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A tribute to the Indiana State University career of Larry Bird
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Indiana State defeats Chicago State Cougars KEVIN JENISON
Statesman Archives – Nov. 30, 1976 The Indiana State University Sycamores opened their 1976-77 basketball season with a victory Saturday night at the Hulman Civic University Center, over the Chicago State University Cougars, 81-60. The Sycamores, 1-0 on the season, will play St. Ambrose College at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Center. Indiana State students can get into the game free with their valid ID. The first half started out to be a very close battle with four ties and four lead changes in the first six and a half minutes of play. The Cougars scored the first points of the game, but the Sycamores came right back with a slam dunk by Larry Bird to tie the game at two apiece. Again the Cougars came down the floor and scored, but again the Sycamores returned with another two points from the Bird. The Cougars started to pull away from Indiana State, scoring six unanswered points. The Sycamores got back on the track with a reverse lay-in from Harry Morgan and scored four more points to bring the third tie of the game at ten all. The Cougars went back on top with a driving lay-in by their center Jerome Holland and then the Sycamores came back with six more unanswered points to go into the lead by four. The Cougars hit on a five-foot jump shot from David Jackson to score within two points but that was the last time the Cougars were even close to the Sycamores. With the Sycamores up by two, Indiana State mentor Bob King saw his offense score 12 unanswered points before Chicago State called a time out with 7:44 to go in the first half. With State ahead of the Cougars by a dozen, the Cougars could only manage four more points to end the first half with 18, while the Sycamores picked up nine more points to end the half with 37. The score at halftime was Indiana State University 37 and Chicago State University 18. With his first five starters playing solid offensive and good defense, Coach King came out for the second half to watch his team and the Cougars start the same way The Sycamores opened their 1976-77 basketball campaign with a victory over Chicago State Cougars 81-60 at the Hulman Civic University Center. The Sycamores won the game and DeCarsta Webster and Larry Bird dominated the statistics for the Sycamores. they had at the start of the first half. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
State played their second game at the Hulman Civic Center and took on St. Ambrose (Statesman file photo).
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Bird scored the first six points for Johnson hit five of 10 from the field the Sycamores, each of them however for 10 points and also had a steal; Brad being answered by Chicago State Miley hit three of seven for six points forward Mike Eversley. Brad Miley and added nine rebounds and six then scored four unanswered points assists; DeCarsta Webster, Danny King as the Sycamores increased their lead and Dan Rutledge each had four points; to 25 points before the Cougars gained Alan Watson had three and Carl Nicks two points and reduced the lead to 23 had one point. points. For the Cougars, Jerome Holland led Bird then scored two more field goals with 17 points. and added a free throw to increase The Sycamores had a big advantage the Sycamore lead to 28 on the boards as points before the Cougars they grabbed 71 were able to score four rebounds — 30 unanswered points to offensive and trail by 24. 32 defensive — “With less than five Both teams traded four dead ball minutes to go in the points for a couple of rebounds; while minutes and then the game, Coach King started the Cougars Sycamore offense erupted pulled down 51 to substitute freely to again with the help of rebounds — 15 Bird, Morgan and Alan give the rest of his squad offensive and valuable playing time.” 22 Watson and moved defensive ahead of the Cougars by — six dead 30 points, which was the ball rebounds Sycamores’ largest lead in and eight team the game. rebounds. With less than five The Sycamores minutes to go in the game, Coach King also shot well percentage-wise as they started to substitute freely to give the hit 43.9 percent from the field in the rest of his squad valuable playing time. first half and 36 percent in the second The Sycamores ended the game with a half for a 39.6 percent game average 21-point lead and their 81-60 victory. while the Cougars hit 33.3 percent in Bird led all the scores in the game the first half and 34.9 percent in the with 13 of 19 from the field and five second half for a game average of 34.2 of nine from the free throw line for percent. 31 points. He also had three steals, The Sycamores hit 50 percent of two blocked shots, 18 rebounds and their free throws in the second half for 10 assists. Harry Morgan was second a game average of 52.9 percent. The in State scoring with nine of 18 from Cougars missed all of their attempted the field for 18 points and added five free throws in the first half and hit 60 rebounds, one steal and one assist to percent in the second half to end the his statistics. game with a 48 percent average. Also for the Sycamores, Howie
Sycamore Larry Bird goes to the basket for a slam dunk during the season opener game against the Chicago State University Cougars (Photo from Statesman Archive).
