1979 NCAA Finals - Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson [Opening]

Michigan State, coached by Jud Heathcote, won the national title with a 75-64 victory in the final game over Indiana State, coached by Bill Hodges. Magic Johnson of Michigan State was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

The final game marked the beginning of the rivalry between future Hall of Famers Johnson and Larry Bird. To this day, it remains the highest-rated game in the history of televised college basketball. Both Magic and Bird would enter the NBA in the fall of 1979, and the rivalry between them and their teams (respectively, the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics) was a major factor in the league's renaissance in the 1980s and 1990s. The game also led to the "modern era" of college basketball, as it introduced a nationwide audience to a sport that was once relegated to second-class status in the sports world.

This was the first tournament in which all teams were seeded by the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Committee. The top six seeds in each regional received byes to the second round, while seeds 7-10 played in the first round.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• ncaa
• 1979
• finals
• magic
• johnson
• larry
• bird
• nba
• indiana
• state
• michigan
• st.
• celtics
• lakers
• hall
• of
• fame
• mvp
• 70's
• 80's
• 2007

[13war25]

I've gone to almost every Celtics game since 1963 when I was 10. Never saw a man that could make shots like Bird game after game. He also hustled his ass off that's one reason he was so great. The only player that could match him in hustle was Dave Cowens Cowens was outplaying centers 3-4-5 inches taller just from pure hustle. Both a pleasure to watch but Bird was INCREDIBLE!! He played his last 3 yrs with a VERY bad back and still dominated. Bird vs Magic what a matchup I'll never forget it.

[AceroySangre]

Are you kidding. Bird would have averaged more assits and more points if playing gor a weaker team xD

[bootiack]

damn liek 3 hack in row not called on MS

[bootiack]

miche state massive travels on offense too wtf

[bootiack]

mich state hacking nonstop reaching in an not called, what a crcok

[bootiack]

hacking shit outa bird no foul called WTF

[bootiack]

bird with 4 goons

[bootiack]

how is it a foul when magic bumps yo and throw up a prayer? what a load of hyped up shhit

[bootiack]

magic biggest whiner, so lucky to get to cheat to win la, where no fouls called on laker sin 4th q ever

[pamerica2]

there is no 3 point circle thing

[MentalTeleprosy]

My dad took me to this game. Amazing memory to have.

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