The first game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, commonly known as March Madness, was held on March 18, 1939, at the Patten Gymnasium in Evanston, Illinois. The tournament was the brainchild of Ned Irish, a sportswriter for the New York Herald Tribune, who sought to create a national championship for college basketball teams.
The inaugural tournament featured eight teams, all of which were conference champions from across the country. The East was represented by Pittsburgh, the South by Duke, the Southwest by Texas, the West by USC, the Northwest by Oregon State, the Far West by Stanford, and the Rocky Mountain by Colorado. The eighth team, Long Island University, was selected as an at-large team. Pittsburgh, led by All-American guard John Wooden, went on to win the tournament, defeating Southern California 39-34 in the championship game.
March Madness First Game
Here are 10 important points about the first game of March Madness:
- Held on March 18, 1939
- Patten Gymnasium, Evanston, Illinois
- Eight teams participated
- Pittsburgh won the championship
- John Wooden played for Pittsburgh
- First national championship for college basketball
- Brainchild of Ned Irish
- Eight conference champions and one at-large team
- USC lost in the championship game
- 39-34 final score
The first March Madness tournament was a groundbreaking event that helped to establish college basketball as a major sport in the United States. It has since grown into one of the most popular sporting events in the world, with millions of fans tuning in each year to watch the nation's top teams compete for the championship.
Held on March 18, 1939
The first game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was held on March 18, 1939, at the Patten Gymnasium in Evanston, Illinois. There were several reasons why this date was chosen:
- End of the regular season: The regular season for college basketball typically ends in early March. This gave teams enough time to prepare for the tournament and travel to the host site.
- Spring break: Many colleges and universities have spring break in March. This allowed students to travel to the tournament games and support their teams.
- Good weather: The weather in March is typically mild in most parts of the country, making it ideal for outdoor games. The first few rounds of the tournament were played at outdoor venues.
- Availability of venues: The Patten Gymnasium was available on March 18, 1939, and it was large enough to accommodate the tournament games. Other venues were also considered, but the Patten Gymnasium was the best option at the time.
The date of the first March Madness game has remained the same over the years, although the tournament has expanded and the number of teams has increased. The tournament now begins in mid-March and ends with the championship game on the first Sunday in April.
Patten Gymnasium, Evanston, Illinois
The Patten Gymnasium was the home of the Northwestern University Wildcats basketball team from 1927 to 1943. It was built in 1928 and had a seating capacity of 4,500. The Patten Gymnasium was one of the largest and most modern college basketball arenas in the country at the time.
- Central location: The Patten Gymnasium was located in the heart of the Big Ten Conference, making it an ideal location for the first March Madness tournament. All of the participating teams were within a day's drive of the venue.
- Good facilities: The Patten Gymnasium had all of the necessary amenities for a major sporting event, including locker rooms, showers, and a press box. It also had a large and comfortable seating area for fans.
- Historic significance: The Patten Gymnasium was the site of many important college basketball games in the early 20th century. It was also the home court of the Northwestern Wildcats team that won the 1939 NCAA championship.
- Available on March 18, 1939: The Patten Gymnasium was not being used for any other events on March 18, 1939, making it available for the first March Madness tournament.
The Patten Gymnasium was demolished in 1962, but it remains an important part of the history of college basketball. The first March Madness tournament was a success in large part due to the excellent facilities at the Patten Gymnasium.
Eight teams participated
The first March Madness tournament featured eight teams, all of which were conference champions from across the country. The eight teams were:
- East: Pittsburgh
- South: Duke
- Southwest: Texas
- West: USC
- Northwest: Oregon State
- Far West: Stanford
- Rocky Mountain: Colorado
- At-large: Long Island University
The eight teams were selected by a committee of sportswriters and coaches. The committee used a variety of criteria to select the teams, including their records, their strength of schedule, and their conference championships.
The eight-team format was used for the first few years of the tournament. In 1951, the tournament was expanded to 16 teams, and it has continued to expand over the years. The tournament now features 68 teams, which includes automatic bids for all conference champions and at-large bids for the remaining teams.
The eight teams that participated in the first March Madness tournament represented the best of college basketball at the time. The tournament was a success, and it helped to establish college basketball as a major sport in the United States.
Pittsburgh won the championship
The Pittsburgh Panthers won the first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1939. They defeated the USC Trojans 39-34 in the championship game.
- Strong team: The Pittsburgh Panthers were one of the best teams in the country in 1939. They had a record of 23-2 and were led by All-American guard John Wooden.
