USA BASKETBALL HISTORY
USA MEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM 1978 RESULTS
MANILA, PHILIPPINES • OCTOBER 1-14, 1978
The United States sent an Athletes In Action (AIA) squad to the World Championship as the dates for the tournament prohibited any colle- giate players from competing. The USA finished with a 6-4 overall record to place fifth. Opening against Australia, the U.S. struggled but Ernest Wansley helped rally the U.S., scoring 12 of his 19 points in the second half to lift the USA to its 77-75 win. Tim Hall and Irvin Kiffin scored 18 and 16 points, respectively. The U.S. rolled over the Dominican Republic, 104-65, before closing out the preliminary competition 3-0 with a 96-79 victory over Czechoslovakia. Advancing to the semifinals, the Americans suffered defeats in four of its first five semifinal round games, the first three coming by a total of just 10 points. Opening the semifinals round versus Italy, the U.S. trailed 47-39 at half and rallied to make a game of it. But Italy scored with 36 seconds remaining to take charge 81-77 and hung on to hand the U.S. an 81-80 loss despite 19 points from Mike Jackson. Next, eventual gold medalist Yugoslavia handed the Americans a 100-93 loss. Behind Eugene Parker’s 18 points, the USA’s two-game skid was halted after the Americans earned a 96-90 victory over Canada. Despite the USA leading 46-39 at halftime and by as many as 11 in the third quarter, Brazil rallied to edge the U.S. 92-90. The Soviet Union ended the USA’s string of close games as the Soviets handled the U.S. 97- 76. The USA squad managed to get back on the winning path, recording a 100-70 victory over an outclassed Philippines. Facing Canada in the fifth-place game, as had been the case in their first encounter, the two teams played evenly for most of the game. Although the U.S. led 50-47 at half, the contest was tied 94-94 with 1:38 to play. Brad Hoffman saved the day, making a steal and scoring with five seconds remaining to give the U.S. its 96-94 win and fifth place finish.
1978 USA MEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM ROSTER
1978 USA RESULTS (6-4)
NAME
POS HGT WGT AGE AFFILIATION (SCHOOL)
HOMETOWN
Australia
W, 77-75
Dominican Republic
W, 104-65 W, 96-79 L, 80-81 L, 93-100 W, 96-90 L, 90-92 L, 76-97 W, 100-70 W, 96-94
Marvin Delph Ralph Drollinger Brad Hoffman Derrick Jackson Mike Jackson Tim Hall
F C F G G G
6-4 7-2 6-8 5-9 6-1 6-2 6-9 6-2 6-6 6-5 6-11
180 250 215 155 180 175 220 180 200 180 235
22 24 25 25 22 22 27 22 21 23 22
AIA (Arkansas)
Conway, AR La Mesa, CA
AIA (UCLA)
Czechoslovakia
AIA (Colorado State) AIA (North Carolina) AIA (Georgetown) AIA (Tennessee) AIA (Oklahoma Baptist) U.S. Air Force Acad. AIA (California-Irvine) AIA (Virginia Tech) AIA (Purdue)
Grand Junction, CO
Italy
Columbus, OH Wheaton, IL Nashville, TN Queens, NY Fort Wayne, IN Ann Arbor, MI Bakersfield, CA Anderson, SC
Yugoslavia
Canada
Irvin Kiffin
F
Brazil
Eugene Parker
G
Soviet Union Philippines
Tom Schneeberger
F F
Wayne Smith Ernest Wansley
Canada
C
HEAD COACH: Bob Weltlich, University of Texas ASSISTANT COACH: Mike Hanks, Samford University (AL) MANAGER: John Lykins, Frankfort High School (KY) TEAM PHYSICIAN: Roy Bergman, Escanaba, MI ATHLETIC TRAINER: Tim Garl, Indiana University
FINAL STANDINGS
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
Yugoslavia (7-0) Soviet Union (6-2)
Brazil (5-2) Italy (4-3)
United States (3-4) Canada (2-5) Australia (2-5) Philippines (0-7) Czechoslovakia (6-2)
1978 USA MEN’S WORLD CUP TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS
NAME
G/S
FGM-A
PCT
FTM-A
PCT
REB
PTS
10. Puerto Rico (5-3) 11. China (2-6) 12. Dominican Rep. (2-6) 13. South Korea (2-6) 14. Senegal (1-7)
Kiffin Hall Parker
10 10 10 10 10 10 9
132/ 13.2 121/ 12.1 119/ 11.9 117/ 11.7 104/ 11.6 104/ 10.4 76/ 7.6 71/ 10.1
Hoffman Wansley Drollinger Jackson Smith Delph Jackson
7 6 9 2
33/ 5.5 28/ 3.1 3/ 1.5
Schneeberger
USA TOTALS OPP. TOTALS
10 10
382- 354-
144- 135-
908/ 90.8 843/ 84.3
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