1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

Basketball season August 2023 March 2026 1978 247px Duke Blue Devilshttp://www.appollarchive.com/mbasketball/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=440 1979 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll AP Poll Archive 2009-01-26 March 9 26, 1979 Special Events Center Salt Lake City, Utah Michigan State Spartans Michigan State Spartans Indiana Hoosiers Larry Bird, Indiana State Sycamores Larry Bird, Indiana State Sycamores The 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1978, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship game on March 26, 1979, at the Special Events Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Michigan State Spartans won their first NCAA national championship with a 75–64 victory over the Indiana State Sycamores. Season headlines The Trans America Athletic Conference began play, with eight original members. It was renamed the Atlantic Sun Conference in 2001. Indiana State senior forward Larry Bird and Michigan Spartans sophomore point guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson emerged as two highly popular and successful players during the season, and their rivalry — culminating in a meeting in the national championship game — captured national attention of basketball fans and the sports media during the year.Hartzell, Larry, "The 1978-79 Season," Hardwood History, March 22, 2011 Accessed April 6, 2021 In the Pacific 10 Conference, UCLA won an NCAA-record 13th consecutive conference title. The first Great Alaska Shootout took place. The long-running Shootout would become one of the premier early-season tournaments before it was discontinued after its 2017 edition. On February 24, North Carolina trailed Duke 7–0 at halftime. It was the first scoreless half for an NCAA basketball team since 1938. At Boston College, players took part in a point-shaving scheme which was revealed in 1980. The NCAA tournament expanded from 32 to 40 teams and used seeding to place all teams in its bracket for the first time. The first public lottery for tickets to the NCAA tournament Final Four was held.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2010/Rules.pdf Playing Rules History ncaa.org NCAA June 25, 2024 12 The championship game enjoyed the highest television rating in college basketball history. The National Invitation Tournament expanded from 16 to 24 teams. The growing fan appreciation and financial success of college basketball during the season prompted planning for the creation of the ESPN network and the original Big East Conference, both of which launched the following season and would push the sport to greater prominence in the years to come. Season outlook Pre-season polls 1978–79 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.*ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Random House 2009 978-0-345-51392-2 'Associated Press'RankingTeam1Duke (38)2UCLA (8)3Notre Dame (1)4Louisville5Kansas (1)6Texas7Michigan State8Michigan9Syracuse10Indiana11Kentucky12NC State13USC14LSU15Rutgers16North Carolina17San Francisco18Marquette19Alabama20UNLV UPI CoachesRankingTeam1Duke2UCLA3Notre Dame4Michigan State 5LouisvilleKansas7Texas8Michigan9NC State10USC11Indiana12North Carolina13Syracuse14Kentucky15Alabama16San Francisco17LSU18Rutgers19Minnesota20Marquette Conference membership changes The 1978–79 season was most notable for the expansion of the Pacific-8 Conference to 10 members with the addition of the men's athletic programs of Arizona and Arizona State (the conference did not sponsor women's sports until the 1986–87 school year). The conference duly renamed itself the Pacific-10 Conference. SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference Arizona Arizona Wildcats Western Athletic Conference Pacific-10 Conference Arizona State Arizona State Sun Devils Western Athletic Conference Pacific-10 Conference Arkansas-Little Rock Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference (NAIA) Division I independent Baltimore Baltimore Super Bees Mason–Dixon (D-II) Division I independent Centenary Centenary Gentlemen Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference East Tennessee State East Tennessee State Buccaneers Ohio Valley Conference Division I independent George Mason George Mason Patriots Mason–Dixon (D-II) Division I independent Georgia Tech Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Metro Conference Division I independent Hardin–Simmons Hardin–Simmons Cowboys Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Houston Baptist Houston Baptist Huskies Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Mercer Mercer Bears Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Northeast Louisiana Northeast Louisiana Indians Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Oklahoma City Oklahoma City Chiefs Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Pan American Pan American Broncs Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Samford Samford Bulldogs Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference San Diego State San Diego State Aztecs Pacific Coast Athletic Association Western Athletic Conference Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Hokies Division I independent Metro Conference UAB UAB Blazers No program Division I