USA BASKETBALL HISTORY
USA MEN’S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM 1979 RESULTS
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO • JULY 1-15, 1979
The 1979 Pan American team was one of the United States’ youngest and most explosive squads ever. Behind the coaching of Indiana University’s Bob Knight, the USA cruised to a 9-0 record and the gold medal, while averaging 100.8 points. It marked the first time that a U.S. team averaged more than 100 points a game. The U.S.’s offense featured five players averaged in double figures. Led by Mike Woodson, who averaged 18.3 points, collegiate All-Americans Michael Brooks and Kyle Macy contributed 17.4 and 12.1 points, respectively. The USA’s roster also featured Kevin McHale and recent high school graduates Ralph Sampson and Isiah Thomas, who would all go on to NBA stardom. Defeating the Virgin Islands 136-88, the USA was led by Woodson’s 24 points, while Mike O’Koren and Brooks each tossed in 21 points and Ronnie Lester added 20. Knight’s cagers handed Cuba an 85-53 setback as Brooks scored 16 points. Brazil proved a much tougher opponent, but behind a balanced scoring attack, including 19 from Brooks and 17 from Macy, the U.S. recorded an 82-78 victory. McHale’s 17 points and seven rebounds helped lift the U.S. over Panama 88-83, and Macy’s 17 points pushed the Americans to a 97-76 win over Canada. Woodson tallied a high of 30 points in the USA’s 99-73 win over Argentina, then recorded 29-point showings in wins against Cuba and Brazil. The United States clinched its seventh gold medal with a 113-94 victory over Puerto Rico. Facing an outstanding team that had also compiled a perfect 8-0 mark prior to the final, the U.S. relied on its balanced offense for the win. Brooks led the USA with 27 points and 13 rebounds, while Woodson and Thomas added 23 and 21 points, respectively. The gold medal win was not without controversy. Coach Knight was ejected from the opening game. He also later had a run-in with a police officer at practice. During the second USA-Cuba contest, Macy suffered a broken jaw after being punched by Tomas Herrara. Macy missed the final two USA games, while Herrara was ejected from the game.
1979 USA MEN’S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM ROSTER
1979 USA RESULTS (9-0)
NAME
POS HGT WGT AGE COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
Virgin Islands
W, 136-88 W, 85-53 W, 82-78 W, 88-83 W, 97-76 W, 99-73 W, 101-83 W, 106-88 W, 113-94
Cuba Brazil
Michael Brooks Sam Clancy John Duren Ronnie Lester
F F
6-7 6-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-7 6-8 7-3 6-1 6-10
220 235 195 170 175 220 221 205 205 178 220 195 195
20 21 20 20 22 21 21 21 19 18 20 20 21
LaSalle University
Philadelphia, PA Pittsburgh, PA Washington, DC
University of Pittsburgh Georgetown University University of Iowa University of Kentucky University of Minnesota University of Toledo University of North Carolina
G G G C
Panama Canada
Chicago, IL
Kyle Macy
Peru, IN
Argentina
Kevin McHale
Hibbing, MN Milwaukee, WI Jersey City, NJ Harrisonburg, VA
Dick Miller
F F
Cuba Brazil
Mike O’Koren Ralph Sampson Isiah Thomas Ray Tolbert Danny Vranes Mike Woodson
C G
Harrisonburg H.S.
Puerto Rico
St. Joseph’s High School
Chicago, IL Anderson, IN
F F F
6-9 6-7 6-5
Indiana University University of Utah Indiana University
Salt Lake City, UT Indianapolis, IN
FINAL STANDINGS
HEAD COACH: Bob Knight, Indiana University ASSISTANT COACH: Mike Krzyzewski, U.S. Military Academy (NY) MANAGER: Fred Taylor, Ohio State University ATHLETIC TRAINER: Bob Moore, San Diego State University (CA)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
United States (9-0) Puerto Rico (8-1)
Brazil (4-5)* Cuba (4-5)*
Canada (4-5)* Argentina (3-6) Panama (2-0) Mexico (1-1)*
1979 USA MEN’S PAN AMERICAN GAMES TEAM CUMULATIVE STATISTICS
NAME
G/S
FGM-A
PCT
FTM-A
PCT
REB
PTS
AST
9. Dom. Rep. (1-1)* 10. Virgin Islands (0-2)
Woodson
9 9 7 9 9 9 9 9 7 8 8 8 9 9
65-111 60- 91 37- 59 41- 70 38- 80 38- 64 33- 55 15- 34 10- 18 10- 20 11- 18 8- 17
.586 .659 .627 .586 .475 .594 .600 .441 .556 .500 .611 .471 .575 .455
35- 38 37- 50 11- 12 22- 27 20- 24 11- 16 17- 19
.921 .740 .917 .815 .833 .688 .895 .727 .714 .667 .500 .571 .799 .650
14/ 1.6 55/ 6.1 12/ 1.7 32/ 3.6 10/ 1.1 40/ 4.4 6/ 0.7 22/ 2.4 23/ 3.3 6/ 0.8 13/ 1.6 10/ 1.3
165/ 18.3 157/ 17.4 85/ 12.1 104/ 11.6 96/ 10.7 87/ 9.7 83/ 9.2 38/ 4.2
10
Brooks
9 9
Macy
O’Koren Lester McHale Thomas Vranes Clancy Duren Tolbert Sampson
24 23
2
24
8- 11 5- 7 4- 6 1- 2 4- 7
8 2 7 2 1
25/ 3.6 24/ 3.0 23/ 2.9 20/ 2.5
USA OPP.
366-637 266-584
175-219 184-283
243/ 27.0 183/ 20.3
907/100.8 716/ 79.6
121
75
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