There were a handful of games where I watched Magic and Greg Kelser together during that 1979 championship season. These guys had such great chemistry and they put on a show each time!
Emmanuel Enyinwa I totally agree, best all-around player, 2nd best is Lebron, but Magic gets the nod because there’s not a person on earth who dislikes him, as opposed to Lebron who might be the most hated athlete of all time
@@carlcafagna1953 If we are talking about all around, i would argue larry bird is #2 behind magic; just because lebron’s psyche and overall attitude makes him not deserve such high recognition. he’s a disrespectful, gross player. but he is top 5 all time.
@@carlcafagna1953 I would say that there has never been a greater playmaker and point guard than Magic! LeBron is a great passer in his own right, along with Bird, Stockton, and Oscar!
I was there. It was incredible! Watched the Spartans grow in 78 and ultimately lose to UK in 78 in Dayton, a game MSU could have won. We were loud and pissed off a bunch of UK fans. 79 was awesome....if a little nerve-wracking during the home game vs OSU......had A and B ticket package.....saw the dismantling of UM after being on the Jenison floor prior to the game with a sign we made up using a bedsheet...so loud....ND was the game to win, Laimbeer, Tripucka, Woolridge.....so many memories. Go Green! ❤️❤️❤️ They were so fun to watch play.
Michigan State gained all the momentum as a result of the play off of the opening tip. Kelser and Johnson ordered the MSU player to dunk it off the play to get all the early momentum.
I remember the day of this game, I was in high school and one of my friends was wearing a blue sweatshirt that said Michigan State, in gold letters, and out teacher gave him a look and said, "That's a nice shirt, Mr. Nagy - I sure Digger Heathcote would love it."
Totally agree! MSU was so pissed about Notre Dame getting all the publicity and the TV games. As much as I kied the title game against Indiana State, this one was just as sweet. Digger stinks!
@generalbullmoose - Exactly what I thought when I saw this. An incredible lineup for Notre Dame. And I rooted for MSU in this game, but ND had a great team.
I was just about to point this out! Two future Pistons with Laimbeer and Tripucka! Tripucka was a scorer! Plus Woolridge and Hanzlik That lineup was no joke! As a lifelong Spartans fan, I enjoy seeing these clips. I wish it was the whole game though.
Norte Dame had a terrific team in that era.They were well coached by Digger Phelps also but they were no match for Magic and Michigan State.I remember watching this game as a 9 year old.First time I ever saw Magic play.I didn’t know that much but I sure knew I was watching something special that day.A year later he was dominating in the NBA and changing how the game was played
Didn't Notre Dame knock out Michigan State the year before on the way to their own Final Four run? The era from 1976-81 saw a ton of Midwest teams make the final four as the UCLA domination finally ended and teams were beginning to get sent to regional outside their geographic region. Making the final four at least once in those years were Indiana, Indiana State, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa, Notre Dame, Marquette, and DePaul. And Kentucky and Louisville were close to the Midwest as well.
I played on a Michigan team that got to the Quarterfinals in High School the same year Magic's Lansing Everett team won the State Championship. Our team, as a consolation prize, got all free tickets to watch the Championship game---but I was so burned out by the end of the season that I gave my tickets away for free. Yeah, I still regret it.
