The 1977–78 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team represented Michigan State University in the 1977–78 NCAA Division I men's basketball season as members of the Big Ten Conference. They played their home games at Jenison Fieldhouse in East Lansing, Michigan and were coached by second-year head coach, Jud Heathcote. MSU finished the season 25–5, 15–3 in Big Ten play to win the Big Ten Championship. They received the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament where they defeated Providence and Western Kentucky before losing to Kentucky in the Mideast Regional Final. The team was led by freshman Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Gregory Kelser.
Previous season The Spartans finished the 1976–77 season with a record of 10–17, 7–11 to finish in fifth place in Big Ten play.
Roster and stats
1977–78 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball teamNoNamePosYearHeightPtsRebAst32Gregory KelserFJR6–717.79.11.333Earvin JohnsonFFR6–817.07.97.444Robert ChapmanGSR6–212.32.72.031Jay VincentCFR6–811.33.71.015Ron CharlesFSO6–76.31.40.311Terry DonnellyGSO6–26.01.42.412Mike BrkovichGFR6–42.30.60.743Sten FeidrechCFR7–01.61.90.445James CoutureCSR6–91.81.20.025Alfred BrownGSR6–61.41.00.324Len WilliamsGSO6–02.20.40.421Donald FlowersGSR6–21.00.10.041Dan RiewaldGSR6–50.50.80.222Nate PhilipsGSR6–40.00.30.323Mike LongakerGSO6–10.00.00.042Rick KayeGFR6–70.00.00.0 Source
Schedule and results
!colspan=9 style=| Non-conference regular season
!colspan=9 style=| Big Ten regular season
!colspan=9 style=|NCAA Tournament
Awards and honors Earvin "Magic" Johnson – All-Big Ten First Team
References