Little Twist and myself saw both of those games. The game in the 77-78 season was actually postponed and rescheduled because of the epic snowstorm that hit C'dale. It started snowing the first day of classes and didn't stop until 18 inches later. The University was closed for 2 days. I grew in Northern Iowa and had never scene that much snow at one time.. Twist and I walked from Brown Hall at Thompson Point to the arena only to find out the game had to be postponed.
I still tell people that Larry Bird was the greatest college player I ever got to see in person and I saw Magic Johnson play also.
The 2nd time I saw Bird play at the Arena was when I fully realized what a great player he was, with his rebounding and great passing and not just his scoring. I will admit I didn't think he would be one of the greatest NBA players of all time.
Saw him my freshman year (78-79) at the Arena.
If I remember we held him below his 33 point average, but you could tell he was playing a different game then the other nine guys out there. Court vision and passing were lights out! Toward the end of the game we were down by one and they were at the line. There guy missed and Bird made sure his team got the offensive rebound. I think we lost 68-67 , that's a guess.
We actually had a solid team that year. I remember Corky Abrams, Gary Wilson, among others. We had talent.
After that year we went down hill fast. Still went to every home game though.
We played #1 Indiana State to the wire, but I think SIU underachieved for the talent the team had that season. .500 in the MVC and barely above .500 for the season with the likes of Wayne Abrams (Sr.), Gary Wilson (Sr.), Barry Smith (Sr.), etc. I remember it being a disappointing season overall. Probably had a lot to do with Gottfried's coaching and was foreshadowing for the lean years ahead under Gottfried and VanWinkle.Saw him my freshman year (78-79) at the Arena.
If I remember we held him below his 33 point average, but you could tell he was playing a different game then the other nine guys out there. Court vision and passing were lights out! Toward the end of the game we were down by one and they were at the line. There guy missed and Bird made sure his team got the offensive rebound. I think we lost 68-67 , that's a guess.
We actually had a solid team that year. I remember Corky Abrams, Gary Wilson, among others. We had talent.
After that year we went down hill fast. Still went to every home game though.
