Michigan State Salutes ’79 Team

Magic Johnson and the rest of Michigan State’s 1979 NCAA championship team were honored during halftime of the Spartans’ 81-67 victory over Michigan on Saturday at East Lansing, Mich.

“I’m so happy I came to Michigan State,” Johnson told the cheering crowd of 14,659 at the Breslin Center. “My heart will always be here.”

The 1979 team, coached by Jud Heathcote, tied for first in the Big Ten at 13-5 and finished 26-6 overall after knocking off Larry Bird-led Indiana State, 75-64, in the national championship game. That game, highlighting Bird’s matchup with Johnson, still ranks as the highest-rated televised game in NCAA history.

It remains the Spartans’ only NCAA title.

“It was a special team at a special time,” Heathcote told the crowd.

Another member of that team, Jay Vincent, had his No. 31 jersey retired as part of the celebration.

Vincent, a Lansing native, lettered from 1978-81, playing in 114 games. He closed out his career as the school’s No. 3 all-time leading scorer with 1,914 points and was the Big Ten’s leading scorer in 1980 and 1981.

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Not even Ray Meyer’s absence could spoil the celebration for DePaul’s 1979 Final Four team during halftime of the Blue Demons’ 75-60 victory over Marquette at Chicago. The entire team was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame.

Meyer, coach of the 1979 Blue Demons and a near-legend in Chicago, skipped the ceremony, still unhappy over DePaul’s treatment of his son, Joey. Joey Meyer, the top assistant on his father’s 1979 staff, was abruptly fired two years ago after 13 years as head coach.

DePaul was once of the country’s top programs, but it fell on hard times during the younger Meyer’s tenure. The Blue Demons shed their independent status, but couldn’t compete in a conference.

There were shouts of “We want Ray! We want Ray” as the Final Four team was introduced at halftime, but they were quickly drowned out by cheers for the players.

“What a year it was for these guys,” said television commentator and former Marquette coach Al McGuire, who called the 1979 tournament games. “Thanks for the memories.”

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Arizona retired Steve Kerr’s No. 25 after an 88-86 victory over Washington at Tucson.

Kerr, a guard from Pacific Palisades High who played at Arizona from 1985-88 and later with the NBA champion Chicago Bulls, saw his number raised to the McKale Center rafters.

He is only the second Wildcat player to be so honored. The other, Kerr’s former teammate Sean Elliott, was on hand for the ceremony.

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The NCAA will take no action against Indiana Coach Bob Knight for his remarks during a nationally televised interview that some basketball officials may be influenced by gambling interests.