1966 NCAA University Division basketball tournament
{{Short description|Edition of USA college basketball tournament}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2022}}
{{Infobox NCAA basketball tournament
| Year=1966
| Image= UTEP 1966 basketball.jpg
| ImageSize=
| Caption= Texas Western, national champions
| Teams=22
| FinalFourArena=Cole Field House
| FinalFourCity=College Park, Maryland
| Champions=Texas Western Miners
| TitleCount=1st
| ChampGameCount=1st
| ChampFFCount=1st
| RunnerUp=Kentucky Wildcats
| GameCount=5th
| RunnerFFCount=6th
| Semifinal1=Duke Blue Devils
| FinalFourCount=3rd
| Semifinal2=Utah Redskins
| FinalFourCount2=3rd
| Coach=Don Haskins
| CoachCount=1st
| MOP=Jerry Chambers
| MOPTeam=Utah
| Attendance=140,925
| TopScorer=Jerry Chambers
| TopScorerTeam=Utah
| Points=143
}}
The 1966 NCAA University Division basketball tournament involved 22 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national men's basketball champion of the NCAA University Division, now Division I. It began on March 7 and ended with the championship game on March 19 in College Park, Maryland. A total of 26 games were played, including a third place game in each region and a national third place game.
Third-ranked Texas Western (now UTEP), coached by Don Haskins, won the national title with a 72–65 victory in the final over top-ranked Kentucky, led by head coach Adolph Rupp. Haskins started five black players for the first time in NCAA Championship history. Jerry Chambers of Utah was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
The 2006 film Glory Road is based on the story of the 1966 Texas Western team. Their tournament games against fourth-ranked Kansas and Kentucky are depicted in the film.
The tournament is also significant in that it was the last tournament until 2021, and one of two since the league's official founding, that the Ivy League did not send a representative to the tournament. The league champion, Penn, refused to comply with an NCAA edict that all teams must certify a 1.6 GPA for all student-athletes; the Ivy League and the university did not believe that the NCAA had the power to dictate such things, and as such the team was banned. They would have played Syracuse in the East regional at Blacksburg.[https://www.phillyvoice.com/fifty-years-ago-penn-was-banned-ncaa-tournament-because-grades/ Fifty years ago, Penn was banned from the NCAA tournament because of...grades?], Justin Feil, Philly Voice, March 10, 2016, last accessed April 17, 2022
This was the only NCAA tournament between 1961 and 1982 which did not include UCLA.
Locations
Teams
| class=wikitable
! Region !! Team !! Coach !! Conference !! Finished !! Final Opponent !! Score | ||||||
| colspan=7 | East | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Davidson | Lefty Driesell | Southern | Regional Fourth Place | Saint Joseph's | L 92–76 |
| East | Duke | Vic Bubas | Atlantic Coast | Third Place | Utah | W 79–77 |
| East | Providence | Joe Mullaney | Independent | First round | Saint Joseph's | L 65–48 |
| East | Rhode Island | Ernie Calverley | Yankee | First round | Davidson | L 95–65 |
| East | Saint Joseph's | Jack Ramsay | Middle Atlantic | Regional third place | Davidson | W 92–76 |
| East | Syracuse | Fred Lewis | Independent | Regional Runner-up | Duke | L 91–81 |
| colspan=7 | Mideast | ||||||
| Mideast | Dayton | Don Donoher | Independent | Regional Fourth Place | Western Kentucky | L 82–62 |
| Mideast | Kentucky | Adolph Rupp | Southeastern | Runner Up | Texas Western | L 72–65 |
| Mideast | Loyola–Chicago | George Ireland | Independent | First round | Western Kentucky | L 105–86 |
| Mideast | Miami (OH) | Dick Shrider | Mid-American | First round | Dayton | L 58–51 |
| Mideast | Michigan | Dave Strack | Big Ten | Regional Runner-up | Kentucky | L 84–77 |
| Mideast | Western Kentucky | Johnny Oldham | Ohio Valley | Regional third place | Dayton | W 82–62 |
| colspan=7 | Midwest | ||||||
| Midwest | Cincinnati | Tay Baker | Missouri Valley | Regional Fourth Place | SMU | L 89–84 |