- Tournament performance: The Panthers played well throughout the tournament. They defeated Long Island University, Oregon State, and Duke to reach the championship game.
- Championship game: The championship game was a close contest. Pittsburgh led by only one point at halftime, but they pulled away in the second half to win by five points.
- John Wooden: John Wooden was the star of the Pittsburgh team. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.3 points per game.
The Pittsburgh Panthers' victory in the first March Madness tournament was a major achievement. It helped to establish the tournament as a prestigious event and it launched the career of one of the greatest coaches in college basketball history.
John Wooden played for Pittsburgh
John Wooden is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history. He won 10 NCAA championships at UCLA, and he is considered by many to be the greatest coach of all time.
However, before Wooden became a coach, he was a player at Purdue University. He was a two-time All-American and led the Boilermakers to the NCAA championship game in 1932. After graduating from Purdue, Wooden played professionally for the Indianapolis Kautskys.
In 1938, Wooden was hired as the head coach at Pittsburgh. He was just 29 years old at the time, but he quickly turned the Panthers into a contender. In his second season, Pittsburgh won the NCAA championship.
Wooden's success at Pittsburgh was due in large part to his star player, All-American guard Bob Kurland. Kurland was one of the best players in the country, and he helped lead the Panthers to a 23-2 record in 1939.
Wooden's time at Pittsburgh was short-lived. After winning the NCAA championship, he was hired as the head coach at UCLA. He would go on to win 10 national championships with the Bruins.
John Wooden's legacy is one of success and excellence. He is one of the most successful coaches in college basketball history, and his teams were always known for their hard work, discipline, and teamwork.
First national championship for college basketball
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament is the most prestigious event in college basketball. It is a single-elimination tournament that features the best 68 teams in the country.
The tournament was first held in 1939, and it has been held every year since then except for 1943 and 1944, when it was canceled due to World War II.
The first NCAA championship was won by the Pittsburgh Panthers. They defeated the USC Trojans 39-34 in the championship game.
The NCAA championship was a major breakthrough for college basketball. It gave the sport a national champion and it helped to establish college basketball as a major sport in the United States.
The NCAA championship has continued to grow in popularity over the years. It is now one of the most watched sporting events in the world.
The NCAA championship is a prestigious event that is won by the best team in the country. It is a symbol of excellence and achievement in college basketball.
Brainchild of Ned Irish
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was the brainchild of Ned Irish, a sportswriter for the New York Herald Tribune.
Irish was a big fan of college basketball, and he believed that there should be a national championship tournament to determine the best team in the country.
In 1937, Irish wrote an article in the New York Herald Tribune calling for the creation of a national championship tournament. He argued that such a tournament would be good for the sport of college basketball and that it would be popular with fans.
Irish's idea was met with some resistance at first. Some people argued that a national championship tournament would be too expensive and that it would be difficult to organize.
However, Irish was persistent, and he eventually convinced the NCAA to create a national championship tournament. The first tournament was held in 1939, and it was a huge success.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament is now one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world. It is a single-elimination tournament that features the best 68 teams in the country.
The tournament is a major economic driver for the cities that host it, and it generates millions of dollars in revenue for the NCAA.
The NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament is a testament to the vision of Ned Irish. He was a pioneer in the sport of college basketball, and his idea for a national championship tournament has had a lasting impact on the game.
Eight conference champions and one at-large team
The first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament featured eight teams, all of which were conference champions from across the country.
- East: Pittsburgh (Eastern Intercollegiate Conference champion)
- South: Duke (Southern Conference champion)
- Southwest: Texas (Southwest Conference champion)
- West: USC (Pacific Coast Conference champion)
- Northwest: Oregon State (Pacific Coast Conference Northern Division champion)
- Far West: Stanford (Pacific Coast Conference Southern Division champion)
- Rocky Mountain: Colorado (Mountain States Conference champion)
- At-large: Long Island University (Metropolitan New York Conference champion)
The eight conference champions were selected by a committee of sportswriters and coaches. The committee used a variety of criteria to select the teams, including their records, their strength of schedule, and their conference championships.
The at-large team, Long Island University, was selected by the committee because it was considered to be one of the best teams in the country that did not win a conference championship.
The eight conference champions and one at-large team that participated in the first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament represented the best of college basketball at the time. The tournament was a success, and it helped to establish college basketball as a major sport in the United States.
