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1943–44 NCAA men's basketball season

Men's collegiate basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1943–44 NCAA men's basketball season began in December 1943, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1944 NCAA basketball tournament championship game on March 28, 1944, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. The Utah Redskins won their first NCAA national championship with a 42–40 victory over the Dartmouth Indians.

NCAATournament1944
Tournament datesMarch 24 – 28, 1944
National ChampionshipMadison Square Garden
New York City, New York
NCAA ChampionsUtah Redskins
Quick facts –44 NCAA men's basketball season, NCAA Tournament ...
1943–44 NCAA men's basketball season
NCAA Tournament1944
Tournament datesMarch 24 – 28, 1944
National ChampionshipMadison Square Garden
New York City, New York
NCAA ChampionsUtah Redskins
Helms National ChampionsArmy Cadets
Other championsSt. John's Redmen (NIT)
Player of the Year
(Helms)		George Mikan, DePaul Blue Demons
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Season headlines

Conference membership changes

More information School, Former conference ...
School Former conference New conference
Georgetown Hoyas Independent No athletic programs
Harvard Crimson Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League Independent
Hofstra Flying Dutchmen Metropolitan New York Conference Non-major basketball program
Northeastern Huskies New England Conference Independent
Yale Bulldogs Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League Independent
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Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner[5]		 Conference
player of the year		 Conference
tournament		 Tournament
venue (City)		 Tournament
winner
Big Six ConferenceIowa State & OklahomaNone selectedNo Tournament
Big Ten ConferenceOhio StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Border ConferenceNew Mexico & Arizona State–FlagstaffNone selectedNo Tournament
Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball LeagueDartmouthNone selectedNo Tournament
Metropolitan New York ConferenceDid not play as conference
Missouri Valley ConferenceOklahoma A&MNone selectedNo Tournament
New England ConferenceConnecticutNo Tournament
Pacific Coast ConferenceWashington (North); California (South)No Tournament
Mountain States (Skyline) ConferenceDid not play as conference
Southeastern ConferenceKentuckyNone selected1944 SEC men's basketball tournamentJefferson County Armory,
(Louisville, Kentucky)		Kentucky
Southern ConferenceNorth CarolinaNone selected1944 Southern Conference men's basketball tournamentThompson Gym
(Raleigh, North Carolina)		Duke[6]
Southwest ConferenceArkansas & RiceNone selectedNo Tournament
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Conference standings

More information Conf., Overall ...
1943–44 Big Six Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Iowa State9–1 .90014–4  .778
Oklahoma9–1 .90015–8  .652
Kansas5–5 .50017–9  .654
Missouri5–5 .50010–9  .526
Kansas State1–9 .1007–15  .318
Nebraska1–9 .1002–13  .133
1943–44 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Ohio State10–2 .83314–7  .667
Iowa9–3 .75014–4  .778
Wisconsin9–3 .75012–9  .571
Northwestern8–4 .66712–7  .632
Purdue8–4 .66711–10  .524
Illinois5–7 .41711–9  .550
Michigan5–7 .4178–10  .444
Minnesota2–10 .1677–14  .333
Indiana2–10 .1677–15  .318
Chicago0–8 .0001–19  .050
1943–44 Border Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
New Mexico3–0 1.00011–2  .846
Texas Tech0–3 .0005–18  .217
Arizona State–Flagstaff– –2–0  1.000
Arizona– –12–2  .857
Arizona State–Tempe– –12–2  .857
1943–44 Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Dartmouth8–0 1.00019–2  .905
Pennsylvania6–2 .75010–4  .714
Cornell2–6 .2509–11  .450
Columbia2–6 .2507–9  .438
Princeton2–6 .2506–12  .333
1943–44 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Oklahoma A&M†– –27–6  .818
Washington University– –12–5  .706
Tulsa– –5–3  .625
Drake– –7–13  .350
† Regular-season championship winner
1943–44 New England Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Connecticut 6–0 1.00010–9  .526
Rhode Island State 4–2 .66714–6  .700
Northeastern 1–5 .1678–8  .500
Maine 1–5 .1674–6  .400
1943–44 Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
North
Washington15–1 .93826–6  .813
Oregon11–5 .68816–10  .615
Idaho5–11 .3137–16  .304
Oregon State5–11 .3138–16  .333
Washington State4–12 .2508–19  .296
South
California4–0 1.0007–3  .700
UCLA3–3 .50010–10  .500
USC1–5 .1678–12  .400
1943–44 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Tulane4–0 1.00016–6  .727
Georgia Tech2–0 1.00014–4  .778
Georgia0–2 .0007–10  .412
LSU0–4 .00010–15  .400
Kentucky †– –19–2  .905
Vanderbilt– –12–3  .800
† Regular-season championship and SEC Tournament winner
1943–44 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
North Carolina9–1 .90017–10  .630
Virginia Tech4–1 .80011–4  .733
Duke †4–2 .66713–13  .500
Maryland2–1 .6674–14  .222
Richmond2–2 .5007–6  .538
Davidson3–4 .42916–7  .696
South Carolina1–2 .33313–2  .867
Clemson1–2 .3331–10  .091
North Carolina State2–5 .2865–13  .278
William & Mary1–3 .25010–11  .476
The Citadel0–1 .0002–3  .400
VMI0–5 .0000–14  .000
† Southern Conference Tournament winner
1943–44 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Rice11–1 .91715–5  .750
Arkansas11–1 .91716–8  .667
Texas6–6 .50014–11  .560
SMU6–6 .5008–9  .471
TCU6–6 .5009–12  .429
Baylor2–10 .1676–12  .333
Texas A&M0–12 .0002–15  .118
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Major independents

