The 1951–52 NCAA men's basketball season began in December 1951, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1952 NCAA basketball tournament championship game on March 26, 1952, at Hec Edmundson Pavilion in Seattle, Washington. The Kansas Jayhawks won their first NCAA national championship with an 80–63 victory over the St. John's Redmen.

Quick Facts –52 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Preseason AP No. 1 ...
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Season headlines

  • The 1951–52 season was the last one in which colleges and universities could include non-collegiate opponents in their schedules with the games recognized as part of their official record for the season, a common practice for many years. After the season, the NCAA ruled that colleges and universities could no longer count games played against non-collegiate opponents in their annual won-loss records.[1]
  • Long Island University began the first season of its six-year ban from playing NCAA basketball as a result of the CCNY point-shaving scandal that had been revealed in 1951.[2][3]
  • After finishing second in the Southern Conference in regular-season play, North Carolina State became the first team to receive an automatic NCAA tournament bid by winning its conference tournament championship without finishing first in its conference during the regular season.[4]
  • The 1952 NCAA tournament was the first NCAA tournament to have four regional sites, and therefore was the first to have a true "Final Four," with the winners at four regional sites advancing to play at the finals site. Although four teams had advanced to the finals site since 1946, they previously had come from only two regional sites.[4][5]
  • Elmer Gross of Penn State became the first head coach to lead his alma mater into the NCAA tournament after having played in the tournament. He had played for Penn State in the 1942 NCAA basketball tournament.[6]
  • Doyle Parrack of Oklahoma City became the first head coach to lead a school other than his alma mater into the NCAA tournament after having played in the tournament. He had played for Oklahoma A&M in the 1945 NCAA basketball tournament.[6]
  • Clyde Lovellette of Kansas became the first player to score 40 or more points in an NCAA tournament game when he scored 44 against Saint Louis in a West Region final game on March 22, 1952.[4] He was the first player to lead the United States in scoring and win the NCAA title in the same year.[7]
  • The NCAA tournament received regional television coverage for the first time.[4]

Harlem Globetrotters vs. Seattle University

On January 21, 1952, the Harlem Globetrotters played Seattle in a game designed to raise funds for the United States Olympic efforts. Five days before the game was held, Royal Brougham received a call from Howard Hobson, who was the Yale basketball coach and a United States Olympic Committee member. It was reported that money was needed to support the country's Olympic effort for the games held in Helsinki, Finland. The Globetrotters had agreed to a three-game fund-raiser against college teams in the West, Midwest and East.[8]

Tickets cost $1.50 and they were sold out in 48 hours.[8] Jazz great Louis Armstrong played at halftime and actress Joan Caulfield performed a ceremonial opening tip off. The game was played at the University of Washington's Hec Edmondson Pavilion and was filled to its 12,500 capacity.

The Globetrotters were considered the best basketball team in the world and the club paid their two star players "Goose" Tatum and Marques Hayes twenty five thousand dollars each.[9] Entering the game with Seattle, the Globetrotters had played 3571 games winning 93 percent of their contests.[9]

Seattle player Johnny O'Brien was the nation's leading scorer at that time. O'Brien would become the first player in the history of college basketball to score 1000 points in a single season.[10] He would finish the season with 1,051 points. Against the Globetrotters, O'Brien poured in 43 points. Johnny's brother Eddie played point guard for Chieftains and his half court shot lifted the club to a 10-point lead.

After halftime, the Globetrotters got back in the game as Johnny O'Brien sat out most of the third quarter. With seconds left in the game, the Globetrotters called a time out they did not have. A free throw was made by Johnny O'Brien and there was a possession change. The Chieftains were ahead 84–81.

