Friday, February 26, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section C·Page 11
NCAA tournament history filled with Kansas memories of victories, losses
By Brad Hallier
Kansan sportswriter
What began as a simple, eight-tem
tournament in 1939 has blossomed
into an annual 64-team dance every
March.
ne men's NCAA basketball tournament is one of the most anticipated months in sports every year.
"Making the field of 64 is the standard by which everyone judges a basketball program," Kansas athletics director Bob Frederick said.
The first tournament began with Villanova defeating Brown 42-30 and ended with Oregon topping Ohio State 46-33. That championship game was played in front of a sparse crowd of 5,500 at Evanston, Ill. To promote more interest in the tournament, former Kansas coach Phog Allen convinced the NCAA to move the championship game to Kansas City, which it did for the 1940 tournament.
In addition to being host of the championship game, Municipal Auditorium was the venue for the Western Regional. Kansas made it to the final, but lost to Indiana 60-42. That game was played in front of 10,000 spectators, nearly doubling the previous total.
In 1951, the tournament field expanded to 16 teams. It was also the first tournament to give out automatic bids to conference champions.
In 1952, the Jayhawks, led by most Valuable Player Clyde Lovellette's 33 points and 17 rebounds, defeated St. John's 80-63 in the final game.
In 1953, Kansas returned to the championship game. But despite playing at the friendly confines of Municipal Auditorium and a Most Valuable Player performance from B. H. Born. Indiana held off Kansas 69-68.
1956 was the first year for the fourregion format.
Kansas reappeared in the championship game again in 1957, against at Municipal Auditorium. The game pitched the Jayhawks against North Carolina. In what was possibly the greatest championship game ever, the Tar Heels held Final Four MVP Wilt Chamberlain to 23 points and won in trible overtime 54-53.
The tournament fluctuated between 22 and 25 teams between 1953 and 1974. During that time, Kansas would appear in two more Final Fours, but the highlight of this era was the run by the UCLA Bruins. They won nine titles in that period, including an unprecedented seven in a row.
The field expanded to 32 teams in 1975, and the UCLA dynasty reached its climax with a 10th title.
In 1979, the field expanded to 40 teams. That year, Larry Bird led his
undefeated Indiana State Sycamores against Magic Johnson's Michigan State Spartans. The game was the highest-rated college basketball game on television ever, as the Spartans won.
The next year, the field expanded to 48 teams.
The 1980s featured plenty of drama as three underdog teams shocked the nation with national championships.
In 1983, North Carolina State defeated Houston on a last-second dunk, 54-52. Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano provided a lasting memory after the game, running around the court, looking for anyone to hug.
The field expanded for the last time in 1985, to 64 teams.
Don't expect the field to expand again any time soon. Gary Johnson, senior statistics coordinator for the NCAA, said 64 teams was the ideal number.
"I like 64 (teams) a lot," he said.
"There are no play-ins, and if any team wants to win the championship, they have to win six games like everybody else."
In 1985, Villanova became the lowest seed ever to win the title. The Wildcats, seeded eight, marched to the final against fellow Big East rival, Georgetown. In that game, Villanova shot 79 percent from the field and shocked the Hoyas 66-64.
Kansas returned to the Final Four in 1986 after a 12-year hiatus. Kansas fell to Duke 71-67 in the semifinals. In the other semifinal, eventual champion Louisville defeated LSU, which was the lowest-seeded team ever in the Final Four as an 11th seed.
The 1988 Jayhawks are the champions with most losses. With 11 losses that season, Frederick said there were plans to print NIT tickets that year.
"Clearly, the national championship was a great thrill, particularly with the season we had," he said. "At mid-season, nobody expected us to make the tournament. let alone win it."
The Jayhawks capped their title run with a near-perfect performance in a 83-79 victory against Oklahoma in front of a pro-Jayhawk crowd at Kemper Arena in Kansas City, Mo. Danny Manning became the fourth Final Four MVP at Kansas.
The 1990s have had a fair share of thrills as well. Kansas has appeared in two Final Fours this decade, in 1991 and 1993.
This year's tournament field contains only one team that will hold the championship trophy.
As former Kansas guard Kevin Pritchard said, "That's the bitter-sweet thing about the tournament—the possibility to lose any game."
NCAA
HISTORY OF THE NCAA
TOURNAMENT
The first NCAA Tournament.
KU's first NCAA Tournament, a loss to Indiana in the championship game.
Oklahoma A&M repeats as champions.
Kansas wins first NCAA title.
Kansas loses in championship game, again to Indiana.
Kansas, led by Wilt Chamberlain, loses in triple overtime to North Carolina.
UCLA wins the first of 10 NCAA titles in 12 years.