USC lost in the championship game
The University of Southern California (USC) Trojans lost to the Pittsburgh Panthers in the championship game of the first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1939.
- Close game: The championship game was a close contest. Pittsburgh led by only one point at halftime, but they pulled away in the second half to win by five points.
- John Wooden: Pittsburgh was led by All-American guard John Wooden. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.3 points per game.
- USC's star player: USC was led by All-American forward Stan Morrison. He was one of the best players in the country, but he was held to just 10 points in the championship game.
- Missed opportunities: USC had several chances to win the game, but they missed some key shots down the stretch. Pittsburgh was able to capitalize on USC's mistakes and win the championship.
USC's loss in the championship game was a disappointing end to a great season. However, the Trojans would go on to win the NCAA championship in 1940.
39-34 final score
The first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship game was a low-scoring affair, with Pittsburgh defeating USC 39-34.
- Slow pace: The game was played at a slow pace, with both teams struggling to score. The first half ended with Pittsburgh leading 17-16.
- Pittsburgh's defense: Pittsburgh's defense was the key to their victory. They held USC to just 34 points, and they forced the Trojans into several turnovers.
- USC's missed shots: USC had several chances to win the game, but they missed some key shots down the stretch. Pittsburgh was able to capitalize on USC's mistakes and win the championship.
- John Wooden's leadership: Pittsburgh was led by All-American guard John Wooden. He was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player after averaging 17.3 points per game.
The 39-34 final score was a reflection of the defensive struggle that took place in the championship game. Pittsburgh's defense was able to hold USC in check, and they were able to win the game by making key shots down the stretch.
FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship game:
Question 1: Who won the first NCAA championship?
Answer: Pittsburgh Panthers
Question 2: Who was the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament?
Answer: John Wooden
Question 3: What was the final score of the championship game?
Answer: 39-34, Pittsburgh over USC
Question 4: Where was the championship game played?
Answer: Patten Gymnasium in Evanston, Illinois
Question 5: How many teams participated in the first tournament?
Answer: Eight
Question 6: What was the selection process for the tournament?
Answer: A committee of sportswriters and coaches selected the teams based on their records, strength of schedule, and conference championships.
Question 7: Why was the tournament created?
Answer: To determine a national champion for college basketball.
The first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament was a success, and it helped to establish college basketball as a major sport in the United States.
In addition to the information above, here are some additional tips for learning more about the first NCAA championship game:
Tips
Here are four tips for learning more about the first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship game:
Tip 1: Read books and articles about the tournament. There are many great books and articles that have been written about the first NCAA championship game. These resources can provide you with in-depth information about the game, the teams, and the players.
Tip 2: Watch documentaries about the tournament. Several documentaries have been produced about the first NCAA championship game. These documentaries can give you a firsthand look at the game and the people who were involved.
Tip 3: Visit the NCAA Hall of Champions. The NCAA Hall of Champions in Indianapolis, Indiana, has a permanent exhibit on the first NCAA championship game. This exhibit includes artifacts from the game, such as the game ball and the championship trophy.
Tip 4: Talk to people who were there. If you know anyone who was at the first NCAA championship game, ask them about their experience. They can provide you with unique insights into the game and the atmosphere surrounding it.
By following these tips, you can learn more about the first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship game and its historical significance.
The first NCAA championship game was a major event in the history of college basketball. It helped to establish the tournament as a national tradition and it paved the way for the growth of the sport.
Conclusion
The first NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament championship game was a historic event that helped to establish college basketball as a major sport in the United States.
The game was played on March 18, 1939, at the Patten Gymnasium in Illinois. Eight teams participated in the tournament, which was won by the Pittsburgh Panthers. The Panthers defeated the University of Southern California (USC) 39-34 in the championship game.
The first NCAA championship game was a low-scoring affair, but it was a thrilling game that was decided by key plays down the stretch. The game was also notable for the performance of Pittsburgh guard John Wooden, who was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.
The first NCAA championship game was a major event in the history of college basketball. It helped to establish the tournament as a national tradition and it paved the way for the growth of the sport.
The NCAA Tournament is now one of the most popular sporting events in the world. It is a single-elimination tournament that features the best 68 teams in the country. The tournament is a major economic driver for the cities that host it, and it generates millions of dollars in revenue for the NCAA.
The NCAA Tournament is a great way to celebrate the sport of college basketball. It is a time for fans to come together and enjoy the excitement of the tournament.