The university and community euphoria identified with the “miraculous” season was fashioned by an uncommon group of young men, each recognizing his role and sacrificing for the betterment of the whole.
The 1978-79 team will not soon be displaced in the mind or heart of anyone who watched them play; each player, coach and support staffer is indelibly etched into our collective psyche.
From a surprising pre-season victory over the tall and talented Soviet Union National squad to the NCAA final game near the snow-capped Wasatch Mountains in Utah, these Sycamores radiated a spell-binding ambiance: Heroic last minute shots ... the Magnificent Seven ... the Horrible Hankie ... Al McGuire and Billy Packer ... the Bird Nest Defense ... !
The Sycamores had an unblemished 29-0 season regular season and were undisputed Missouri Valley Conference Champions! Indiana State was tabbed the UPI and AP regular season National Champions and Bill Hodges was named the NCAA Coach of the Year!
The road to the NCAA National Championship game took the Sycamores through Lawrence, Kan., where they defeated Virginia Tech, and to Cincinnati where they won the Midwest Regional with victories over Oklahoma and Arkansas. Indiana State won their 33rd straight game with a victory over DePaul in the NCAA semifinals at Salt Lake City.
Team members were: Larry Bird, Tom Crowder, Eric Curry, Alex Gilbert, Bob Heaton, Rod McNelly, Brad Miley, Rich Nemcek, Carl Nicks, Steve Reed, Bob Ritter, Leroy Staley, Scott Turner. Head Coach: Bill Hodges. Assistant Coaches: Terry Thimlar and Mel Daniels. Graduate Assistant Coach: Danny King. Head Trainer: Bob Behnke. Student Manager/Trainer: Rick Shaw.