1966
Texas Western's starting lineup, all of whom were African-American, defeats Kentucky's starting lineup, all of whom were Caucasian, for the title.
1979
The first tournament ever that seeded the teams.
1985
on the highest TV-rated championship ever, Michigan State's Magic Johnson tops Indiana State's Larry Bird.
1986
Tournament expands to 64 teams.
Villanova becomes the lowest-seeded team to ever win the title(8).
1988
Kansas - its 11 losses were the most ever for a champion - defeats Big 8 rival Oklahoma 83-79, for its second title
Kansas became the first champion that would be unable to defend its crown, as the program was placed on probation.
1991
15th-seeded Richmond defeats second-seeded Syracuse in the first round. Richmond became the lowest seed to ever win. Santa Clara matched that feat two years later.
Texas Big 12 favorite but other No. 1 seeds bouncing in the air for The Big Dance
underdogs again, Kansas returns to the Final Four, but is stopped in the final game by Duke, 72-65.
Richard Bachman/Kansan
By Brandon Krisztal
Kansan sportswriter
With the NCAA Tournament less than two weeks away, it's time to look into the proverbial crystal ball and try to figure out who's in, who's out and who's going to win.
The men's side of the tournament should showcase some familiar faces, but some new faces could make a difference in the "Big Dance." There seems to be a consensus, right now, of who will be the No.1 seed in each bracket.
In the East, No. 1-ranked Duke should be the top seed. Auburn should be the No. 1 seed in the South. The No. 1 seed in the Midwest should go to Michigan State. Out West, the Connecticut Huskies should be the top dogs.
All of these projections are based on those teams winning their respective regular season conference titles and not self-destructing at the conference tournaments.
Oklahoma State point guard Doug Gottlieb, second in the nation in assists, goes to the Final Four every year. He not only has his eye on the Big 12 race, but he keeps tabs on other teams across the country.
"Personally, I like Michigan State," Gottlieb said. "You've got to like Duke. Those are my two favorites. Auburn's play has been solid, but they've got to watch out for South Carolina syndrome, feeling the pressure of the Big Dance.
"I think Stanford's very good. A lot depends on their draw. Utah, because they're so well-coached, is always tough. St. John's could beat some people. To be honest, I like Texas' chances. They've got two of the best inside players in the nation and two experienced wings."
It is a common opinion that Texas will represent the Big 12, but who else? History lends itself to Kansas, but a lot is riding on the Big 12 Tournament. Along with the Jayhawks, Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State all are going to need a good showing at the Big 12 Tourney to get an at-large bid.
After the 30 conference champions receive bids, the power conferences all should receive their standard five or maybe even six, seven or possibly eight teams in.
From the Big 10: Michigan State, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Purdue and Northwestern all could get in. From the ACC: Duke, North Carolina, Maryland and North Carolina State all
may make it. From the Big East: UConn, St. John's, Syracuse, Miami, Villanova and possibly Rutgers. From the Pacific-10: Stanford, UCLA, Arizona and Oregon all could go to the Dance.
Jason Makler, a free-lance NBA scout on the East Coast, has his favorites as well.
"The key to the NCAA Tournament is being hot when it comes," Makler said. "UConn has had to play a tough Big East schedule all year, and survived, except for the game they played without (Jake) Voskul and (Richard) Hamilton. Maryland I know is good. Miami is impossible to blow out. Texas, talking about momentum, is just rolling, and I really think whoever wins the Ivy League can make it to the Sweet 16."
On the women's side of the tournament, the usual suspects should fill the top seeds. Three-time defending champion Tennessee should be No.1 in the Midwest. Louisiana Tech should be the top seed in the East. In the Midwest, Purdue should be seated on top. In the West, like their male counterparts the Connecticut Huskies should be the No.1 seeds.
Phoenix-based free-lance reporter Christopher Hayden has a good idea who he thinks is the team to beat.
"I've got three words," Hayden said. "Tennessee, Tennessee, Tennessee. The Lady Vols are too tough. Chamique Holdswclaw and Tamika Catchings lead the same team that has won three straight. It will be a formidable task for a team to upset Pat Summitt's team this year."
Unlike the Kansas men, the Kansas women are a lock for the tournament. They should be joined by fellow Big 12 mates, Texas Tech, Iowa State and Nebraska.
The other big conferences should get at least four teams in. From the ACC: Duke, North Carolina, Clemson, Virginia and North Carolina State all have a chance. From the Big East: UConn, Rutgers, Notre Dame and Boston College all could get in. From the Big 10: Purdue, Ohio State, Penn State and Illinois could all go "dancing."
Now that all the predicting is through, the only thing left to do is wait until the brackets are announced, so all the experts can quit worrying about the bubble teams and concentrate on the upsets, the Cinderellas and the Madness.
- Edited by Monica Hodes
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