| Midwest | Kansas | Ted Owens | Big Eight | Regional Runner-up | Texas Western | L 81–80 |
| Midwest | Oklahoma City | Abe Lemons | Independent | First round | Texas Western | L 89–74 |
| Midwest | SMU | Doc Hayes | Southwest | Regional third place | Cincinnati | W 89–84 |
| Midwest | Texas Western | Don Haskins | Independent | Champion | Kentucky | W 72–65 |
| colspan=7 | West | ||||||
| West | Colorado State | Jim Williams | Independent | First round | Houston | L 82–76 |
| West | Houston | Guy Lewis | Independent | Regional third place | Pacific | W 102–91 |
| West | Oregon State | Paul Valenti | AAWU | Regional Runner-up | Utah | L 70–64 |
| West | Pacific | Dick Edwards | West Coast Athletic | Regional Fourth Place | Houston | L 102–91 |
| West | Utah | Jack Gardner | Western Athletic | Fourth Place | Duke | L 79–77 |
Bracket
=East region=
{{3RoundBracket|byes=1
|nowrap=y| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Saint Joseph's Hawks|title=Saint Joseph's}}
| RD1-score3=65
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Providence Friars|title=Providence}}
| RD1-score4=48
| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Davidson Wildcats|title=Davidson}}
| RD1-score7=96
| RD1-seed8=
| RD1-team8={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Rhode Island Rams|title=Rhode Island}}
| RD1-score8=65
| RD2-team1=Duke
| RD2-score1=76
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=Saint Joseph's
| RD2-score2=74
| RD2-team3={{cbb link|1965|sex=none|team=Syracuse Orangemen|title=Syracuse}}
| RD2-score3=94
| RD2-seed4=
| RD2-team4=Davidson
| RD2-score4=78
| RD3-seed1=
| RD3-team1=Duke
| RD3-score1=91
| RD3-seed2=
| RD3-team2=Syracuse
| RD3-score2=81
}}
=Mideast region=
{{3RoundBracket|byes=1
|nowrap=y| RD1-seed3=
| RD1-team3={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Dayton Flyers|title=Dayton}}
| RD1-score3=58
| RD1-seed4=
| RD1-team4={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Miami Redskins|title=Miami (OH)}}
| RD1-score4=51
| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Western Kentucky Hilltoppers|title=Western Kentucky}}
| RD1-score7=105
| RD1-seed8=
| RD1-team8={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Loyola Ramblers|title=Loyola–Chicago}}
| RD1-score8=86
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=Kentucky
| RD2-score1=86
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2=Dayton
| RD2-score2=79
| RD2-seed3=
| RD2-team3=Michigan
| RD2-score3=80
| RD2-seed4=
| RD2-team4=Western Kentucky
| RD2-score4=79
| RD3-seed1=
| RD3-team1=Kentucky
| RD3-score1=84
| RD3-seed2=
| RD3-team2=Michigan
| RD3-score2=77
}}
=Midwest region=
{{3RoundBracket|byes=1
|nowrap=y| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7=Texas Western
| RD1-score7=89
| RD1-seed8=
| RD1-team8={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Oklahoma City Chiefs|title=Oklahoma City}}
| RD1-score8=74
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=Kansas
| RD2-score1=76
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=SMU Mustangs|title=SMU}}
| RD2-score2=70
| RD2-seed3=
| RD2-team3={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Cincinnati|title=Cincinnati}}
| RD2-score3=76*
| RD2-seed4=
| RD2-team4=Texas Western
| RD2-score4=78
| RD3-seed1=
| RD3-team1=Kansas
| RD3-score1=80**
| RD3-seed2=
| RD3-team2=Texas Western
| RD3-score2=81
}}
=West region=
{{3RoundBracket|byes=1
|nowrap=y| RD1-seed7=
| RD1-team7=Houston
| RD1-score7=82
| RD1-seed8=
| RD1-team8={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Colorado State|title=Colorado State}}
| RD1-score8=76
| RD2-seed1=
| RD2-team1=Utah
| RD2-score1=83
| RD2-seed2=
| RD2-team2={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Pacific Tigers|title=Pacific}}
| RD2-score2=74
| RD2-seed3=
| RD2-team3={{cbb link|1965|sex=men|team=Oregon State|title=Oregon State}}
| RD2-score3=63
| RD2-seed4=
| RD2-team4=Houston
| RD2-score4=60
| RD3-seed1=
| RD3-team1=Utah
| RD3-score1=70
| RD3-seed2=
