FINALLY IN THE FINALS

Kent Hannon

March 27, 1978

A couple of distinguished coaching careers passed in the night during last week's Midwest Regional in Lawrence, Kans., as 64-year-old Ray Meyer saw perhaps his last fine DePaul team knocked out of the NCAAs by a rugged outfit from his alma mater, Notre Dame. At the same time, the Irish's 84-64 victory represented a milestone for their celebrated young coach, Digger Phelps, who, at 36, will be taking a Notre Dame team to the national finals after four consecutive years of losing in the opening round of the regionals.