Hereswhatmyseeingeyedogsez There’s a great clip somewhere of Magic hanging with the WWE (WWF back in the 1990’s) and he chats with Diesel (Kevin Nash) and tells the assembled that this dude (pointing to Nash) was one of the toughest dudes he ever played against. At some point in the mid 70’s (1974? 75?) Magic’s Lansing Everett went up against Nash’s Trenton HS (Southwest Detroit) during one of the MHSAA tourney games. Both Nash and Magic were centers. Nash went on to Knoxville to play at Tennessee as a grinder off the bench. Then later on he went into Professional Wrestling and became famous worldwide. Nash had a hilarious story recently about being at his teams reunion. The one player from those late 70’s / early 80’s Vols teams who went on to superstardom was Dale Ellis. The Coach (I forget his name....DeVolt? Maybe?) told Nash that he could have made it to the NBA if he took hoops more seriously back then. Nash chuckled and looked at him and said, paraphrasing “I can go out and still earn a payday at age 56 by doing WrestleCons.....I don’t think any of you guys can do the same at the moment”. Typical Nash, being a smartass. He was kicked off the Vols because he slapped that coach in the dressing room after an altercation between them. I think that was part of the reason that Nash did that reunion, to see some old friends and to quell that black mark between him and the coach. But yeah, Nash said something to the effect during that Magic appearance that Magic was the most amazing player he ever saw and he knew that he was destined for greatness in the NBA.
Thanks for editing out the introduction of the starting five at Notre Dame. ☹ Those were a bunch of flops anyway -- like Orlando Wooldridge, Bill Hanzlik, Kelly Tripuka. Did any of them even make the NBA?
The sad part is, ND was even better the following year with almost everybody from this team returning, but they got upset in the first round by Danny Ainge and Brigham Young.
+Randy Dubin Actually in 1980 ND lost to Missouri 87-84 in OT in the 2nd round after having a 1st round bye. In 1981 is when they lost to Danny Ainge and BYU. That was a regional semi final(Sweet 16 game.
McGuire's comment about tradition at the beginning as it concerns MSU is a bit overdone. I don't know if he was indirectly building up Indiana State, the team for which he pulling, but MSU hadn't made the tournament in 20 years and never made the NIT. You could have shot a cannon through their home gym, Jenison F.H., and not have hit a soul most of those years. Magic's team here started MSU's tradition. All of the teams in that year's final four were Cinderellas.
There was a joke that when Lambier 1st made the NBA he was the only NBA player who made less money than his dad as he came from a very well off family and NBA salaries were not that high then.
Notre Dame had to play man to man once they were behind, to force play and try to create turnovers. You can't play zone when you're behind late in games... can receive a technical foul. Remember, there wasn't any shot clock so playing zone means the other team can just hold on to the ball with a 4 corners offense.
6 actually--Wooldrige, Tripucka, Jackson, Laimbeer, Flowers, Hanzlik, 2 NBA all-stars--Tripucka, Laimbeer, Woolridge had a 15 year career with many starts. in the NBA. Hanzlik a 10 year career in the NBA. 3 first round draft picks. Jackson was a 2nd -25th overall pick. Would be a first rounder now.Rich Branning was a 4th rd pick. I don't think he made a team though. Flowers was 26th overall pick and would have been a 1st rounder today. He became a star in Europe.He played 1 year in the NBA. 80-81 ND had Tripucka, Woolridge, Jackson plus Joe Kleine future 6th overall pick and John Paxson, future 1st rounder. 4 first rounders and the 25 th overall in Tracy Jackson, who would now be a 1st rounder. That's like 5 1st rounders in today's game. ND under achieved in those years a bit.
3:27 Bill Laimbeer gets called for throwing an elbow. Don't worry, big Bill, you'll soon be in the NBA, where that is never called. Otherwise you'll foul out of every game in the first 10 minutes!
The more you watch this, Magic was putting on a exhibition for one of the GOAT's of college basketball, Al McGuire. That performance was a love letter. Remember, Al was 2 years removed being retired from Marquette. And Al had serious street credentials with black basketball players during that time. Serious street cred. If Al doesn't retire, Magic may have been a Marquette Warrior. Untucked jerseys and all...
He never properly scouted or attacked the zone, he is like Roy Williams, Dean Smith, and Bobby Knight. They just get stubborn on offense. Then how stupid, you play man-to-man against Magic's passing when you are behind?
With no shot clock in those days sitting in a zone when behind invited the opposing team to hold the ball. AND IIRC there was a rule that required the team that was trailing or tied to force the action at this time. So Digger was pretty much forced to go to a man defense too try and get back into the game.
