 100–79[8]  21–0
(11–0)		  33 – Bird  10 – Bird  10 – 2 Tied  Hulman Center (10,513)
Terre Haute, Indiana
2/10/1979
 No. 2 at Bradley W 91–72  22–0
(12–0)		  31 – Nicks  11 – Bird  6 – Nicks  Robertson Memorial Field House (7,300)
Peoria, Illinois
2/12/1979
 No. 2 West Texas State W 100–75  23–0
(13–0)		  27 – Bird  19 – Bird  7 – Reed  Hulman Center (10,235)
Terre Haute, Indiana
2/15/1979
7:35 p.m.		 No. 1 at Southern Illinois W 69–68  24–0
(14–0)		  20 – Bird  13 – Bird  6 – Bird  SIU Arena (10,301)
Carbondale, Illinois
2/20/1979
 No. 1 at Drake W 76–68  25–0
(15–0)		  27 – Bird  13 – Miley  8 – Reed  Veterans Memorial Auditorium (12,250)
Des Moines, Iowa
2/24/1979
 No. 1 Wichita State W 109–84  26–0
(16–0)		  49 – Bird  19 – Bird  7 – 2 Tied  Hulman Center (9,579)
Terre Haute, Indiana
Missouri Valley Conference Tournament
2/27/1979*
7:30 p.m.		 No. 1 West Texas State
MVC Tournament Quarterfinal		 W 94–84  27–0
  29 – Bird  15 – Bird  9 – Nicks  Hulman Center (10,234)
Terre Haute, Indiana
3/1/1979*
 No. 1 Southern Illinois
MVC Tournament Semifinal		 W 79–72  28–0
  25 – Bird  19 – Bird  8 – Reed  Hulman Center (10,274)
Terre Haute, Indiana
3/3/1979*
 No. 1 New Mexico State
MVC Tournament Championship		 W 69–59  29–0
  20 – Bird  10 – Bird  6 – Reed  Hulman Center (10,301)
Terre Haute, Indiana
NCAA Tournament
3/11/1979*
 (1 MW) No. 1 vs. (8 MW) Virginia Tech
NCAA Second Round		 W 86–69  30–0
  22 – 2 Tied  13 – Bird  7 – Bird  Allen Fieldhouse 
Lawrence, Kansas
3/15/1979*
 (1 MW) No. 1 vs. (5 MW) No. 16 Oklahoma
NCAA Regional Semifinal		 W 93–72  31–0
  29 – Bird  15 – Bird  5 – 2 Tied  Riverfront Coliseum (17,252)
Cincinnati, Ohio
3/17/1979*
 (1 MW) No. 1 vs. (2 MW) No. 5 Arkansas
NCAA Regional Final		 W 73–71[9]  32–0
  31 – Bird  10 – Bird  5 – Reed  Riverfront Coliseum (17,166)
Cincinnati, Ohio
3/24/1979*
 (1 MW) No. 1 vs. (2 W) No. 6 DePaul
NCAA Final Four		 W 76–74[10]  33–0
  35 – Bird  16 – Bird  9 – Bird  Special Events Center (15,410)
Salt Lake City, Utah
3/26/1979*
7:15 p.m., NBC		 (1 MW) No. 1 vs. (2 ME) No. 3 Michigan State
NCAA National Championship		 L 64–75[11]  33–1
  19 – Bird  13 – Bird  9 – Reed  Special Events Center (15,410)
Salt Lake City, Utah
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. MW=Midwest.
All times are in Central.

NCAA basketball tournament

The top seed in the NCAA Midwest Regional was awarded to the Sycamores. The final game of the regional tournament was against Arkansas with a berth in the Final Four on the line. With the game tied at 71, the right-handed Heaton was the hero again with a last second left-handed shot in the lane to win the game.[2] They advanced to the championship game and faced Michigan State University, which was led by sophomore Magic Johnson. In what was the most-watched college basketball game ever,[12] Michigan State defeated Indiana State 75–64, and Johnson was voted Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

  • West
    • Indiana State (#1 seed) 86, Virginia Tech (#8 seed) 69
    • Indiana State 93, Oklahoma (#5 seed) 72
    • Indiana State 73, Arkansas (#2 seed) 71

[13]

[13]

Rankings
Main article: 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll Pre 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Final 
AP NR NR NR 20 16 11 11 9 5 3 2 2 1 2 1 1 1 
Coaches NR – – 16 15 11 9 9 5 3 2 2 2 2 1 1 Not released

^Coaches did not release Week 1 or Week 2 polls.

Awards and honors

References
  1. "1978-79 Basketball Cumulative Statistics". Indiana State Athletic Dept. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2009-04-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-03. Retrieved 2009-04-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-04-13. Retrieved 2009-04-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. "Indiana St. Guns Down Shockers". Indiana State Athletic Dept. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  6. "Sycamores Down Creighton, 90-80". Indiana State Athletic Dept. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  7. "Flying to the Top". Sports Illustrated. February 5, 1979. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  8. "Sycamores hit 100 in Win over Drake". Indiana State Athletic Dept. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  9. "Last‐Second Basket Beats Arkansas". The New York Times. March 18, 1979. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  10. "Michigan State, Indiana State Gain NCAA Final". The Washington Post. March 25, 1979. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  11. "Michigan State Defeats Indiana State for N.C.A.A. Title". The New York Times. March 27, 1979. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
  12. Katz, Andy. "From coast to coast, a magical pair". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  13. "RotoWire Fantasy Football, Baseball, Basketball and More". RotoWire.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.