independent Utah State Utah State Aggies Division I independent Pacific Coast Athletic Association Regular season Conferences Conference winners and tournaments Of 22 Division I basketball conferences, 13 determined their league champion with a single-elimination tournament, while seven leagues sent their regular-season champion to the NCAA Tournament. The Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) did not receive an automatic tournament bid until the 1979–80 season, while the Trans America Athletic Conference (TAAC) received its automatic bid in 1980–81. ConferenceRegular season winnerhttp://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2009/Standings.pdf 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section 2009 NCAA 2009-02-14Conference player of the yearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAtlantic Coast Conference Duke & North Carolina Mike Gminski, Duke2008–09 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Year by Year section https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192652/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09mbkguide083112.pdf 2016-03-03 , retrieved 2009-02-14 1979 ACC men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) North CarolinaBig Eight Conference Oklahoma John McCullough, Oklahoma2008–09 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section, Big 12 Conference, retrieved 2009-02-04 1979 Big Eight Conference men's basketball tournament Kemper Arena(Kansas City, Missouri)(Semifinals and Finals) OklahomaBig Sky Conference Weber State Lawrence Butler, Idaho Statehttps://archive.today/20120722162522/http://www.bigskyconf.com/Sports/mbball/2008/MBBAwardWinners060508.asp Men's Basketball Award Winners, Big Sky Conference, retrieved 2009-02-14 1979 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament Dee Events Center(Ogden, Utah) Weber StateBig Ten Conference Michigan State, Purdue & Iowa None Selected No TournamentEast Coast Conference Temple (East) Bucknell (West) Michael Brooks, La Salle 1979 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournament The Palestra(Philadelphia) TempleEastern Athletic Association (Eastern 8) Villanova James Bailey, Rutgers2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Awards section https://web.archive.org/web/20110523131521/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mg-pt8.pdf 2011-05-23 , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2009-02-01 1979 Eastern 8 men's basketball tournament Civic Arena (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Rutgers Eastern College AthleticConference (ECAC) Division I ECAC membersplayed as independentsduring the regular season(see note) Nikos Galis,Seton Hall;Corny Thompson,Connecticuthttp://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122606aaa.html UConn Men's Huskies: Men's Basketball Huskies of Honor Announced, December 26, 2006. March 26, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20110927211844/http://www.uconnhuskies.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/122606aaa.html September 27, 2011 dead 1979 ECAC Metro Region tournament Nassau Coliseum(Uniondale, New York) Iona 1979 ECAC New England Region tournament Providence Civic Center(Providence, Rhode Island) Connecticut 1979 ECAC South-Upstate Region tournament Cole Field House(College Park, Maryland) GeorgetownIvy League Penn Tony Price, PennMen's Ivy League Outstanding performers https://web.archive.org/web/20080429080237/http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/alltime.asp?intSID=6 2008-04-29 , Ivy League, retrieved 2009-02-01 No TournamentMetro Conference Louisville Pat Cummings, Cincinnati 1979 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament Mid-South Coliseum(Memphis, Tennessee) Virginia TechMid-American Conference Toledo Paul Dawkins, Northern Illinois2008–09 MAC Men's BAsketball Media Guide – Records Section, Mid-American Conference, retrieved 2009-02-14 No TournamentMissouri Valley Conference Indiana State Larry Bird, Indiana State2008–09 MVC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section, Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-02-06 1979 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Hulman Center(Terre Haute, Indiana) Indiana State2008–09 MVC men's basketball media guide – Tournament section, Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-02-14Ohio Valley Conference Eastern Kentucky James Tillman, Eastern Kentucky2008–09 OVC men's basketball media guide, Ohio Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-02-06 1979 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament McBrayer Arena(Richmond, Kentucky)(Semifinals and Finals) Eastern Kentucky2008–09 OVC men's basketball media guide, Ohio Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-01-24Pacific-10 Conference UCLA David Greenwood, UCLA2008–09 Pacific-10 Men's Basketball Media Guide- Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110523143103/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pac10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/Honors.pdf 2011-05-23 , Pacific-10 Conference, retrieved 2009-02-06 No TournamentPacific Coast Athletic Association Pacific Ron Cornelius, Pacific2008–09 Big West Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110716232233/http://www.bigwest.org/sports/mbball/0708_MB_Media_Guide.pdf 