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Indiana State has two players on classic All-tourney KEVIN JENISON
Statesman Archives – Dec. 7, 1976 The Third Annual Indiana Hall of Fame Classic ended Saturday night with State winning the championship game by defeating a strong Denver University team 78-65 and placing two members of the squad on the All-tourney team. The All-tourney team is voted on by the news media and they elected Larry Bird and Danny King from Indiana State, Buzzy O’Connel from Stetson University, Bob Heaton from Denver University and Earl Cureton from Robert Morris College to the team. Bird also received the Most Valuable Player of the tournament award as he hit 22 of 39 field goals in two games and added 13 of 14 free throws for a total of 57 points and added 33 rebounds to his total. King hit 13 of 24 field goals and four of seven free throws in two games for a total of 30 points adding six rebounds to his total. Heaton was the second highest scorers of the All-tourney five, hitting 12 of 21
field goals and 12 of 18 free throws for 37 points, adding seven rebounds to his two game totals. O’Connell tied with King for third highest scorer on the All-tourney five as each hit 12 of 20 field goals and six of six free throws for 30 points, adding five rebounds to their total to pace the Stetson University team. O’Connell was second in the nation last year in free throw percentage and is currently in a battle for first place this year. The fifth member of the All-tourney five is Earl Cureton from Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, Pa. Cureton was second to Bird in rebounding among the all-tourney five with 21 rebounds and added 12 of 29 field goals and on of five free throws for 25 points in two games. Les Reynolds, board member of the Indiana Hall of Fame and a former player at Indiana State, presented the All-tourney awards.
Members of the Indiana Hall of Fame All-tourney squad, including Sycamore Larry Bird, receive their awards after the last game of the classic (Courtesy of Statesman archives).
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The making of a legend: Larry Bird and his team pose for their historic season
Larry Bird (standing fifth from the right) poses with teammates and Coach Bob King in November 1977. During the 1977-1978 season, Bird was chosen Missouri Valley Conference player of the year and adorned the covers of Sports Illustrated, Basketball Weekly and The Sporting News. He also appeared in Playboy as a pre-season All-American (Statesman file photo).
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Two birds and a king lead Indiana State JEFF LIAMETZ
Statesman Archives – Dec. 1, 1976 Lucky for head Sycamore basketball coach Bob King, not all birds flew south for the winter. Two decided to stick around and play some basketball and that’s exactly what they’ve been doing. The two birds are, of course, Larry Bird and DeCarsta “Byrd” Webster. Larry Bird redshirted last season after transferring here from Indiana University. He was with the Hoosiers for one week before deciding the campus was too big for a boy from French Lick. The 6-foot 9-inch, 210-pound sophomore averaged 30 points and 20 rebounds while at Springs Valley High School. Since joining the Sycamore cage schedule this season, Bird has quickly dominated the team’s statistics and has become the best player State has seen in a long time. After four games played this season, Bird has hit 52 percent of his field goals for an average of 27.5 points a game. He has also set the pace in rebounding with a total of 67 and has twice reached the mark of 10 assists per game. Bird is a physical education major. The other Tweetie Pie of the Sycamores is 6-foot 11-inch, 220-pound Byrd Webster. Last season was Byrd’s first year at State after playing Junior College ball at Miami-Dade South Community College. He made his rookie season a big one, as the junior center finished sixth in the nation in rebounds, averaging 13.6 boards per game. Byrd is from Philadelphia, Pa. and added 77 blocked shots to his first-year stats. So far this season, Byrd started out well with 16 rebounds in each of the first two ball games, but has had troubles in the classic. Still, Byrd’s rebounding — teamed up with the other rebounding help the Sycamores will have — should give State a great advantage on the boards. Webster is joined by Danny King who is the only starter from last season and the only starting senior on this year’s squad. King led the team in assists and had the best free throw percentage last season. He is an aggressive defensive guard at 6 feet and is built in a solid 170-pound frame. Not only does King play
excellent defense, but he has been consistent this season in his field goals from the top of the key area. After four games, King has scored an average of 11 points a game and is second in assists with 16. Last season was King’s first year as a Sycamore, as before he attended Cumberland Junior College in Tennessee. King is a prep teammate of Larry Bird and is majoring in geography. Another player from last season who has earned himself a starting berth on this year’s team is Tom Crowder. Crowder is a 6-foot 5-inch, 200-pound junior majoring in physical education. His jumping ability was illustrated last year when a photographer took his picture as the Sycamore jumped up and touched the backboard with his feet. As a guard, Crowder has pulled down 14 rebounds, and is averaging five points a game and is the most improved player over one year Coach King has seen in a while. The fifth starter for the Fighting Sycamores is a junior college transfer and can also hit his feet on the backboard. Harry Morgan played the last two seasons at Vincennes University, where he averaged 19.1 points a game and was in double figures in rebounding. Morgan, who stands 6 foot 7 inches, 185 pounds, has had a few problems staying out of foul trouble, as he has already been removed from one game and has totaled 16 fouls in four games. Despite having to see bench duties because of some of his fouls, Morgan has pulled 28 rebounds and is averaging 15.3 points a game. Backing up the big men in the starting five is Brad Miley, a 6-foot 8-inch, 180-pound freshman. Miley has already seen extensive duties from the bench and has performed well. After four games, Miley has grabbed 23 rebounds and is averaging 5.3 points a game. Coach King feels that Miley may be the team’s best inside defensive player. CONTINUED ON PAGE 9
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Larry Bird and members of the Sycamore team collide with opponents during a basketball game. Coach Bob King along with Bird, and DeCarsta “Byrd” Webster led the Sycamores to many victories that season, and planned on making more triumphs in the season to come for the Indiana State Sycamores (Photo courtesy of Statesman Archives).
