1978 NCAA Division I basketball championship game

See also: 1978 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament

1978 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
National championship game
Duke Blue Devils Kentucky Wildcats
ACC SEC
(27–6) (29–2)
88 94
Head coach:
Bill Foster		 Head coach:
Joe B. Hall
1st half2nd half Total
Duke Blue Devils 3850 88
Kentucky Wildcats 4549 94
DateMarch 27, 1978
VenueThe Checkerdome, St. Louis, Missouri
MVPJack Givens, Kentucky
FavoriteKentucky
Attendance18,721
United States TV coverage
NetworkNBC
AnnouncersDick Enberg (play-by-play)
Billy Packer and Al McGuire (color)
← 1977
1979 →

The 1978 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game was the final round of the 1978 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament and it determined the national champion for the 1977–78 NCAA Division I season. The game was played on March 27, 1978, at The Checkerdome in St. Louis, and featured the Mideast Regional Champion, Kentucky and the East Regional Champion, Duke.

Participating teams

Duke Blue Devils

Main article: 1977–78 Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team
  • East
    • Duke 63, Rhode Island 62
    • Duke 84, Pennsylvania 80
    • Duke 90, Villanova 72
  • Final Four
    • Duke 90, Notre Dame 86

Kentucky Wildcats

Main article: 1977–78 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
  • Mideast
    • Kentucky 85, Florida State 76
    • Kentucky 91, Miami (OH) 69
    • Kentucky 52, Michigan State 49
  • Final Four
    • Kentucky 64, Arkansas 59

Box score

NBC
March 27, 1978
#7 Duke Blue Devils 88, #1 Kentucky Wildcats 94
Scoring by half: 38–45, 50–49
Pts: Banks 22
Rebs: Gminski 12		 Pts: Givens 41
Rebs: Robey 11

References