A total of 61 college teams played as major independents. Army (15–0) was undefeated. Bowling Green State (22–4), DePaul (22–4), Gonzaga (22–4), and Utah (22–4) finished with the most wins.[7]

More information Conf., Overall ...
1943–44 NCAA men's basketball independents standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Army– –15–0  1.000
Denison– –18–2  .900
Bowling Green State– –22–4  .846
DePaul– –22–4  .846
Gonzaga– –22–4  .846
Utah– –22–4  .846
Miami (Ohio)– –10–2  .833
Indiana State– –17–4  .810
LIU– –12–3  .800
Loyola (Calif.)– –4–1  .800
Muhlenberg– –20–5  .800
Western Michigan– –15–4  .789
St. John's– –18–5  .783
Bucknell– –9–3  .750
Rochester (N.Y.)– –11–4  .733
St. Joseph's– –18–7  .720
Canisius– –15–6  .714
Navy– –10–4  .714
Catholic– –17–7  .708
Lafayette– –7–3  .700
Yale– –14–6  .700
Colgate– –11–5  .688
Pacific– –13–6  .684
Marshall– –15–7  .682
Valparaiso– –17–8  .680
Akron– –10–5  .667
Detroit– –13–7  .650
Washington & Jefferson– –11–6  .647
St. Francis (NY)– –10–6  .625
Temple– –14–9  .609
BYU– –3–2  .600
Western Kentucky State– –13–9  .591
Pepperdine– –20–14  .588
Virginia– –11–8  .579
Marquette– –8–6  .571
Ohio– –9–7  .563
Loyola (Md.)– –15–12  .556
Cincinnati– –6–5  .545
Penn State– –8–7  .533
Notre Dame– –10–9  .526
La Salle– –8–8  .500
Louisville– –10–10  .500
NYU– –7–7  .500
Pittsburgh– –7–7  .500
Saint Mary's– –5–5  .500
Villanova– –9–11  .450
Delaware– –7–9  .438
Holy Cross– –6–8  .429
San Francisco– –8–11  .421
West Virginia– –8–11  .421
Brown– –10–14  .417
CCNY– –6–11  .353
Brooklyn– –6–14  .300
Toledo– –5–13  .278
Denver– –6–18  .250
Lehigh– –4–12  .250
Rider– –3–12  .200
Tennessee Tech– –3–13  .188
Montana– –2–10  .167
Harvard– –2–12  .143
Northern Colorado– –1–13  .071
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Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main articles: 1944 NCAA basketball tournament and 1944 NCAA Basketball Championship Game

Semifinals & final

National semifinals National Final
      
Dartmouth 60
Ohio State 53
Dartmouth 40
Utah 42
Iowa State 31
Utah 40

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1944 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

Semifinals Finals
    
Oklahoma A&M 38
DePaul 41
DePaul 39
St. John's 47
Kentucky 45
St. John's 48 Third place
Oklahoma A&M 29 29
Kentucky 45

Awards

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1944 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
More information Player, Position ...
Consensus First Team
Player Position Class Team
Bob Brannum C Sophomore Kentucky
Audley Brindley F Sophomore Dartmouth
Otto Graham F Senior Northwestern
Leo Klier F Junior Notre Dame
Bob Kurland C Sophomore Oklahoma A&M
George Mikan C Sophomore DePaul
Allie Paine G Junior Oklahoma
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More information Player, Position ...
Consensus Second Team
Player Position Class Team
Bob Dille F Sophomore Valparaiso
Arnie Ferrin F Freshman Utah
Don Grate G Junior Ohio State
Dale Hall F Junior Army
Bill Henry C Junior Rice
Dick Triptow G Senior DePaul
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Major player of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

More information Team, Former Coach ...
Team Former
Coach		 Interim
Coach		 New
Coach		 Reason
Cincinnati Robert Reuss Ray Farnham
The Citadel Ben Clemons Ernest Wehman
Dartmouth Earl Brown Osborne Cowles Cowles returned from World War II.
Delaware Edmund Prince William Murray
Denver Art Quinlan Cliff Rock
Drake Bill Easton Vee Freen
Gonzaga Charles Henry Eugene Wozny
Kansas State Cliff Rock Fitz Knorr Rock left to coach at Denver.
Louisville Harold Church & Walter Casey Bernard Hickman
Loyola (Md.) Lefty Reitz Albert Barthelme
LSU Dale Morey Jesse Fatherree
Maine Samuel Sezak William C. Kenyon
Minnesota Carl Nordly Weston Mitchell
Montana Ed Buzzetti George Dahlberg
New Mexico George White Woody Clements
North Carolina Bill Lange Ben Carnevale
Notre Dame Moose Krause Clem Crowe
Oregon Howard Hobson John A. Warren
Saint Mary's James Phelan Clarence Anderson
SMU James Stewart Roy Baccus
South Carolina Henry Findley John D. McMillan
Toledo Burl Friddle Rollie Boldt
Tulsa Woody West Paul Alyea
USC Ernie Holbrook Bobby Muth
Vanderbilt Smokey Harper Garland Morrow
Virginia Tech Herbert McEver George S. Proctor
West Virginia Harry Lothes John Brickles
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References

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