I was about to point this out too No shot clock back then, which meant that teams could just run the clock out. You had to play man-man to force something
Heathcoates basketball superiority over Digger had nothing to do with their victory...it was Magic an Kelsers superiorty over Norte Dame that won the game for them....
Thanks so much for the video. What memories! I remember watching this game when I was just 7. Now, 32 years later, here it is. AMAZING!!!!!
Tripucka, Woolridge, Laimbeer, Hanzlik...what a lineup to beat!
There were a handful of games where I watched Magic and Greg Kelser together during that 1979 championship season. These guys had such great chemistry and they put on a show each time!
This game is so much fun to recall.
There has NEVER been a basketball player as good as Magic.
Emmanuel Enyinwa I totally agree, best all-around player, 2nd best is Lebron, but Magic gets the nod because there’s not a person on earth who dislikes him, as opposed to Lebron who might be the most hated athlete of all time
@@carlcafagna1953 If we are talking about all around, i would argue larry bird is #2 behind magic; just because lebron’s psyche and overall attitude makes him not deserve such high recognition. he’s a disrespectful, gross player. but he is top 5 all time.
@@carlcafagna1953 I would say that there has never been a greater playmaker and point guard than Magic! LeBron is a great passer in his own right, along with Bird, Stockton, and Oscar!
I was there. It was incredible! Watched the Spartans grow in 78 and ultimately lose to UK in 78 in Dayton, a game MSU could have won. We were loud and pissed off a bunch of UK fans. 79 was awesome....if a little nerve-wracking during the home game vs OSU......had A and B ticket package.....saw the dismantling of UM after being on the Jenison floor prior to the game with a sign we made up using a bedsheet...so loud....ND was the game to win, Laimbeer, Tripucka, Woolridge.....so many memories. Go Green! ❤️❤️❤️ They were so fun to watch play.
Magic behind the back pass 4:53. That was freaking incredible!
One of my all-time favorite Spartan moments. That play epitomized the whole Magic-Kelser era.
Michigan State gained all the momentum as a result of the play off of the opening tip. Kelser and Johnson ordered the MSU player to dunk it off the play to get all the early momentum.
Looked like a set play to me.
It was.
Listening to the Classic Gold 🤠🧼🧼 Disco NBC Sports Music 🎼🎶🎶 from the Late 1970s Early 80s. Bring back Great 😙👍👍 Memories 😘❤️❤️.
@2:40. Magic ALWAYS brings a smile to your face.
I remember the day of this game, I was in high school and one of my friends was wearing a blue sweatshirt that said Michigan State, in gold letters, and out teacher gave him a look and said, "That's a nice shirt, Mr. Nagy - I sure Digger Heathcote would love it."
Love the old NBC theme song that starts the video.
Like they said, this was essentially the national championship game.
Totally agree! MSU was so pissed about Notre Dame getting all the publicity and the TV games. As much as I kied the title game against Indiana State, this one was just as sweet. Digger stinks!
I was there. Drove a borrowed RV from E. Lansing with 7 other Spartans. Then went to Salt Lake the next week
Great video! So very glad you posted it.
@generalbullmoose - Exactly what I thought when I saw this. An incredible lineup for Notre Dame. And I rooted for MSU in this game, but ND had a great team.
You're right it's the "Magic" of the tournament because ND literally had 4 NBA All-Stars and a Branning that wasn't nothing to play with.
I never heard Dick Enberg so excited calling a game...he was hyped.."Oh My!!!"
Notre Dame had 4 future NBA players on their starting line up.
I was just about to point this out!
Two future Pistons with Laimbeer and Tripucka! Tripucka was a scorer!
Plus Woolridge and Hanzlik
That lineup was no joke!
As a lifelong Spartans fan, I enjoy seeing these clips. I wish it was the whole game though.
