"In sports," says Captain Bob Starnes of the University of Illinois' basketball team, "it only takes one shot or one play to make you a hero or a bum." Starnes should know. Last week, when the No.3-ranked Illini took the floor against home-state rival Northwestern, they were solid favorites on the strength of eleven victories, only one loss (to Notre Dame, 90-88). On its sorry record (three wins, eight losses), Northwestern did not belong on the same floor. But by half time, relying on a collapsing zone defense that stalled Illinois' fast break, Northwestern had a 34-28 lead.
In the second half, Illinois slowly came on to close the gap. With only 13 seconds left, the two teams were deadlocked, 76-76. Under its own basket, Illinois put the ball in play. The pass went to Starnes, who dribbled across the free-throw line, leaped into the air and—as if putting the shot—threw the ball blindly toward the Northwestern basket 55 ft. away. Starnes looked quickly at the clock; it showed 1 sec. left in the game. The final buzzer sounded, and Starnes glanced back toward the basket. At that instant—swish!—the ball dropped through the net. Players stood rooted to the floor in astonishment.
The 7,200 spectators at Northwestern's McGaw Hall sat in stunned silence for several seconds. Then—bedlam. Starnes's delirious teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders, paraded him to the locker room. "It's like getting beat by a wild pitch," groaned Northwestern's anguished Coach Bill Rohr. "I was standing directly in line with the flight of the ball—and, believe it or not, that shot actually curved into the basket."