1953 Dixie Classic
{{Short description|Mid-season college basketball tournament}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college basketball tournament
| Type = Dixie
| Gender = Men's
| Year = 1953
| Season = 1954
| Image = 1953 Dixie Classic program page 01.jpg
| ImageSize =
| ImageUpright =
| Caption = Cover of the tournament program
| Teams = 8
| FinalFourArena = Reynolds Coliseum
| FinalFourCity = Raleigh, North Carolina
| Champions = Duke
| TitleCount = 1st
| RunnerUp = Navy
| GameCount = 1st
| Semifinal1 =
| FinalFourCount =
| Semifinal2 =
| FinalFourCount2 =
| Coach = Harold Bradley
| CoachCount = 1st
| MOP = Rudy D'Emilio
| MOPTeam = Duke
| TopScorer =
| TopScorerTeam =
| TopScorer2 =
| TopScorer2Team =
| Points =
}}
File:Bernie Janicki and Rudy D'Emilio with Dixie Classic trophy, Chanticleerseria1954duke 0332.jpg
The 1953 Dixie Classic was a mid-season college basketball tournament held December 28–30, 1953 at NC State's Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the fifth iteration of the Dixie Classic and it was part of the 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball season. The Duke Blue Devils won the final, defeating the Navy Midshipmen 98–83.
Coming into the tournament, 9th-ranked host NC State, who had won the first four Dixie Classics, and 12th-ranked Oregon State were favorites to win the tournament.{{cite news |last1=Hart |first1=Reese |title=5th Annual Dixie Classic Starts Play Tomorrow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117565615/5th-annual-dixie-classic-starts-play/ |work=Durham Morning Herald |date=27 December 1953 |pages=13}} However, the final was contested by Duke and Navy. Duke won 98–83, breaking Navy's six-game unbeaten streak.{{cite news |last1=Brooks |first1=Bob |title=Duke Wins Dixie Classic Championship; Deacs Wallop State |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117565570/duke-wins-dixie-classic-championship/ |work=The News and Observer |date=31 December 1953 |page=13 |language=en}}
Teams
Each year, the Dixie Classic included the "Big Four" teams (Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and Wake Forest), as well as four other invited teams. The 1953 teams were:{{cite web |title=Program, Men's basketball, Dixie Classic, 5th Annual, 28 December to 30 December 1953 |url=https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/ua015_010-004-bx0041-041-001 |website=Men's Basketball, 1911-2008 (UA015.010 Series 4), Special Collections Research Center at NC State University Libraries |language=en}}
- Navy Midshipmen
- North Carolina Tar Heels
- Seton Hall Pirates
- NC State Wolfpack
- Oregon State Beavers
- Duke Blue Devils
- Tulane Green Wave
- Wake Forest Demon Deacons
{{clear}}
Bracket
{{8TeamBracket-Consols
| boldwinner=yes
| QF=
| SF=
| consolation=
| final=
| third=
| fifth=Consolation final
| seventh=
| QF-details1=Dec. 28, 2:00pm
| QF-team1=North Carolina | QF-score1=62
| QF-team2=Navy | QF-score2=86
| QF-details2=Dec. 28, 4:00pm
| QF-team3=NC State | QF-score3=72
| QF-team4=Seton Hall | QF-score4=70
| QF-details3=Dec. 28, 7:30pm
| QF-team5=Duke | QF-score5=71
| QF-team6=Oregon State | QF-score6=61
| QF-details4=Dec. 28, 9:30pm
| QF-team7=Wake Forest | QF-score7=72
| QF-team8=Tulane | QF-score8=65
| SF-details1=Dec. 29, 4:00pm
| SF-team1=Navy | SF-score1=85
| SF-team2=NC State | SF-score2=75
| SF-details2=Dec. 29, 9:30pm
| SF-team3=Duke | SF-score3=83
| SF-team4=Wake Forest | SF-score4=66
| consolation-details1=Dec. 29, 2:00pm
| consolation-team1=North Carolina | consolation-score1=63
| consolation-team2=Seton Hall | consolation-score2=73
| consolation-details2=Dec. 29, 7:30pm
| consolation-team3=Oregon State | consolation-score3=70
| consolation-team4=Tulane | consolation-score4=74
| final-details1=Dec. 30, 9:00pm
| final-team1=Navy | final-score1=83
| final-team2=Duke | final-score2=98
| third-details1=Dec. 30, 7:30pm
| third-team1=NC State | third-score1=79
| third-team2=Wake Forest | third-score2=86
| fifth-details1=Dec. 30, 4:00pm
| fifth-team1=Seton Hall | fifth-score1=77
| fifth-team2=Tulane | fifth-score2=68
| seventh-details1=Dec. 30, 2:00pm
| seventh-team1=North Carolina | seventh-score1=53
| seventh-team2=Oregon State | seventh-score2=65
}}
Game log
{{basketballbox
| id = no1
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = December 28
| time = 2:00pm
| report =
| team1 = North Carolina
| score1 = 62
| team2 = Navy
| score2 = 86
| overtime =
| Q1 = 16–27
| Q2 = 17–21
| Q3 = 14–14
| Q4 = 15–24
| OT =
| points1 = Radovich (15)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Lange (29)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| place = No. 1{{cite news |title=Seton Hall Bows in Dixie Tourney |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1953/12/29/archives/seton-hall-bows-in-dixie-tourney-n-carolina-state-five-beats.html |work=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |date=December 29, 1953 |page=26 |language=en |url-access=subscription |id={{ProQuest|112709210}} }}
| attendance = 11,600
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no2
| bg =
| date = December 28
