The 1956–57 NCAA men's University Division basketball season began in December 1956. It progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 23, 1957, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The North Carolina Tar Heels won their first NCAA national championship with a 54–53 triple-overtime victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.
Quick Facts –57 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Preseason AP No. 1 ...
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- The width of the free throw lane (also known as the "key"), increased from 6 to 12 feet (1.8 to 3.7 m).[1]
- When teams lined up along the key for a free throw, it became mandatory that the two spaces adjacent to the end line be occupied by opponents of the player shooting the free throw. Previously, one player from each team occupied the spaces adjacent to the end line, with a player from the home team occupying a space marked "H" and a player from the visiting team occupying a space marked "V."[1]
- Grasping the rim of the basket was deemed a form of unsportsmanlike conduct.[1]
Pre-season polls
The top 20 from the AP Poll and the UP Coaches Poll during the pre-season.[6]
More information Associated Press, Ranking ...
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More information School, Former conference ...
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Conferences
Conference winners and tournaments
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Conference standings
More information Conf, Overall ...
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1956–57 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings
| Conf | | | Overall |
Team | W | | L | | PCT | | | W | | L | | PCT |
No. 4 SMU | 11 | – | 1 | | .917 | | | 22 | – | 4
| | .846 |
Rice | 8 | – | 4 | | .667 | | | 16 | – | 8
| | .667 |
TCU | 6 | – | 6 | | .500 | | | 14 | – | 10
| | .583 |
Baylor | 6 | – | 6 | | .500 | | | 9 | – | 15
| | .375 |
Arkansas | 5 | – | 7 | | .417 | | | 11 | – | 12
| | .478 |
Texas | 3 | – | 9 | | .250 | | | 11 | – | 13
| | .458 |
Texas A&M | 3 | – | 9 | | .250 | | | 7 | – | 17
| | .292 |
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Rankings from AP Poll |
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1956–57 Western New York Little Three Conference men's basketball standings
| Conf | | | Overall |
Team | W | | L | | PCT | | | W | | L | | PCT |
No. 20 Canisius | 3 | – | 1 | | .750 | | | 22 | – | 6
| | .786 |
St. Bonaventure | 3 | – | 1 | | .750 | | | 17 | – | 7
| | .708 |
Niagara | 0 | – | 4 | | .000 | | | 12 | – | 13
| | .480 |
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Rankings from AP Poll |
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La Salle, Saint Joseph's, and Temple all finished with 3–1 records in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.
Statistical leaders
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NCAA tournament
Frank McGuire brought the ACC its first national championship as his undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels defeated Wilt Chamberlain and the Kansas Jayhawks in what is considered one of the best games in NCAA history – a 54–53 triple–overtime thriller. Chamberlain was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.
National Invitation tournament
Bradley won its first NIT title, defeating Memphis State in a one-point contest. Memphis State's Win Wilfong won the MVP in a losing cause as he poured in 89 points in the Tigers' four games, including 31 in the final.[20]
Consensus All-American teams
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Major player of the year awards
Major coach of the year awards
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A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.
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