2011-07-16 , Big West Conference, retrieved 2009-02-14 1979 PCAA men's basketball tournament Anaheim Convention Center(Anaheim, California) PacificSoutheastern Conference LSU Reggie King, Alabama2008–09 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book https://web.archive.org/web/20090320004255/http://www.secsports.com/doc_lib/bkc_record_book.pdf March 20, 2009 , Southeastern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-06 1979 SEC men's basketball tournament Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex(Birmingham, Alabama) TennesseeSouthern Conference Appalachian State Jonathan Moore, Furman2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110723151437/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/honorsandawards.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 July 23, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09 1979 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Roanoke Civic Center(Roanoke, Virginia)(Semifinals and Finals) Appalachian State2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110930163611/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/standingsandresults.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 September 30, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09Southland Conference Lamar David Lawrence, McNeese State2008–09 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Media Guide, Southland Conference, retrieved 2009-02-07 No TournamentSouthwest Conference Texas & Arkansas Sidney Moncrief, Arkansas (Consensus) 1979 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament The Summit(Houston, Texas) ArkansasSouthwestern Athletic Conference Alcorn State Larry Smith, Alcorn State2006–07 SWAC Men's Basketball Media Guide 1979 SWAC men's basketball tournament Baton Rouge River CenterBaton Rouge, Louisiana Alcorn StateSun Belt Conference South Alabama Rory White, South Alabama2007–08 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Media Guide, Sun Belt Conference, retrieved 2009-02-07 1979 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament Charlotte Coliseum(Charlotte, North Carolina) (Semifinals and Finals) Jacksonvillehttp://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=919677 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Previous Champions Sun Belt Conference May 31, 2007 2009-02-07 https://web.archive.org/web/20110307140038/http://www.sunbeltsports.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4100&ATCLID=919677 2011-03-07 deadTrans America Athletic Conference Northeast Louisiana Calvin Natt, Northeast LouisianaAtlantic Sun men's basketball record book, Atlantic Sun Conference, retrieved 2009-02-07 1979 TAAC men's basketball tournament Ewing Coliseum(Monroe, Louisiana) Northeast LouisianaWest Coast Athletic Conference San Francisco Bill Cartwright, San Francisco2008–09 WCC Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110523143240/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/west/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2008-09mbbrecordbook.pdf 2011-05-23 , West Coast Conference, retrieved 2009-02-07 No TournamentWestern Athletic Conference BYU None Selected No Tournament NOTE: From 1975 to 1981, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), a loosely organized sports federation of colleges and universities in the Northeastern United States, organized Division I ECAC regional tournaments for those of its members that were independents in basketball. Each 1979 tournament winner received an automatic bid to the 1979 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in the same way that the tournament champions of conventional athletic conferences did.Varsity Pride: ECAC Men's Basketball Tournaments Conference standings Division I independents A total of 74 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Syracuse (26–4) had the best winning percentage (.867) and Syracuse and DePaul (26–6) finished with the most wins.https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/independent/men/1979.html Sports Reference 1978-79 Men's Independent Season Summary August 20, 2024https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/njny7/men/1979.html Sports Reference 1978-79 Men's New Jersey-New York 7 Conference Season Summary August 20, 2024 Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerNew Jersey-New York 7 Conference 1978 men Rutgers Scarlett Knights Rutgers None selected Rutgers finished with a 7–0 regular-season record in head-to-head competition among members of the New Jersey-New York 7 Conference. ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 Penn & Temple Tony Price, Penn, & Rick Reed, Temple Penn and Temple both finished with 3–1 records in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5. Statistical leaders Points per game Rebounds per game Field goal percentage Free throw percentage Player School PPG Player School RPG Player School FG% Player School FT% Lawrence Butler Idaho St. 30.1 Monti Davis Tenn. St. 16.2 Murray Brown Florida St. 69.1 Darrell Mauldin Campbell 92.1 Larry Bird Indiana St. 28.6 Bill Cartwright San Francisco 15.7 Jeff Ruland Iona 67.1 Kurt Kanaskie La Salle 91.7 Nick Galis Seton Hall 27.5 Lionel Garrett Southern 15.5 Steve Johnson Oregon St. 66.1 Jim Krivacs Texas 91.0 James Tillman Eastern Kentucky 26.9 Larry Bird Indiana St. 14.9 Jonathan Green Tennessee St. 65.6 Tom Orner Butler 90.9 Paul Dawkins Northern Illinois 26.7 Larry Knight Loyola-Illinois 14.3 Wiley Peck Mississippi St. 64.4 Ron Perry Holy Cross 90.8 Post-season tournaments NCAA tournament 1979 NCAA Division I basketball tournament 1979 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game Final Four National semifinals National finals Third place E9 Penn 67 ME2 Michigan State 101 MW1 Indiana State 76 W2 DePaul 74 ME2 Michigan State 75 MW1 Indiana State 64 E9 Penn 93 W2 DePaul 96OT National Invitation tournament 1979 National Invitation Tournament Semifinals & finals no Semifinals Finals Third place   Indiana 64   Ohio State 55   Purdue 87   Alabama 68   Indiana 53   Purdue 52   Ohio State 86   Alabama 96 Awards Consensus All-American teams 1979 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans + Consensus First Team Player Position Class Team Larry Bird F Senior Indiana State Mike Gminski C Junior Duke David Greenwood F Senior UCLA Magic Johnson G Sophomore Michigan State Sidney Moncrief G Senior Arkansas + Consensus Second Team Player Position Class Team Bill Cartwright C Senior San Francisco Calvin Natt C Senior Northeast Louisiana Mike O'Koren F Junior North Carolina Jim Paxson G/F Senior Dayton Jim Spanarkel G Senior Duke Kelly Tripucka F Sophomore Notre Dame Sly Williams F Junior Rhode Island Major player of the year awards Wooden Award: Larry Bird, Indiana State Naismith Award: Larry Bird, Indiana State Helms Player of the Year: Larry Bird, Indiana State Associated Press Player of the Year: Larry Bird, Indiana State UPI Player of the Year: Larry Bird, Indiana State NABC Player of the Year: Larry Bird, Indiana State Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Larry Bird, Indiana State Adolph Rupp Trophy: Larry Bird, Indiana State Sporting News Player of the Year: Larry Bird, Indiana State Major coach of the year awards Associated Press Coach of the Year: Bill Hodges, Indiana State Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Dean Smith, North Carolina NABC Coach of the Year: Ray Meyer, DePaul UPI Coach of the Year: Bill Hodges, Indiana State Sporting News Coach of the Year: Bill Hodges, Indiana State Other major awards Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Alton Byrd, Columbia Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Tony Price, Penn & Rick Reed, Temple NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Nick Galis, Seton Hall Coaching changes A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/stats/2000/news.00coaches.html https://web.archive.org/web/20000816033945/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/men/stats/2000/news.00coaches.html dead August 16, 2000 NCAA Division I Men's College Basketball 2000 Coaching Changes CNN/SI 2009-02-07 2000-09-13 TeamFormerCoachInterimCoachNewCoachReasonArkansas-Little RockHappy MahfouzRon KrestenbaumAustin PeayEd ThompsonRon BargatzeDartmouthGary WaltersTim CohaneWalters left for Providence.DetroitDavid GainesWillie McCarterEast CarolinaLarry GillmanDave OdomEastern MichiganRay ScottJim BoyceFlorida A&MAjac TriplettJosh GilesHofstraRoger GaecklerJoe HarringtonLa SallePaul WestheadLefty ErvinWesthead left to become an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers.Louisiana TechJ. D. BarnettAndy RussoLoyola MarymountDave BenaderetRon JacobsMarshallStu AberdeenBob ZuffelatoAberdeen died of a heart attack during the offseason, replaced by associate head coach Zuffelato.MassachusettsJack LeamanRay WilsonMemphis StateWayne YatesDana KirkMiddle Tennessee StateJimmy EarleStan SimpsonNew MexicoNorm EllenbergerCharlie HarrisonGary ColsonEllenberger was fired following a recruiting scandal. Charlie Harrison served as interim coach for the 1979–80 season and Colson was hired as permanent coach in the 1980 offseason.New Mexico StateKen HayesWeldon DrewNew OrleansButch van Breda KolffDon SmithNorth Carolina A&TGene LittlesDon CorbettNortheast LouisianaLenny FantBenny HollisFant retired, turning the program to top assistant Hollis.Oklahoma CityPaul HansenKen TrickeyOklahoma StateJim KillingsworthPaul HansenOral RobertsLake KellyKen HayesPacificStan MorrisonDick FichtnerMorrison left for USCPepperdineGary ColsonJim HarrickColson resigned.ProvidenceDave GavittGary WaltersGavitt left to concentrate on launching the new Big East Conference.Robert MorrisTom WeirichMatt FurjanicSt. Francis (NY)Lucio RossiniGene Roberti Saint Mary'sFrank LaPorteBill OatesSaint Peter'sBob KellyBob DukietSamfordFred Crowell Cliff Wettig San Diego StateTim VezieDavid Gaines San Jose StateIvan GuevaraBill Berry San Jose State tapped Michigan State assistant Berry fresh off the Spartans' national championship.Southern CaliforniaBob BoydStan MorrisonTennessee–ChattanoogaRon ShumateMurray ArnoldTennessee TechCliff MalpassTom DeatonTCUTim SomervilleJim KillingsworthUCLAGary CunninghamLarry BrownUtah StateDutch BelnapRod TuellerVanderbiltWayne DobbsRichard SchmidtVirginia CommonwealthDana KirkJ. D. BarnettWestern MichiganDick SchiltzLes WothkeXavierTay BakerBob StaakXavier brought in Penn assistant Staak. Notes note References 2 Statistical Leaders and Coaching Changes from 1980 NCAA Basketball 84th Annual Guide, (Copyright 1979, NCAA)