History of the NCAA College Basketball Championship
The NCAA men's basketball championship has evolved into the biggest American sporting event in the late winter/early spring, having risen from somewhat humble beginnings.
Other People Are Reading
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Tipping Off
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The NCAA tournament was the idea of then-Kansas coach Phog Allen in 1939 and organized by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
Eight is Enough
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The first NCAA tournament consisted of eight teams and stayed that way until the field expanded to 16 in 1951. The tournament eventually grew to 32 then 48 teams. It now has 65.
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Lucky Ducks
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Oregon won the first NCAA championship game, beating Ohio State 46-33 in Evanston, Illinois. It remains the Ducks' lone title.
Beware of Bruins
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UCLA has won the most NCAA championships with 11, all but one of which (1995) came under legendary coach John Wooden from 1964 to 1975. Kentucky is second with seven.
New York, New York
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From 1943 to 1948, the championship game was staged in New York's Madison Square Garden. It has not returned.
Crowd Pleaser
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A record 72,456 fans showed up for the Final Four at Detroit's Ford Field in 2009, many of whom were there in support of Michigan State. The Spartans lost the title game to North Carolina.
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