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1956–57 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

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

The 1956–57 NCAA men's University Division basketball season began in December 1956. It progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 23, 1957, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The North Carolina Tar Heels won their first NCAA national championship with a 54–53 triple-overtime victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.

Preseason AP No. 1None
NCAATournament1957
Tournament datesMarch 11, 1957 –
March 23, 1957
National ChampionshipMunicipal Auditorium
Kansas City, Missouri
Quick facts –57 NCAA University Division men's basketball season, Preseason AP No. 1 ...
1956–57 NCAA University Division men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1None
NCAA Tournament1957
Tournament datesMarch 11, 1957 –
March 23, 1957
National ChampionshipMunicipal Auditorium
Kansas City, Missouri
NCAA ChampionsNorth Carolina Tar Heels
Helms National ChampionsNorth Carolina Tar Heels
Other championsBradley Braves (NIT)
Player of the Year
(Helms)		Lennie Rosenbluth, North Carolina Tar Heels
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Rule changes

  • The width of the free throw lane (also known as the "key"), increased from 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.7 m).[1]
  • When teams lined up along the key for a free throw, it became mandatory that the two spaces adjacent to the end line be occupied by opponents of the player shooting the free throw. Previously, one player from each team occupied the spaces adjacent to the end line, with a player from the home team occupying a space marked "H" and a player from the visiting team occupying a space marked "V."[1]
  • Grasping the rim of the basket was deemed a form of unsportsmanlike conduct.[1]

Season headlines

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

Main article: 1956–57 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The top 20 from the AP Poll and the UP Coaches Poll during the pre-season.[6]

More information Associated Press, Ranking ...
Associated Press
Ranking Team
1 Kansas
2 Louisville
3 North Carolina
4 Illinois
5 SMU
6 Dayton
7 Temple
8 San Francisco
9 Saint Louis
10 Western Kentucky State
11 West Virginia
12 Oklahoma City
13 Oregon State
14 Kentucky
15 Washington
16
(tie)		 NC State
St. John's
18 Kansas State
19 Vanderbilt
20 Wyoming
UP Coaches
Ranking Team
1 Kansas
2 Louisville
3 North Carolina
4 Illinois
5 SMU
6 Dayton
7 Temple
8 San Francisco
9 Saint Louis
10 Western Kentucky State
11 West Virginia
12 Oklahoma City
13 Oregon State
14 Kentucky
15 Washington
16
(tie)		 NC State
St. John's
18 Kansas State
19 Vanderbilt
20 Wyoming
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Conference membership changes

More information School, Former conference ...
School Former conference New conference
Drake Bulldogs Independent Missouri Valley Conference
Texas Tech Red Raiders Border Conference NCAA University Division independent
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Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner[7]		 Conference
player of the year		 Conference
tournament		 Tournament
venue (City)		 Tournament
winner
Atlantic Coast ConferenceNorth CarolinaLennie Rosenbluth, North Carolina[8]1957 ACC men's basketball tournamentReynolds Coliseum
(Raleigh, North Carolina)		North Carolina
Big Seven ConferenceKansasGary Thompson, Iowa State [9]No Tournament
Big Ten ConferenceIndiana & Michigan StateNone SelectedNo Tournament
Border ConferenceTexas WesternNone SelectedNo Tournament
Ivy LeagueYaleNone SelectedNo Tournament
Metropolitan New York ConferenceNYUNone SelectedNo Tournament
Mid-American ConferenceMiami (OH)None SelectedNo Tournament
Missouri Valley ConferenceSaint LouisNone SelectedNo Tournament
Mountain States (Skyline) ConferenceBYUNone SelectedNo Tournament
Ohio Valley ConferenceMorehead State & Western Kentucky StateNone SelectedNo Tournament
Pacific Coast ConferenceCaliforniaNone SelectedNo Tournament
Southeastern ConferenceKentuckyNone SelectedNo Tournament
Southern ConferenceWest VirginiaRod Hundley, West Virginia[10]1957 Southern Conference men's basketball tournamentRichmond Arena
(Richmond, Virginia)		West Virginia[11]
Southwest ConferenceSMUNone SelectedNo Tournament
West Coast Athletic ConferenceSan FranciscoMike Farmer, San Francisco[12]No Tournament
Western New York Little Three ConferenceCanisius & St. BonaventureNo Tournament
Yankee ConferenceConnecticutNone selectedNo Tournament
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Conference standings