Norte Dame had a terrific team in that era.They were well coached by Digger Phelps also but they were no match for Magic and Michigan State.I remember watching this game as a 9 year old.First time I ever saw Magic play.I didn’t know that much but I sure knew I was watching something special that day.A year later he was dominating in the NBA and changing how the game was played
Didn't Notre Dame knock out Michigan State the year before on the way to their own Final Four run?
The era from 1976-81 saw a ton of Midwest teams make the final four as the UCLA domination finally ended and teams were beginning to get sent to regional outside their geographic region. Making the final four at least once in those years were Indiana, Indiana State, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Iowa, Notre Dame, Marquette, and DePaul. And Kentucky and Louisville were close to the Midwest as well.
This was the first time I saw Magic Johnson , and I was hook.
should've kept the introductions for both teams. it's a fascinating game. you don't get the feel for it if the clips are biased toward one side.
I played on a Michigan team that got to the Quarterfinals in High School the same year Magic's Lansing Everett team won the State Championship. Our team, as a consolation prize, got all free tickets to watch the Championship game---but I was so burned out by the end of the season that I gave my tickets away for free. Yeah, I still regret it.
Hereswhatmyseeingeyedogsez
There’s a great clip somewhere of Magic hanging with the WWE (WWF back in the 1990’s) and he chats with Diesel (Kevin Nash) and tells the assembled that this dude (pointing to Nash) was one of the toughest dudes he ever played against.
At some point in the mid 70’s (1974? 75?) Magic’s Lansing Everett went up against Nash’s Trenton HS (Southwest Detroit) during one of the MHSAA tourney games. Both Nash and Magic were centers.
Nash went on to Knoxville to play at Tennessee as a grinder off the bench. Then later on he went into Professional Wrestling and became famous worldwide.
Nash had a hilarious story recently about being at his teams reunion. The one player from those late 70’s / early 80’s Vols teams who went on to superstardom was Dale Ellis. The Coach (I forget his name....DeVolt? Maybe?) told Nash that he could have made it to the NBA if he took hoops more seriously back then. Nash chuckled and looked at him and said, paraphrasing “I can go out and still earn a payday at age 56 by doing WrestleCons.....I don’t think any of you guys can do the same at the moment”. Typical Nash, being a smartass. He was kicked off the Vols because he slapped that coach in the dressing room after an altercation between them. I think that was part of the reason that Nash did that reunion, to see some old friends and to quell that black mark between him and the coach.
But yeah, Nash said something to the effect during that Magic appearance that Magic was the most amazing player he ever saw and he knew that he was destined for greatness in the NBA.
Lot of people forget how good Notre Dame was in 1979. They didn’t get a 1 seed by accident.
Haha. Magic with a pass like that on the opening tap. Uch, how the hell was there a 19 yr old who could pass like that?
That pass set the tone for the entire game. I still remember that like it was yesterday!
th-cam.com/video/bp-3wjnKPA0/w-d-xo.html ... leading into one of my favorite Magic assists of all time.
You can have Jordan or Kobe or Lebron. I'll take Magic all day long and twice on sunday.
Thanks for editing out the introduction of the starting five at Notre Dame. ☹ Those were a bunch of flops anyway -- like Orlando Wooldridge, Bill Hanzlik, Kelly Tripuka. Did any of them even make the NBA?
Digger Phelps actually had some very good teams at Notre Dame
The sad part is, ND was even better the following year with almost everybody from this team returning, but they got upset in the first round by Danny Ainge and Brigham Young.
+Randy Dubin Actually in 1980 ND lost to Missouri 87-84 in OT in the 2nd round after having a 1st round bye. In 1981 is when they lost to Danny Ainge and BYU. That was a regional semi final(Sweet 16 game.
digger phelps crys inside every time michigan state wins basketball games.
Laimbeer with the flailing elbows at 3:26... hahaha
A Canadian was a starter for this national champ team, who knew?