| time = 4:00pm
| report =
| team1 = NC State
| score1 = 72
| team2 = Seton Hall
| score2 = 70
| overtime =
| Q1 = 17–19
| Q2 = 14–18
| Q3 = 21–21
| Q4 = 20–12
| OT =
| points1 = Molodet (19)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Brooks (19)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance = 11,600
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no3
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = December 28
| time = 7:30pm
| report =
| team1 = Duke
| score1 = 71
| team2 = Oregon State
| score2 = 61
| overtime =
| Q1 = 20–17
| Q2 = 15–11
| Q3 = 18–14
| Q4 = 18–19
| OT =
| points1 = D'Emilio, Belmont (19)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Halbrook (23)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance = 12,000
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no4
| bg =
| date = December 28
| time = 9:30pm
| report =
| team1 = Wake Forest
| score1 = 72
| team2 = Tulane
| score2 = 65
| overtime =
| Q1 = 14–13
| Q2 = 16–20
| Q3 = 21–16
| Q4 = 21–16
| OT =
| points1 = Davis (25)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = P. Wallace (18)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance = 12,000
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no5
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = December 29
| time = 2:00pm
| report =
| team1 = North Carolina
| score1 = 63
| team2 = Seton Hall
| score2 = 73
| overtime =
| Q1 = 17–16
| Q2 = 11–16
| Q3 = 19–19
| Q4 = 16–22
| OT =
| points1 = Likins (16)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Ring (18)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance = 9,500
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no6
| bg =
| date = December 29
| time = 4:00pm
| report =
| team1 = Navy
| score1 = 85
| team2 = NC State
| score2 = 75
| overtime =
| Q1 = 16–19
| Q2 = 16–20
| Q3 = 24–16
| Q4 = 29–20
| OT =
| points1 = Clune (27)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Thompson (23)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance = 9,500
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no7
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = December 29
| time = 7:30pm
| report =
| team1 = Oregon State
| score1 = 70
| team2 = Tulane
| score2 = 74
| overtime =
| Q1 = 21–16
| Q2 = 23–19
| Q3 = 6–19
| Q4 = 20–20
| OT =
| points1 = Halbrook (23)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Cervini (18)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance =
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no8
| bg =
| date = December 29
| time = 9:30pm
| report =
| team1 = Duke
| score1 = 83
| team2 = Wake Forest
| score2 = 66
| overtime =
| Q1 = 30–10
| Q2 = 13–22
| Q3 = 22–21
| Q4 = 18–13
| OT =
| points1 = D'Emilio (23)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Hemric (26)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance =
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no9
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = December 30
| time = 2:00pm
| report =
| team1 = North Carolina
| score1 = 53
| team2 = Oregon State
| score2 = 65
| overtime =
| Q1 = 11–22
| Q2 = 6–18
| Q3 = 18–9
| Q4 = 18–16
| OT =
| points1 = Maddie (17)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Halbrook (16)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance =
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no10
| bg =
| date = December 30
| time = 4:00pm
| report =
| team1 = Seton Hall
| score1 = 77
| team2 = Tulane
| score2 = 68
| overtime =
| Q1 = 22–21
| Q2 = 16–19
| Q3 = 18–15
| Q4 = 21–13
| OT =
| points1 = Long (21)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Brennan, Stoll (13)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance =
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no11
| bg = #e3e3e3
| date = December 30
| time = 7:30pm
| report =
| team1 = NC State
| score1 = 79
| team2 = Wake Forest
| score2 = 86
| overtime =
| Q1 = 21–24
| Q2 = 13–21
| Q3 = 14–21
| Q4 = 31–20
| OT =
| points1 = Thompson (24)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = Hemric (24)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| attendance = 12,000{{cite news |title=Wake Forest Again Beats N. C. State |newspaper=The Washington Post |agency=Associated Press |date=December 31, 1953 |page=10 |language=en |id={{ProQuest|152602232}} }}
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
{{basketballbox
| id = no12
| bg =
| date = December 30
| time = 9:00pm
| report =
| team1 = Navy
| score1 = 83
| team2 = Duke
| score2 = 98
| overtime =
| Q1 = 22–25
| Q2 = 20–21
| Q3 = 19–20
| Q4 = 22–32
| OT =
| points1 = Lange (25)
| rebounds1 =
| assist1 =
| otherstat1 =
| points2 = D'Emilio (24)
| rebounds2 =
| assist2 =
| otherstat2 =
| duration =
| referee =
| TV =
| series =
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [https://d.lib.ncsu.edu/collections/catalog/ua015_010-004-bx0041-041-001 1953 Dixie Classic program] via NC State Libraries
{{Dixie Classic basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dixie Classic}}
Category:1953–54 NCAA men's basketball season
Category:1953 in sports in North Carolina