| RD3-team2=Oregon State
| RD3-score2=64
}}
=Final Four=
File:Utep v kentucky final game 1966.jpg
{{4TeamBracket | RD1=National Semifinals | RD2=National Championship Game | RD1-seed1=E
| RD1-team1=Duke
| RD1-score1=79
| RD1-seed2=ME
| RD1-team2=Kentucky
| RD1-score2=83
| RD1-seed3=MW
| RD1-team3=Texas Western
| RD1-score3=85
| RD1-seed4=W
| RD1-team4=Utah
| RD1-score4=78
| RD2-seed1=ME
| RD2-team1=Kentucky
| RD2-score1=65
| RD2-seed2=MW
| RD2-team2=Texas Western
| RD2-score2=72
}}
=National Third Place Game=
{{2TeamBracket | RD1=National Third Place Game {{cite web|url=http://www.databasesports.com/ncaab/tourney.htm?yr=1954|title=1954 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket|access-date=October 14, 2011}}
| RD1-seed1=E
| RD1-team1=Duke
| RD1-score1=79
| RD1-seed2=W
| RD1-team2=Utah
| RD1-score2=77
}}
=Regional third place games=
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=East Regional third place
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Saint Joseph's
| RD1-score1=92
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Davidson
| RD1-score2=76
}}
{{col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Mideast Regional third place
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Western Kentucky
| RD1-score1=82
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Dayton
| RD1-score2=62
}}
{{col-end}}
{{col-begin|width=auto}}
{{col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=Midwest Regional third place
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=SMU
| RD1-score1=89
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Cincinnati
| RD1-score2=84
}}
{{col-break}}
{{2TeamBracket
| RD1=West Regional third place
| RD1-seed1=
| RD1-team1=Houston
| RD1-score1=102
| RD1-seed2=
| RD1-team2=Pacific
| RD1-score2=91
}}
{{col-end}}
Game summaries
The Tournament is most remembered for the all-black starting five of Texas Western defeating an all-white starting five for Kentucky in the championship game.Fitzpatrick, Frank - [https://www.espn.com/classic/s/013101_texas_western_fitzpatrick.html Texas Western's 1966 title left lasting legacy.] ESPN Classic, November 19, 2003
Clem Haskins and Dwight Smith became the first black athletes to integrate the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball program in the Fall of 1963.[http://www.hilltopperhaven.com/legends/smith.html Hilltopper Legend Dwight Smith] Hilltopper Haven. Accessed 2009-06-24. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080609104405/http://www.hilltopperhaven.com/legends/smith.html Archived] 2009-07-21. This put Western Kentucky at the forefront to integrate college basketball in the Southeast.Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem - [http://www.kareemabduljabbar.com/my-thoughts-on-ucla-in-the-final-four/ My thoughts on UCLA in the Final Four] Los Angeles Times, March 31, 2008. Western Kentucky was the forefront of the fight to integrate college basketball in the 1960s and early '70s. The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers were 2 points away from defeating Michigan and meeting the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the Mideast regional final. A controversial foul called against Smith during a jump ball put Cazzie Russell on the free throw line for Michigan, where he scored the tying and winning baskets.O'Donnell, Chuck - Cazzie Russell: converting two free throws with no time left advanced Michigan in the 1966 NCAA Tournament - The Game I'll Never Forget - University of Michigan versus Western Kentucky University. Basketball Digest, January/February 2004 issue
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament navbox}}
{{1965–66 NCAA University Division championships navbox}}
{{1966 Texas Western Miners basketball navbox}}
Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament
Category:Basketball competitions in Lubbock, Texas
NCAA University Division basketball tournament
NCAA University Division basketball tournament
Category:Sports in College Park, Maryland