1953 Dixie Classic Explained

Type:Dixie
Gender:Men's
Year:1953
Season:1954
Teams:8
Finalfourarena:Reynolds Coliseum
Finalfourcity:Raleigh, North Carolina
Champions:Duke
Titlecount:1st
Runnerup:Navy
Gamecount:1st
Coach:Harold Bradley
Coachcount:1st
Mop:Rudy D'Emilio
Mopteam:Duke
Attendance:60,000[1]

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.[2] However, the final was contested by Duke and Navy. Duke won 98–83, breaking Navy's six-game unbeaten streak.[3]

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:[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Hart . Reese . State Vs. Minnesota In Finals . The Durham Sun . Associated Press . 29 December 1954 . 15 . en . Attendance of 22,500 yesterday brought the two-day figure to 46,000. Last year's record was 60,000..
  2. News: Hart . Reese . 5th Annual Dixie Classic Starts Play Tomorrow . Durham Morning Herald . 27 December 1953 . 13.
  3. News: Brooks . Bob . Duke Wins Dixie Classic Championship; Deacs Wallop State . The News and Observer . 31 December 1953 . 13 . en.
  4. Web site: Program, Men's basketball, Dixie Classic, 5th Annual, 28 December to 30 December 1953 . Men's Basketball, 1911-2008 (UA015.010 Series 4), Special Collections Research Center at NC State University Libraries . en.