55-Foot Basket

"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."

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