Jimmy Smith is the reserve who will give the starting guards a rest and may work himself into the starting lineup by the end of the season. Smith saw substitution duties last season and thus far this year, Smith has played impressive ball with 14 assists to his credit off the bench. He is a local product from Terre Haute South Vigo High School. Last season, Smith set a Hulman Center record in assists with 12 against Wabash. The 6-foot 2-inch, 175-pound junior is a criminology major. If the Sycamores need points on the board, they can call on Howie
Johnson who redshirted last season after transferring from Illinois. While playing for the Illinois, Johnson hit 55 percent of his shots while scoring an average of 4.5 points a game off the bench. The 6-foot 2-inch, 165-pound junior from Marshall, Ill. lacks only size and strength, but his outside shooting could offset that problem. Seeing a lot of playing time as freshmen are Alan Watson and Carl Nicks. Watson has been a sub for Coach King this year as a guard along with Nicks. Watson stands 6 foot 3-inch, 185 pounds and, according to his coach, could become an excellent basketball player.
Nicks is a quick, sharp-shooting lefthander and was the Sycamores’ top recruit last year. Nicks will add aggressiveness to the State backcourt and quickness to the overall team. The 6-foot 1-inch, 175-pound rookie is majoring in art. Dan Rutledge is a very important player on this season’s team, as he will be used with Miley to sub for the tall starters. Rutledge is 6 foot 8 inches, 195 pounds and came to State after playing Junior College ball at Yavapai Junior College in Arizona. Rutledge played his freshman year at State but went to Yavapai for some playing experience. He has seen limited time this year but
when he has been on the court, he has aided in keeping the opponents’ big man out from under the boards. Then, there’s John Nelson, the fans’ favorite. Though only 5-foot 7-inch and 145 pounds, Nelson’s appearance on the court stimulates the crowd each game he plays. He is the other senior, along with Danny King, on this year’s team. Nelson is quick, happy and full of energy, and keeps the team’s spirits from dropping. The blue-eyed, blond-haired senior from Rockville also competes on the State golf team.
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Year of accomplishments made possible by Bird
JEFF LIAMETZ
Statesman Archive Story How did the Sycamores do in the Missouri Valley Conference and national statistics in basketball this season? Excellent and that’s an unbiased response. The Sycamores did not get to compete for the Valley’s post-season tournament, which was won by Southern Illinois. Southern Illinois gained an automatic NCAA Tournament bid and so far, has advanced to the Midwest second round action where they’ll play Wake Forest
tomorrow night in Oklahoma City. The Sycamores, who just entered the Missouri Valley Conference this season joining Creighton as the newest members of the nine-team conference, finished with the best overall record in the group. Their 25-2 season mark gave them a .926 winning percentage compared to the next best teams, Southern Illinois and Creighton, who completed a .788 winning percentage. With their .926, Indiana State was tied in the nation with Nevada-Las Vegas for third best winning percentage. CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
Larry Bird, an Indiana State alum, is pictured above on the cover of an Indiana State yearbook shooting his legendary fadeaway jumper (Statesman Archive Photo).
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Though the final individual and team stats won’t be out until later next week, the Sycamores should finish first in rebound margin and point margin. Indiana State has been leading the Valley in those two departments all season. The Sycamores defense should not be the second best in the conference. Larry Bird most likely will finish first in scoring in the Valley and has already rapped up the third spot in NCAA division I statistics. Bird will also probably hold the second slot in MVC rebounding and has ended up seventh in the nation’s rebounding. DeCarsta Webster fell in the Valley rebounding stats during the late portion of the season and will most likely hold fourth place honors. Nationally, the Sycamores’ team rebounding finished at second with a 10.2 difference while Notre Dame held the number one spot with a margin of 11.5. Indiana State’s team defense placed 29th among the nation’s top 30 defensive teams with a 68.1-point average for their opponents. Other accomplishments which Indiana State’s 1976-77 basketball season takes
credit for has to do with the player who wore number 33 this season — Larry Bird. Bird was named to UPI’s All-American third team. He was tenth in the voting for AP Collegiate Player of the Year and was an AP All-American honorable mention. Bird also received special mentioned in The Sporting News, all-Midwest from Basketball Weekley and all NCAA district IV from the US Basketball Writers Association. After only one year of action, Bird ranks 18th on the all-time Indiana State career scoring list. His 918 points this season is behind the leader of the list who has 2,147 points, but Bird still has two seasons yet to play. Bird averaged 24 shots per game and 13 field goals. He hit 40 or more points this season in seven games, 30 or more in 16 outings, and had led the team in scoring in 26 of their 28 games. Six new records at Indiana State are now held by the French Lick Sophomore; most points in a season (874), most rebounds in a season (359), most field goals in a season (356), highest point average for a season per game (32.4), most points for a single game (47- twice), and most field goals in a single game (22).
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