Nice upskirt 4:23
McGuire's comment about tradition at the beginning as it concerns MSU is a bit overdone. I don't know if he was indirectly building up Indiana State, the team for which he pulling, but MSU hadn't made the tournament in 20 years and never made the NIT. You could have shot a cannon through their home gym, Jenison F.H., and not have hit a soul most of those years. Magic's team here started MSU's tradition. All of the teams in that year's final four were Cinderellas.
Seeing Bill Lamibeer in a college uniform, I am just having a hard time imaging that he ever pulled an all-nighter for an accounting midterm.
There was a joke that when Lambier 1st made the NBA he was the only NBA player who made less money than his dad as he came from a very well off family and NBA salaries were not that high then.
Notre Dame had to play man to man once they were behind, to force play and try to create turnovers. You can't play zone when you're behind late in games... can receive a technical foul. Remember, there wasn't any shot clock so playing zone means the other team can just hold on to the ball with a 4 corners offense.
Notre Dame had 3 future NBA players on that team.....and still lost.
6 actually--Wooldrige, Tripucka, Jackson, Laimbeer, Flowers, Hanzlik, 2 NBA all-stars--Tripucka, Laimbeer, Woolridge had a 15 year career with many starts. in the NBA. Hanzlik a 10 year career in the NBA. 3 first round draft picks. Jackson was a 2nd -25th overall pick. Would be a first rounder now.Rich Branning was a 4th rd pick. I don't think he made a team though. Flowers was 26th overall pick and would have been a 1st rounder today. He became a star in Europe.He played 1 year in the NBA.
80-81 ND had Tripucka, Woolridge, Jackson plus Joe Kleine future 6th overall pick and John Paxson, future 1st rounder. 4 first rounders and the 25 th overall in Tracy Jackson, who would now be a 1st rounder. That's like 5 1st rounders in today's game.
ND under achieved in those years a bit.
Lol thats even worse. Ha ha ha.
3:27 Bill Laimbeer gets called for throwing an elbow. Don't worry, big Bill, you'll soon be in the NBA, where that is never called. Otherwise you'll foul out of every game in the first 10 minutes!
Charles Murphy Until this season in the Big Ten/ACC Challenge, where the Irish got their revenge........
that is juvenile to wreck the intros by cutting out the notre dame introductions.
lol, Notre Dame had some very good players on that team
what ever happened to kelsler those where the days what happened to jerry davis from texas
geewizz41 he’s a commentator for the Pistons now.
They haven't played each other since.....
The tournament is fun nowadays but not like this.
take that, Digger
Dunk with Authority!
Something tells me this poster is NOT a Notre Dame fan?
The more you watch this, Magic was putting on a exhibition for one of the GOAT's of college basketball, Al McGuire.
That performance was a love letter. Remember, Al was 2 years removed being retired from Marquette. And Al had serious street credentials with black basketball players during that time.
Serious street cred. If Al doesn't retire, Magic may have been a Marquette Warrior. Untucked jerseys and all...
Probably Digger Phelps best team just unfortunate to play a team no one was beating
Oh, we get the Michigan State player introductions but the Notre Dame player intros get edited out. Sweet. Nice job, jerk.
It's a homer video.
He never properly scouted or attacked the zone, he is like Roy Williams, Dean Smith, and Bobby Knight. They just get stubborn on offense. Then how stupid, you play man-to-man against Magic's passing when you are behind?
With no shot clock in those days sitting in a zone when behind invited the opposing team to hold the ball. AND IIRC there was a rule that required the team that was trailing or tied to force the action at this time. So Digger was pretty much forced to go to a man defense too try and get back into the game.
I was about to point this out too
No shot clock back then, which meant that teams could just run the clock out. You had to play man-man to force something
SMH
Heathcoates basketball superiority over Digger had nothing to do with their victory...it was Magic an Kelsers superiorty over Norte Dame that won the game for them....