Everything is ready for the grand final for the United States collegiate basketball championship, which will face UConn vs. San Diego Statein an unprecedented final after really a ‘March Madness’ that said goodbye early to the favorites.
In the prelude to the grand finale, It is worth remembering the history of the Mexican Rob Gonzalezwho in the 1978-1979 season became the first Latin American to win the collegiate basketball championship, and he did it led by an NBA legend, Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnsonand against one of the best teams in the tournament, Larry Bird’s undefeated Indiana State.
After stopping on the way to the University of Notre Dame, led by 29 points from current LAFC owner and former Lakers player, the ‘Spartans’ faced Penn State in the ‘Final Four’, where they prevailed by a resounding score of 101-67.
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Michigan State would finish the 1979 season as NCAA champions. They defeated Larry Bird and Indiana State in the title game, 75-64. It was the first and only tournament championship for the Spartans until Tom Izzo led the team to another title in 2000.
Magic Johnson’s words about Rob Gonzalez
During an interview he gave to a Mexican sports outlet in the middle of the series that came out on Apple TV, ‘Magic’ spoke wonders of Juan Toscanoa Mexican basketball player who plays for the Golden State Warriors, but also about his former college classmate.
“I went to school with a guy named (Rob) Gonzalez, who played for Michigan State, and when I think about all the things he did to open the game to many other Mexican players, and now working with many professionals outside of Mexico, it is very good” he assured.
“So when I think about the professional league there and how they’re developing young players in Mexico, it’s wonderful. I played in Mexico probably 6 or 7 times and I have also done basketball camps to teach children the fundamentals of the game,” he added in the same interview.