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1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team

1978–79 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball
Michigan-State-logo-block-s.svg
NCAA Tournament National champions
Big Ten champions
Far West Classic champions
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 year)
Assistant coach Bill Berry
Assistant coach Fred Paulsen
Assistant coach Dave Harshman
Captain Earvin Johnson
Captain Greg Kelser
Home arena Jenison Fieldhouse
Seasons
← 1977–78
1979–80 →
1978–79 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf     Overall
Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT
#3 Michigan State 13 5   .722     26 6   .813
#15 Purdue 13 5   .722     27 8   .771
#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 1978–1979 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.

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.

MSU was led by star sophomore, Ervin "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). 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.


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