1953–54 NCAA men's basketball season explained
The 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball season began in December 1953, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament championship game on March 20, 1954, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The La Salle Explorers won their first NCAA national championship with a 92–76 victory over the Bradley Braves.
Season headlines
- The Atlantic Coast Conference began play, with eight original members.
- Frank Selvy of Furman scored 100 points in a 149–95 victory over Newberry in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 13, 1954, becoming the first player to score 100 or more points in a game.[3] Selvy finished the season with 1,209 points for the year, the first player to score 1,000 or more points in a single season.[3] He also averaged 41.7 points per game for the season, the first player to average 40 or more points per game in a season,[3] and finished his career (1952–1954) averaging 32.5 points a game, the first player to average 30 or more points per game during a collegiate career.[3]
- The NCAA tournament expanded from 22 to 24 teams.
- Kentucky went undefeated, finishing with a 25–0 record. The Helms Athletic Foundation awarded its national championship to Kentucky rather than to the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament champion, La Salle.[2] It was the fourth and final time that the NCAA champion and the Helms champion differed. In the final AP Poll, taken after the completion of the 1954 NCAA basketball tournament and the then-presitigious National Invitation Tournament, Kentucky was ranked No. 1 ahead of No. 2 La Salle (NCAA tournament champion) and No. 3 Holy Cross (1954 National Invitation Tournament champion).[4]
- The NCAA tournament's Final Four games were played on Friday and Saturday for the first time.[5]
- The NCAA tournament's championship game was televised nationally for the first time. The broadcast rights fee was $7,500.[5]
Season outlook
Pre-season polls
See main article: 1953–54 NCAA men's basketball rankings.
The Top 20 from the AP Poll and the UP Coaches Poll during the pre-season.[6] [7]
Conference membership changes
Regular season
Conferences
Conference winners and tournaments
Conference standings
Major independents
A total of 42 college teams played as major independents. Among them, (26–2) and (26–2) had the best winning percentage (.929), and Holy Cross, Seattle, (26–3), and La Salle (26–4) finished with the most wins.[12]
Statistical leaders
Post-season tournaments
NCAA tournament
See main article: 1954 NCAA basketball tournament and 1954 NCAA Basketball Championship Game.
Final Four
- Third Place – Penn State 70, USC 61
National Invitation tournament
See main article: 1954 National Invitation Tournament.
Semifinals & finals
- Third Place – Niagara 71, Western Kentucky State 66
Awards
Consensus All-American teams
See main article: 1954 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans.
Major player of the year awards
Other major awards
Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.
Notes and References
- Book: ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia . 978-0-345-51392-2 . . 2009 . 625.
- News: April 1, 1954 . Helms Bypasses La Salle — Kentucky Named Top Team . The Daily O'Collegian . December 25, 2023 . Although La Salle won the NCAA title, and Holy Cross the National Invitational crown, Helms Athletic foundation has elected to hand the national championship honors for the 1954 season to the University of Kentucky's undefeated in 25 games Wildcats..
- Web site: Playing Rules History . . . ncaa.org . NCAA . June 25, 2024 . 13.
- News: Fullerton, Jr. . Hugh . Associated Press . March 23, 1954 . Kentucky Beats Out Tourney Winners in Final Cage Poll . Abilene Reporter-News . New York . Abilene, Texas . December 25, 2023 . Kentucky's unbeaten basketball team, which refrained from tournament competition this year, came out ahead of the two national tournament winners, La Salle and Holy Cross, in the final Associated Press ranking poll of the 1953–54 season today..
- Web site: Playing Rules History . . . ncaa.org . NCAA . June 25, 2024 . 11.
- Book: ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia . 978-0-345-51392-2 . . 2009 . 836.
- Web site: 1977 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll. College Poll Archive. August 8, 2020.
- News: 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section. 2009. NCAA. 2009-02-14.
- http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09mbkguide083112.pdf 2008–09 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Year by Year section
- http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/honorsandawards.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section
- http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/standingsandresults.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section
- Web site: 1953-54 Men's Independent Season Summary . . August 8, 2024.
- News: 2021 John Carroll Blue Streaks men's basketball history & records guide, page 28. May 9, 2021. John Carroll Blue Streaks.