Globetrotter owner Abe Saperstein was so upset that he canceled the rest of the Trotters benefit schedule that year.[9]

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1951–52, the following rules change was implemented:

  • Games were divided into four 10-minute quarters. Previously, they had been divided into two 20-minute halves.[11]

[12]

Conference membership changes

New arenas

Georgetown, which had played since the 1927–28 season at various off-campus sites, opened McDonough Gymnasium, its first on-campus intercollegiate basketball venue since its final season as Ryan Gymnasium in the 1926–27 season. In the first regular-season game in the new gymnasium, played the day before McDonough's official opening, the Hoyas lost to Fordham 57–50 on December 7, 1951, their only home loss of the season.[13][14] McDonough served as Georgetown's home court until the Hoyas moved to the Capital Centre (later USAir Arena and USAirways Arena) in Landover, Maryland, for the 1981–82 season,[15] but has hosted occasional Hoya home games since then.[16][17][18][19][20][21][22]

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

More information Conference, Regular Season Winner ...
Conference Regular
Season Winner[23]
Conference
player of the year
Conference
Tournament
Tournament
Venue (City)
Tournament
winner
Big Seven ConferenceKansasNone SelectedNo Tournament
Big Ten ConferenceIllinoisNone SelectedNo Tournament
Border ConferenceNew Mexico A&M & West Texas StateNone SelectedNo Tournament
Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball LeaguePrincetonNone SelectedNo Tournament
Metropolitan New York ConferenceSt. John'sNone SelectedNo Tournament
Mid-American ConferenceMiami & Western MichiganNone SelectedNo Tournament
Missouri Valley ConferenceSaint LouisNone SelectedNo Tournament
Mountain States (Skyline) ConferenceWyomingNone SelectedNo Tournament
Ohio Valley ConferenceWestern Kentucky StateNone Selected1952 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournamentJefferson County Armory,
(Louisville, Kentucky)
Western Kentucky State
Pacific Coast ConferenceWashington (North);
UCLA (South)
None SelectedNo Tournament;
UCLA defeated Washington in best-of-three conference championship playoff series
Southeastern ConferenceKentuckyNone Selected1952 SEC men's basketball tournamentJefferson County Armory,
(Louisville, Kentucky)
Kentucky
Southern ConferenceWest VirginiaDick Groat, Duke[24]1952 Southern Conference men's basketball tournamentReynolds Coliseum
(Raleigh, North Carolina)
North Carolina State[25]
Southwest ConferenceTCUNone SelectedNo Tournament
Western New York Little Three ConferenceCanisius & St. BonaventureNo Tournament
Yankee ConferenceConnecticutNone SelectedNo Tournament
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Conference standings

