COLUMBUS, OHIO – MARCH 17: Bryan Greenlee #4 of the Florida Atlantic Owls celebrates after beating the Memphis Tigers 66-65 in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Nationwide Arena on March 17, 2023. Greenlee was a three-year starter in high school for the Rock School Lions in Gainesville.
The first Final Four format crowned a men's college basketball champion 72 years ago today when Kansas beat St. John's. Back then, NCAA basketball was still trying to figure out what it wanted to be. In fact, at that time, and for many years later, the NIT was the more prominent tournament to get an invite from.
But that would change over the years and the NCAA tournament would become the most unique sporting event of the sports calendar.
FIRST FINAL FOUR FORMAT
But, in 1952, college basketball created a single-elimination tournament , with far fewer teams than we have today. It culminated with four remaining teams in one location. There was a third place consolation game as well. Along the way, regional third place games took place. So that is how we arrived at the first Final Four format.
However, the phrase "Final Four" was not official until a member of the media came up with it in the 1970's. By then, John Wooden and UCLA made the NCAA tournament more popular than the NIT and the rest is history.
In honor of the first final four format, let's go back in time with Final Four trivia on Craig Shemon and Company on ESPN Southwest Florida today. Good luck!
FINAL FOUR QUIZ
- How many teams were invited to the tournament in 1952? 24
- Name last year’s Final Four? UConn, SD State, FAU, Miami
- Where is this year’s Final Four? Phoenix
- Where is this year’s women’s Final Four? Cleveland
- Where is next year’s Final Four (Men)? Alamodome – San Antonio
- What school has been to the most Final Fours? North Carolina 21
- What coach has been to the most Final Fours? Mike Krzyzewski 13
- What is the lowest seed to win the NCAA tournament? #8 Villanova 1985
- Two coaches have taken three teams to the Final Four. Name them? Rick Pitino, John Calipari
- Name the most recent player to play in four Final Fours (UCLA freshman not allowed to play)? Christian Laettner played in 23 of 24 possible NCAA tournament games and won 21 of them.
The first Final Four format crowned an NCAA Champion on this day in 1952.