More information Conf., Overall ...
1956–57 ACC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 1 North Carolina†14–0 1.00032–0  1.000
Maryland9–5 .64316–10  .615
Duke8–6 .57113–11  .542
No. 18 Wake Forest7–7 .50019–9  .679
NC State7–7 .50015–11  .577
South Carolina5–9 .35717–12  .586
Virginia3–11 .2146–19  .240
Clemson3–11 .2147–17  .292
† 1957 ACC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[13]
1956–57 Big Seven Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 2 Kansas11–1 .91724–3  .889
Kansas State8–4 .66715–8  .652
Iowa State6–6 .50016–7  .696
Colorado5–7 .41714–9  .609
Nebraska5–7 .41711–12  .478
Missouri4–8 .33310–13  .435
Oklahoma3–9 .2508–15  .348
Rankings from AP Poll[14]
1956–57 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Indiana10–4 .71414–8  .636
No. 11 Michigan State10–4 .71416–10  .615
Minnesota9–5 .64314–8  .636
Ohio State9–5 .64314–8  .636
Purdue8–6 .57115–7  .682
Michigan8–6 .57113–9  .591
Illinois7–7 .50014–8  .636
Iowa4–10 .2868–14  .364
Wisconsin3–11 .2145–17  .227
Northwestern2–12 .1436–16  .273
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Border Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Texas Western8–2 .80014–8  .636
Hardin–Simmons7–3 .70017–9  .654
Arizona5–5 .50013–13  .500
Arizona State–Tempe4–6 .40010–15  .400
West Texas State3–7 .3006–14  .300
New Mexico A&M3–7 .3006–18  .250
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Ivy League men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Yale12–2 .85718–8  .692
Dartmouth10–4 .71418–7  .720
Columbia9–5 .64318–6  .750
Princeton9–5 .64314–9  .609
Harvard7–7 .50012–9  .571
Brown4–10 .2868–16  .333
Pennsylvania3–11 .2147–19  .269
Cornell2–12 .1434–19  .174
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Metropolitan New York Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
NYU3–1 .7508–13  .381
St. John's4–2 .66714–9  .609
Fordham2–2 .50016–10  .615
Manhattan2–2 .5005–9  .357
CCNY3–4 .42911–8  .579
St. Francis (NY)1–2 .33312–14  .462
Brooklyn1–3 .25011–7  .611
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Miami (Ohio)11–1 .91717–8  .680
Marshall8–4 .66715–9  .625
Ohio7–5 .58315–8  .652
Bowling Green7–5 .58314–9  .609
Western Michigan4–8 .3338–13  .381
Toledo3–9 .2505–19  .208
Kent State2–10 .1675–18  .217
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 10 Saint Louis12–2 .85719–9  .679
No. 19 Bradley9–5 .64322–7  .759
No. 20 Oklahoma A&M8–6 .57117–9  .654
Wichita Municipal8–6 .57115–11  .577
Detroit5–9 .35711–15  .423
Houston5–9 .35710–16  .385
Tulsa5–9 .3578–17  .320
Drake4–10 .2868–16  .333
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Mountain States Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
BYU11–3 .78619–9  .679
Utah10–4 .71419–8  .704
Montana9–5 .64313–9  .591
Denver8–6 .57111–12  .478
Utah State7–7 .50011–13  .458
Colorado A&M6–8 .4299–16  .360
Wyoming4–10 .2866–19  .240
New Mexico1–13 .0715–21  .192
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Morehead State9–1 .90019–8  .704
Western Kentucky State9–1 .90017–9  .654
Murray State5–5 .50011–13  .458
Eastern Kentucky State4–6 .4006–15  .286
Middle Tennessee– –12–13  .480
Tennessee Tech1–9 .1009–11  .450
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 13 California14–2 .87521–5  .808
No. 14 UCLA13–3 .81322–4  .846
Washington13–3 .81317–9  .654
USC9–7 .56316–12  .571
Stanford7–9 .43811–15  .423
Oregon State6–10 .37511–15  .423
Idaho4–12 .25010–16  .385
Washington State4–12 .2508–18  .308
Oregon2–14 .1254–21  .160
Rankings from AP Poll[15]
1956–57 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Kentucky12–2 .85723–5  .821
No. 8 Vanderbilt11–4 .73317–5  .773
Georgia Tech12–5 .70618–8  .692
No. 15 Mississippi State9–5 .64317–8  .680
Tulane9–5 .64315–9  .625
Auburn8–7 .53313–8  .619
Alabama7–7 .50015–11  .577
Florida6–8 .42914–10  .583
Tennessee5–9 .35713–9  .591
Ole Miss4–11 .2679–12  .429
Georgia4–12 .2508–16  .333
LSU1–13 .0716–19  .240
Rankings from AP Poll[16]
1956–57 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 7 West Virginia †12–0 1.00025–5  .833
Washington and Lee10–3 .76920–7  .741
Virginia Tech12–5 .70614–8  .636
Furman7–5 .58310–17  .370
Richmond9–7 .56315–11  .577
William & Mary7–11 .3899–18  .333
The Citadel5–9 .35711–14  .440
Davidson4–8 .3337–20  .259
George Washington3–9 .2503–21  .125
VMI1–13 .0714–22  .154
† Southern Conference Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 SMU11–1 .91722–4  .846
Rice8–4 .66716–8  .667
TCU6–6 .50014–10  .583
Baylor6–6 .5009–15  .375
Arkansas5–7 .41711–12  .478
Texas3–9 .25011–13  .458
Texas A&M3–9 .2507–17  .292
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
San Francisco12–2 .85721–7  .750
Santa Clara10–4 .71415–7  .682
Saint Mary's10–4 .71417–9  .654
Fresno State7–7 .50016–10  .615
San Jose State7–7 .50013–12  .520
Loyola (Calif.)5–9 .35711–16  .407
Pacific3–11 .2149–17  .346
Pepperdine2–12 .1437–18  .280
Rankings from AP Poll[17]
1956–57 Western New York Little Three Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 20 Canisius3–1 .75022–6  .786
St. Bonaventure3–1 .75017–7  .708
Niagara0–4 .00012–13  .480
Rankings from AP Poll
1956–57 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Connecticut 8–0 1.00017–8  .680
Rhode Island 6–3 .66711–11  .500
Vermont 3–2 .60015–5  .750
Massachusetts 4–4 .50013–11  .542
Maine 2–6 .2506–14  .300
New Hampshire 1–9 .1003–16  .158
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University Division independents

A total of 44 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, Seattle (22–3) had the best winning percentage (.880) and Memphis State (24–6) finished with the most wins.[18]

Although it played in the NCAA College Division as a non-major team during the season, Idaho State (25–4)[18] played as an independent and finished the season ranked No. 16 in the final AP Poll.[19]

More information Conf., Overall ...
1956–57 NCAA University Division men's basketball independents standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 5 Seattle– –22–3  .880
Lafayette– –22–5  .815
No. 6 Louisville– –21–5  .808
No. 12 Memphis State– –24–6  .800
Syracuse– –18–7  .720
No. 17 Notre Dame– –20–8  .714
Xavier– –20–8  .714
Saint Joseph's– –17–7  .708
Duquesne– –16–7  .696
Temple– –20–9  .690
Dayton– –19–9  .679
No. 9 Oklahoma City– –19–9  .679
Bucknell– –16–8  .667
La Salle– –17–9  .654
Muhlenberg– –17–9  .654
Navy– –15–8  .652
Iona– –12–7  .632
Seton Hall– –17–10  .630
Cincinnati– –15–9  .625
Penn State– –15–10  .600
Portland– –18–12  .600
Pittsburgh– –16–11  .593
Colgate– –14–10  .583
Loyola (Ill.)– –14–10  .583
Kentucky Wesleyan– –16–12  .571
Washington University– –12–9  .571
Loyola (La.)– –14–12  .538
Boston College– –12–11  .522
Texas Tech– –12–11  .522
Georgetown– –11–11  .500
Miami (Fla.)– –13–13  .500
Saint Francis (Pa.)– –12–12  .500
Holy Cross– –11–12  .478
Lehigh– –8–10  .444
Butler– –11–14  .440
Valparaiso– –11–14  .440
Gonzaga– –11–16  .407
Marquette– –10–15  .400
Villanova– –10–15  .400
DePaul– –8–14  .364
Army– –7–13  .350
Rutgers– –8–15  .348
Florida State– –9–17  .346
Siena– –5–15  .250
Rankings from AP Poll
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Informal championships