More information Conf, Overall ...
1951–52 Big Seven Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 8 Kansas111 .917283  .903
No. 3 Kansas State102 .833195  .792
Missouri66 .5001410  .583
Iowa State48 .3331011  .476
Colorado48 .333816  .333
Oklahoma48 .333717  .292
Nebraska39 .250717  .292
Rankings from AP Poll[26]
1951–52 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 2 Illinois122 .857224  .846
No. 7 Iowa113 .786193  .864
Minnesota104 .714157  .682
Indiana95 .643166  .727
Michigan State68 .429139  .591
Ohio State68 .429814  .364
Wisconsin59 .3571012  .455
Michigan410 .286715  .318
Northwestern410 .286715  .318
Purdue311 .214814  .364
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Border Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
West Texas State122 .857199  .679
New Mexico A&M144 .7782211  .667
Texas Tech95 .6431410  .583
Arizona68 .4291116  .407
Arizona State–Tempe68 .429816  .333
Hardin–Simmons59 .3571715  .531
Texas Western59 .357817  .320
Arizona State–Flagstaff113 .071423  .148
† Regular-season co-championship winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Eastern Intercollegiate Basketball League standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Princeton102 .8331611  .593
Pennsylvania93 .750218  .724
Cornell84 .667169  .640
Columbia75 .5831210  .545
Yale48 .3331414  .500
Dartmouth48 .3331119  .367
Harvard012 .000517  .227
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Metropolitan New York Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 10 St. John's60 1.000256  .806
St. Francis (NY)42 .667208  .714
Manhattan42 .667129  .571
Fordham33 .500208  .714
NYU23 .400178  .680
CCNY15 .167811  .421
Brooklyn05 .00097  .563
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Miami (Ohio)93 .750196  .760
Western Michigan93 .750168  .667
Toledo84 .6672011  .645
Ohio66 .5001212  .500
Cincinnati55 .5001116  .407
Kent State37 .3001410  .583
Western Reserve012 .000123  .042
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 5 Saint Louis91 .900238  .742
Oklahoma A&M73 .700198  .704
Tulsa55 .5001410  .583
Detroit46 .4001412  .538
Houston37 .300714  .333
Wichita Municipal28 .2001119  .367
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Mountain States Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 16 Wyoming131 .929287  .800
BYU95 .6431410  .583
Utah State95 .6431615  .516
Utah86 .571199  .679
Montana77 .5001214  .462
Denver68 .4291115  .423
Colorado A&M311 .2141315  .464
New Mexico113 .071619  .240
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Western Kentucky State111 .917265  .839
Eastern Kentucky State102 .8331311  .542
Murray State 2410  .706
Marshall 1511  .577
Morehead State 1114  .440
Tennessee Tech 913  .409
Evansville 720  .259
Ohio Valley Conference Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Pacific Coast Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
North
No. 6 Washington142 .875256  .806
Idaho97 .5631913  .594
Oregon88 .5001416  .467
Washington State610 .3751916  .543
Oregon State313 .188919  .321
South
No. 19 UCLA84 .6671912  .613
Stanford66 .500198  .704
California66 .5001713  .567
USC48 .3331614  .533
† Conference playoff series winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 1 Kentucky140 1.000293  .906
LSU95 .643177  .708
Vanderbilt95 .643189  .667
Alabama95 .643139  .591
Ole Miss86 .5711511  .577
Florida77 .500159  .625
Tennessee77 .500139  .591
Tulane77 .5001212  .500
Auburn68 .4291412  .538
Mississippi State410 .2861211  .522
Georgia Tech212 .143715  .318
Georgia212 .143322  .120
1952 SEC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[27]
1951–52 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 9 West Virginia151 .938234  .852
North Carolina State122 .8572410  .706
No. 12 Duke133 .813246  .800
Clemson114 .733177  .708
George Washington126 .667159  .625
Maryland95 .643139  .591
Furman95 .643186  .750
William & Mary106 .6251513  .536
South Carolina87 .5331410  .583
Wake Forest79 .4381019  .345
North Carolina811 .4211215  .444
Virginia Tech310 .231416  .200
Richmond311 .214715  .318
Washington and Lee311 .214621  .222
Davidson415 .211718  .280
VMI213 .133321  .125
The Citadel111 .083820  .286
Southern Conference Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
TCU111 .917244  .857
Texas84 .667168  .667
SMU57 .4171113  .458
Texas A&M57 .417915  .375
Baylor57 .417618  .250
Arkansas48 .3331014  .417
Rice48 .333915  .375
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Western New York Little Three Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 15 St. Bonaventure 216  .778
Canisius 159  .625
Niagara 821  .276
† Regular-season co-championship winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1951–52 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Connecticut 61 .857207  .741
Rhode Island 62 .7501013  .435
Vermont 31 .750146  .700
New Hampshire 45 .444119  .550
Maine 26 .250712  .368
Massachusetts 06 .000417  .190
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Major independents

A total of 45 college teams played as major independents. Among them, Seton Hall (25–3) finished with the best winning percentage (.853) and Dayton (28–5) with the most wins.[28][29]

Although not considered major independents during the season,[28] Seattle (27–8) and Texas State (30–1) played as independents[28] and finished the season with national rankings. In the season's final AP Poll, Seattle was ranked No. 18 and Texas State was No. 20.[30]

