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NCAA basketball: 25 best college basketball teams of all time

By Mike Phillips

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Darius Miller #1, Anthony Davis #23, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14, Terrence Jones #3 and Marquis Teague #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats walk on the court in the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the National Championship Game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on April 2, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 02: (L-R) Darius Miller #1, Anthony Davis #23, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist #14, Terrence Jones #3 and Marquis Teague #25 of the Kentucky Wildcats walk on the court in the second half against the Kansas Jayhawks in the National Championship Game of the 2012 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on April 2, 2012 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Best college basketball teams of all time
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /

17. 1978-1979 Michigan State Spartans

If we were ranking teams on purely iconic status, the 1978-1979 Michigan State Spartans would skyrocket up the list. The Spartans took part in one of the most memorable championship games in history, with their title win over Indiana State remaining the most-watched basketball game ever to this day.

Expectations had risen in East Lansing after the arrival of star Magic Johnson, who chose to stay home after Spartans’ coach Jud Heathcoate promised him the opportunity to stay at point guard. The 6-8 Johnson became Michigan State’s most dynamic player, powering the team to a share of the Big Ten Championship in the regular season.

The story of college basketball that season was Indiana State, which went undefeated during the regular season on the strength of Larry Bird. The “Hick from French Lick” put the Sycamores on his back, guiding them to the championship game against the Spartans.

That game went in favor of Michigan State, with the Spartans topping the Sycamores 75-64 in Salt Lake City but it would go down in history as the first meeting between Johnson and Bird. The two stars would continue their epic rivalry for many years in the NBA as members of the Los Angeles Lakers and Boston Celtics.

Many basketball historians credit Bird and Magic with revitalizing professional basketball, and that run started thanks to Johnson’s incredible Michigan State team. That alone earns the Spartans a spot on this list.