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner		 Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5La Salle, St. Joseph's, & TempleGuy Rodgers, Temple
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La Salle, Saint Joseph's, and Temple all finished with 3–1 records in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

Statistical leaders

More information Player, School ...
Points per game
Rebound Percentage
Field goal percentage
Free throw percentage
PlayerSchoolPPGPlayerSchoolREB%PlayerSchoolFG%PlayerSchoolFT%
Grady WallaceSouth Carolina31.2Elgin BaylorSeattle.235Bailey HowellMississippi St.56.8Ernie WigginsWake Forest87.7
Joe GibbonMississippi30.0Boo EllisNiagara.234Alvin InnisSt. Francis (NY)56.1Jackie MurdockWake Forest87.5
Elgin BaylorSeattle29.7Charlie TyraLouisville.229Dennis RothMuhlenberg54.4Bob SeitzNC State87.2
Wilt ChamberlainKansas29.6Wilt ChamberlainKansas.227Bob HoltsmaWilliam & Mary54.2Dave RickettsDuquesne86.2
Chet ForteColumbia28.9Gene GuariliaGeorge Washington.218Boo EllisNiagara53.7Bobby PlumpButler86.0
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Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main articles: 1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament and 1957 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game

Frank McGuire brought the ACC its first national championship as his undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels defeated Wilt Chamberlain and the Kansas Jayhawks in what is considered one of the best games in NCAA history – a 54–53 triple–overtime thriller. Chamberlain was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Final Four

Played at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri

National semifinals National championship game
      
E North Carolina 74(3OT)
ME Michigan St. 70
E North Carolina 54(3OT)
MW Kansas 53
MW Kansas 80
W San Francisco 56 National third-place game
ME Michigan State 60
W San Francisco 67

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1957 National Invitation Tournament

Bradley won its first NIT title, defeating Memphis State in a one-point contest. Memphis State's Win Wilfong won the MVP in a losing cause as he poured in 89 points in the Tigers' four games, including 31 in the final.[20]

NIT Semifinals and Final

Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City

Semifinals Final
    
St. Bonaventure 78
Memphis State 80
Memphis State 83
Bradley 84
Bradley 94
Temple 66 Third place
St. Bonaventure 50
Temple 67

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Wilt Chamberlain of Kansas
Guy Rodgers of Temple
Main article: 1957 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
More information Player, Position ...
Consensus First Team
Player Position Class Team
Wilt Chamberlain C Sophomore Kansas
Chet Forte G Senior Columbia
Rod Hundley G/F Senior West Virginia
Jim Krebs F/C Senior SMU
Lennie Rosenbluth F Senior North Carolina
Charlie Tyra C Senior Louisville
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More information Player, Position ...
Consensus Second Team
Player Position Class Team
Elgin Baylor F Sophomore Seattle
Frank Howard F Junior Ohio State
Guy Rodgers G Junior Temple
Gary Thompson G Senior Iowa State
Grady Wallace F Senior South Carolina
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Major player of the year awards

Major coach 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
Arizona State Bill Kajikawa Ned Wulk
Kent State David E. McDowell Bill Bertka
Loyola (LA) Jim McCafferty Jim Harding
LSU Harry Rabenhorst Jay McCreary
Miami (OH) Bill Rohr Dick Shrider
Rhode Island Jack Guy Ernie Calverley
Texas A&M Ken Loeffler Bob Rogers
Virginia Evan Male Billy McCann
Wake Forest Murray Greason Bones McKinney
Washington & Lee Billy McCann Weenie Miller
West Texas A&M Gus Miller Borden Price
Xavier Ned Wulk Jim McCafferty Wulk has left to coach Arizona State.
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References

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