1978–79 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1978–79 DePaul Blue Demons Basketball DePaul Blue Demons Script Logo.png Independent 8 6 26–6 Ray Meyer 37th Joey Meyer 5th Alumni Hall NCAA tournament Final Four The 1978–79 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team represented DePaul University during the 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They were led by head coach Ray Meyer, in his 37th season, and played their home games at the Alumni Hall in Chicago. After starting the regular season unranked, the Blue Demons won 22 of 27 games to earn a top ten ranking and the #2 seed in the West region of the NCAA tournament. DePaul began tournament play by defeating USCU.C.L.A and DePaul Triumphant in West https://www.nytimes.com/1979/03/12/archives/ucla-and-depaul-triumphant-in-west-technical-aids-bruins-gave-fans.html The New York Times March 12, 1979 February 12, 2023 and Marquette, then knocked off #1 seed UCLA, avenging a season-opening loss, to earn the program's second trip to the Final Four. Though the team fell to the #1 ranked and unbeaten Indiana State – led by NCAA Player of the Year Larry Bird – in the National semifinals, they bounced back to defeat Penn to claim third place.It was Magic vs. Bird in the Final Four 40 years ago, but do you remember Mark Aguirre and DePaul? https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/college/ct-spt-ncaa-1979-final-four-depaul-20190318-story.html Chicago Tribune March 18, 2019 May 21, 2019 They finished the season with an overall record of 26–6. As of 2025, this is the latest Final Four to include DePaul, as well as the last time the program has made the Elite Eight. The program would make three Sweet Sixteens in the 1980s, and has not ventured past the first weekend since then. Roster 1978 DePaul Blue Demons y y James Mitchem 11 FC 6 9 215 JR Albuquerque, NM St. Pius X Clyde Bradshaw 15 G 6 0 170 SO y East Orange, NJ East Orange Dennis McGuire 21 F 6 8 195 So River Grove, Illinois Holy Cross Gary Garland 24 G 6 4 SR y East Orange, NJ Clifford J. Scott Curtis Watkins 30 F 6 6 190 SR Harvey, IL Thornton Mark Aguirre 32 F 6 7 225 FR y Chicago, IL Westinghouse William Madey 54 FC 6 8 220 JR Chicago, IL Gordon Tech Ray Meyer (Notre Dame) Joey Meyer Jim Molinari Ken Sarubbi https://s3.amazonaws.com/depaulbluedemons.com/documents/2018/7/31/roster_num_35_.pdf Schedule and results no |- !colspan=12 style=DePaul Blue Demons| Regular season Nov 25, 1978 yes yes UCLA 2 Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, CA 85–108 12,178 0–1 Nov 29, 1978 yes yes 1978 men Evansville Purple Aces Evansville Roberts Stadium Evansville, IN 74–55 1–1 Dec 2, 1978 yes 1978 men Northern Illinois Huskies Northern Illinois Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 108–86 2–1 Dec 4, 1978 yes 1978 men Eastern Michigan Eagles Eastern Michigan Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 96–68 3–1 Dec 9, 1978 yes yes 1978 men Wichita State Shockers Wichita State Levitt Arena Wichita, KS 92–95 3–2 Dec 13, 1978 yes yes 1978 men Butler Bulldogs Butler Hinkle Fieldhouse Indianapolis, IN 81–62 4–2 Dec 16, 1978 yes Wisconsin Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 84–78 5–2 Dec 19, 1978 yes 1978 men Northwestern Wildcats Northwestern Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 90–83 OT 6–2 Dec 23, 1978 yes yes 1978 men Bradley Braves Bradley Robertson Memorial Field House Peoria, IL 51–50 7–2 Dec 30, 1978 yes 1978 men Creighton Bluejays Creighton Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 88–70 8–2 Jan 2, 1979 yes 1978 men Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Georgia Tech Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 77–71 9–2 Jan 6, 1979 yes 1978 men Air Force Falcons Air Force Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 86–66 10–2 Jan 9, 1979 yes yes 1978 men Providence Friars men's basketball Providence Dunkin' Donuts Center Providence, RI 84–75 11–2 Jan 13, 1979 yes 1978 men Loyola Ramblers Loyola (IL) Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 80–73 12–2 Jan 20, 1979 yes yes 1978 men Dayton Flyers Dayton University of Dayton Arena Dayton, OH 64–68 12–3 Jan 27, 1979 yes yes Illinois State Horton Field House Normal, IL 87–69 13–3 Jan 31, 1979 yes yes 1978 men Western Michigan Broncos Western Michigan University Arena Kalamazoo, MI 80–82 13–4 Feb 3, 1979 yes yes 1978 men Oral Roberts Golden Eagles Oral Roberts Mabee Center Tulsa, OK 75–72 14–4 Feb 8, 1979 yes yes Loyola (IL) Alumni Gym Chicago, IL 77–73 15–4 Feb 10, 1979 yes 1978 men Centenary Gentlemen Centenary Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 82–66 16–4 Feb 14, 1979 yes yes 1978 men Ball State Ball State Irving Gymnasium Muncie, IN 85–76 17–4 Feb 17, 1979 yes yes 1978 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova The Palestra Philadelphia, PA 69–66 18–4 Feb 21, 1979 yes 20 1978 men Valparaiso Crusaders Valparaiso Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 104–76 19–4 Feb 24, 1979 yes 20 Marquette 9 Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 61–60 20–4 Feb 27, 1979 yes 15 UAB Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 88–66 3,113 21–4 Mar 2, 1979 yes 15 Notre Dame 2 Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 76–72 22–4 Mar 5, 1979 yes 8 Loyola (IL) Alumni Hall Chicago, IL 99–101 22–5 |- !colspan=12 style=DePaul Blue Demons| NCAA Tournament Mar 11, 1979 yes yes 6 2 W USC 7 W Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, CA Second Round 89–78 23–5 Mar 15, 1979 yes yes 6 2 W Marquette 10 3 W Marriott Center Provo, UT Regional semifinal 62–56 24–5 Mar 17, 1979 yes yes 6 2 W UCLA 2 1 W Marriott Center Provo, UT Regional final 95–91 25–5 Mar 24, 1979 yes yes 6 2 W Indiana State 1 1 MW Special Events Center Salt Lake City, UT National semifinal 74–76Michigan State, Indiana State Gain NCAA Final https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1979/03/25/michigan-state-indiana-state-gain-ncaa-final/03b680eb-f235-44b8-92b2-42ac4b39e46f/ The Washington Post March 25, 1979 May 21, 2019 25–6 Mar 26, 1979 yes yes 6 2 W Penn 14 9 E Special Events Center Salt Lake City, UT Consolation Game 96–93 OT 26–6 W West Rankings 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings AP 0 16 NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 20 15 8 6 Coaches 0 15 NR – – NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR 20 11 8 ^Coaches did not release Week 1 or Week 2 polls. Source sports-reference.com 1978-79 Independent Season Summarysports-reference.com 1978-79 Polls Awards and honors Ray Meyer – NABC Coach of the Year References Category:DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball seasons DePaul Category:1978 in sports in Illinois Category:1979 in sports in Illinois DePaul Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons