1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament
| Teams | 36 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Evansville, Indiana | ||||
| Champions | Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers (1st title) | ||||
| Runner-up | Southern Illinois Salukis (2nd title game) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
| ||||
| Winning coach | Guy R. Strong (1st title) | ||||
| MOP | Sam Smith (Kentucky Wesleyan) | ||||
| Attendance | 26,082 | ||||
| |||||
The 1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament involved 36 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA College Division basketball as a culmination of the 1965–66 NCAA College Division men's basketball season. It was won by Kentucky Wesleyan College, with Kentucky Wesleyan's Sam Smith named Most Outstanding Player.
Increase in number of participating teams[edit]
In September 1965, the NCAA granted the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) an automatic berth in the NCAA College Division tournament. Tommy Niland, head coach of Le Moyne, which had received an at-large berth to each of the prevoius two NCAA tournaments, said that he was generally in favor of automatic qualification for the tournament, but, with one less at-large bid available, and the NCAA limiting how many teams from each area of the country enter the tournament, it would now be more difficult for teams in the northeast to be selected. Niland pointed out that none of the schools in the SUNYAC had ever been selected to play in the NCAA tournament in the past and that the conference might not be strong enough to merit an automatic bid.[1] The SUNYAC joined the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the Tri-State Collegiate Basketball League as conferences with automatic tournament bids. This left five at-large bids available for the nearly 200 teams in the northeast, designated by the NCAA as District 1, since teams from this area generally participated in either the Northeast or East Regionals, each of which comprised four teams.[2] Since the MASCAC was very large, with more than 20 teams, it split into two divisions: the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) North Division and the MAC South Division, and each division applied for and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This left only four at-large bids available for teams from the northeast. After considering the large number of teams in District 1, particularly high-quality teams without access to an automatic bid,[3] the NCAA decided that instead of two regions of four teams each as had previously been the case, District 1 would have 12 bids with regional games played at three sites. The winner emerging from one of these sites would go directly to the national quarterfinals, while the other two winners would play each other for a quarterfinal berth.[4] One site would feature the two MAC teams and two at-large teams. The second site would have the Tri-State League champion and three at-large teams. The SUNYAC champion and three at-large teams would play at the third site.[5]
The expansion of the tournament would make it less likely that overflow District 1 teams would need to be sent to the Mideast Regional, as had been the case with Le Moyne and Ithaca in 1964, and Buffalo in 1965.
Regional participants[edit]
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| American International | Fifth Place* | |
| Assumption | Runner-up | |
| Central Connecticut State | Regional Champion | |
| Le Moyne | Fifth Place* | |
| Northeastern | Third Place* | |
| Philadelphia Textile | Third Place* | |
| Potsdam State | Seventh Place* | |
| Springfield | Seventh Place* | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Regional Champion | |
| Oglethorpe | Runner-up | |
| South Carolina State | Fourth Place | |
| Winston-Salem | Third Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Albright | Third Place | |
| Cheyney | Runner-up | |
| Drexel | Fourth Place | |
| Long Island | Regional Champion | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | Regional Champion | |
| Randolph–Macon | Fourth Place | |
| Steubenville | Runner-up | |
| Youngstown State | Third Place | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Fresno State | Regional Champion | |
| Nevada | Third Place | |
| San Diego | Fourth Place | |
| Seattle Pacific | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Evansville | Runner-up | |
| Indiana State | Fourth Place | |
| Lamar | Third Place | |
| Southern Illinois | Regional Champion | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Regional Champion | |
| Arkansas State | Third Place | |
| Jackson State | Fourth Place | |
| SW Missouri State | Runner-up | |
| School | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State College | Third Place* | |
| North Dakota | Regional Champion | |
| St. Procopius | Third Place* | |
| Valparaiso | Runner-up | |
*indicates a tie
Regionals[edit]
Northeast[edit]
| First round Round of 36 See below | Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional Final - Worcester, MA Sweet 16 March 7 | ||||||||||||
| Assumption | 105 | |||||||||||||
| American International | 102 | |||||||||||||
| Assumption | 96 | |||||||||||||
| Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | ||||||||||||||
| Northeastern | 69 | |||||||||||||
| Northeastern | 93 | |||||||||||||
| Springfield | 80 | |||||||||||||
| Assumption | 87 | |||||||||||||
| Central Connecticut State | 96 | |||||||||||||
| Central Connecticut State | 94 | |||||||||||||
| Potsdam State | 82 | |||||||||||||
| Central Connecticut State | 97 | |||||||||||||
| Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Philadelphia Textile | 75 | |||||||||||||
| Philadelphia Textile | 83 | |||||||||||||
| Le Moyne | 61 | |||||||||||||
- Division B Consolation March 2 - Le Moyne 86, Potsdam State 63
- Division A Consolation March 3 - American International 96, Springfield 94*
- Notes
- The right to host the regional final was given to the Division A winner, which was Assumption.[6]
- American International College and Springfield College are both located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College was the host school for Division A.[7]
South - Durham, North Carolina[edit]
Location: McClendon–McDougald Gym Host: North Carolina College at Durham
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 81* | ||||||||
| South Carolina State | 73 | ||||||||
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 48 | ||||||||
| Oglethorpe | 41 | ||||||||
| Oglethorpe | 69 | ||||||||
| Winston-Salem | 66 | ||||||||
- Third Place - Winston-Salem 85, South Carolina State 81
East - Reading, Pennsylvania[edit]
Location: Bollman Center Host: Albright College
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | ||||||||
| Cheyney | 61 | ||||||||
| Albright | 56 | ||||||||
| Cheyney | 64 | ||||||||
| Long Island | 67 | ||||||||
| Long Island | 62 | ||||||||
| Drexel | 54 | ||||||||
- Third Place - Albright 78, Drexel 61
Mideast - Akron, Ohio[edit]
Location: Memorial Hall Host: Municipal University of Akron
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | ||||||||
| Steubenville | 77 | ||||||||
| Randolph–Macon | 56 | ||||||||
| Steubenville | 76 | ||||||||
| Akron | 93 | ||||||||
| Akron | 70 | ||||||||
| Youngstown State | 51 | ||||||||
- Third Place - Youngstown State 94, Randolph–Macon 63
Pacific Coast - Fresno, California[edit]
Location: North Gym Host: Fresno State College
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | ||||||||
| Seattle Pacific | 69 | ||||||||
| San Diego | 63 | ||||||||
| Seattle Pacific | 58 | ||||||||
| Fresno State | 64 | ||||||||
| Fresno State | 127 | ||||||||
| Nevada | 78 | ||||||||
- Third Place - Nevada 74, San Diego 71
Great Lakes - Carbondale, Illinois[edit]
Location: SIU Arena Host: Southern Illinois University
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | ||||||||
| Evansville | 111 | ||||||||
| Lamar | 103 | ||||||||
| Evansville | 77 | ||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 90 | ||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 83 | ||||||||
| Indiana State | 65 | ||||||||
- Third Place - Lamar 93, Indiana State 78
Southwest - Jonesboro, Arkansas[edit]
Location: Indian Fieldhouse Host: Arkansas State College
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | ||||||||
| Abilene Christian | 94 | ||||||||
| Jackson State | 79 | ||||||||
| Abilene Christian | 63 | ||||||||
| SW Missouri State | 58 | ||||||||
| SW Missouri State | 72 | ||||||||
| Arkansas State | 71 | ||||||||
- Third Place - Arkansas State 84, Jackson State 77
Midwest - Grand Forks, North Dakota[edit]
Location: Hyslop Sports Center Host: University of North Dakota
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 7 | ||||||||
| Valparaiso | 107 | ||||||||
| St. Procopius | 76 | ||||||||
| Valparaiso | 82 | ||||||||
| North Dakota | 112 | ||||||||
| North Dakota | 84 | ||||||||
| Colorado State College | 71 | ||||||||
Note: The first-round game between North Dakota and Colorado State College was delayed a day to March 6; the Valparaiso/Saint Procopius game was played in Moorhead, Minnesota on March 5; and the third-place game was cancelled entirely. These occurrences were due to inclement weather.
*denotes each overtime played
National Finals - Evansville, Indiana[edit]
Location: Roberts Municipal Stadium Host: Evansville College
| National Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 9 | National semifinals Final Four March 10 | National Championship March 11 | ||||||||||||
| Central Connecticut State | 76 | |||||||||||||
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 84 | |||||||||||||
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 105 | |||||||||||||
| Akron | 74 | |||||||||||||
| Long Island | 68 | |||||||||||||
| Akron | 74 | |||||||||||||
| Kentucky Wesleyan | 54 | |||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 51 | |||||||||||||
| Fresno State | 70 | |||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 93 | |||||||||||||
| Southern Illinois | 69 | |||||||||||||
| North Dakota | 61 | |||||||||||||
| Abilene Christian | 62 | |||||||||||||
| North Dakota | 63 | |||||||||||||
- Third Place - Akron 76, North Dakota 71
*denotes each overtime played
All-tournament team[edit]
- Phil Jackson (North Dakota)
- David Lee (Southern Illinois)
- George McNeil (Southern Illinois)
- Clarence Smith (Southern Illinois)
- Sam Smith (Kentucky Wesleyan)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ "Niland Displeased". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. September 22, 1965. p. 51. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "SUNY Cagers Given NCAA Tourney Berth". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. September 22, 1965. p. 51. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "KWC in Contention for NCAA Meet Bid". Messenger & Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. January 27, 1966. p. 14-A. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "Maroons and Huskies Play Key Cage Tilt". Daily News. Springfield, Massachusetts. January 18, 1966. p. 24. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Radding, Jerry (January 22, 1966). "The Good and the Bad". The Springfield Union. p. 25. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ "Springfield Teams Out of Tournament". North Adams Transcript. North Adams, Massachusetts. March 3, 1966. p. 16. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ "NCAA Cage Meet Opens Tomorrow". The Post-Standard. Syracuse, New York. February 28, 1966. p. 14. Retrieved January 31, 2024.