More information Conf, Overall ...
1951–52 NCAA men's basketball independents standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 14 Seton Hall 253  .893
No. 13 Holy Cross 244  .857
No. 4 Duquesne 234  .852
No. 11 Dayton 285  .848
La Salle 245  .828
Boston College 225  .815
Siena 246  .800
No. 17 Louisville 206  .769
Penn State 206  .769
St. Joseph's 207  .741
DePaul 198  .704
Oklahoma City 198  .704
Villanova 198  .704
Syracuse 146  .700
Navy 167  .696
Loyola (Ill.) 178  .680
Miami (Fla.) 148  .636
Bowling Green State 1710  .630
Lafayette 159  .625
Notre Dame 1610  .615
Saint Mary's 1610  .615
Georgetown 1510  .600
Bradley 1712  .586
Santa Clara 1712  .586
Loyola (La.) 1613  .552
Drake 1312  .520
Butler 1212  .500
Valparaiso 1212  .500
Army 89  .471
Loyola (Calif.) 1214  .462
Marquette 1214  .462
San Francisco 1113  .458
Virginia 1113  .458
Colgate 1012  .455
Pittsburgh 1012  .455
John Carroll 1114  .440
Muhlenberg 1013  .435
Baldwin Wallace 912  .429
Xavier 1014  .417
Temple 915  .375
Lehigh 712  .368
Bucknell 816  .333
Rutgers 613  .316
Creighton 615  .286
Brown 515  .250
Rankings from AP Poll
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Informal championships

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner[31]
Conference
player of the year
Conference
tournament
Tournament
venue (City)
Tournament
winner
Middle Three ConferenceLafayetteNone selectedNo Tournament
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NOTE: Despite its name, the Middle Three Conference was an informal scheduling alliance rather than a true conference, and its members played as independents. In 1951–52, Lafayette finished with the best record in games played between the three members.[32]

Statistical leaders

More information Player, School ...
"Points per gameRebounds per gameAssists per gameField goal percentage
PlayerSchoolPPGPlayerSchoolRPGPlayerSchoolAPGPlayerSchoolFG%
Clyde LovelletteKansas28.4Bill HannonArmy20.9Tom O'TooleBoston College7.9Art SpoelstraWestern Kentucky State51.6
Dick GroatDuke26.0Walter DukesSeton Hall19.7Dick GroatDuke7.6Gerald RogersTexas Western50.4
Bob PettitLSU25.5Ernie BeckPenn19.0Malcolm McLeanDavidson7.5Norm SwansonDetroit50.3
Chuck DarlingIowa25.5Elston TuttleCreighton18.9Larry FriedmanMuhlenberg7.3Karl KlinarVMI49.2
Frank SelvyFurman24.6Bill ChambersWilliam & Mary18.2Roger ChadwickCornell6.9Tom MarshallWestern Kentucky State49.1
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More information Name, School ...
Free throw percentage
Name School FT%
Sy ChadroffMiami (FL)80.5
Bob KenneyKansas80.3
Drew TurnerSt. Mary's (CA)80.2
Tommy BartlettTennessee80.2
Russell ReruchaColorado A&M80.0
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Year-end polls

The final regular-season top 20 from the AP and Coaches Polls.[33]

Postseason tournaments

NCAA tournament

Phog Allen led the Kansas Jayhawks to their first NCAA tournament title, defeating St. John's 80–63. Jayhawk All-American Clyde Lovellette broke the NCAA record by scoring 141 points in the tournament and was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.[33]

Final Four

National semifinals National championship game
    
St. John's 61
Illinois 59
St. John's 63
Kansas 80
Kansas 74
Santa Clara 55 Third place
Illinois 67
Santa Clara 64

National Invitation tournament

La Salle won the National Invitation Tournament by beating Dayton, 75–64. Tom Gola and Norm Grekin were named co-MVPs.[34]

NIT semifinals and final

Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City

Semifinals Final
    
St. Bonaventure 62
Dayton 69
Dayton 64
La Salle 75
Duquesne 46
La Salle 59 Third place
St. Bonaventure 48
Duquesne 34

Award winners

Consensus All-American team

More information Player, Position ...
Consensus First Team
Player Position Class Team
Chuck Darling C Senior Iowa
Rod Fletcher G Senior Illinois
Dick Groat G Senior Duke
Cliff Hagan F Junior Kentucky
Clyde Lovellette C Senior Kansas
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More information Player, Position ...
Consensus Second Team
Player Position Class Team
Bob Houbregs F Junior Washington
Don Meineke F Senior Dayton
Johnny O'Brien G Junior Seattle
Mark Workman C Senior West Virginia
Bob Zawoluk F Senior St. John's
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Major player of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

More information Team, Former Coach ...
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References

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