1943 NCAA basketball tournament

1943 NCAA basketball tournament
Teams8
Finals siteMadison Square Garden
New York City
ChampionsWyoming Cowboys (1st title, 1st title game,
1st Final Four)
Runner-upGeorgetown Hoyas (1st title game,
1st Final Four)
Semifinalists
Winning coachEverett Shelton (1st title)
MOPKen Sailors (Wyoming)
Attendance56,876
Top scorerJohn Hargis (Texas)
(59 points)
NCAA Division I men's tournaments
«1942 1944»

The 1943 NCAA basketball tournament involved eight schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 24, 1943, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New York City. A total of nine games were played, including a third place game in each region. Top-ranked Illinois declined to participate in the NCAA tournament or NIT after three of its starters were drafted into the Army.

Wyoming, coached by Everett Shelton, won the national title with a 46–34 victory in the final game over Georgetown, coached by Elmer Ripley.[1][2][3] Ken Sailors of Wyoming was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. The Cowboys were the first team in the 5-year history of the tournament to win after making a previous appearance in the tournament, having appeared in the 1941 tournament.

  1. ^ "Georgetown beaten by Wyoming, 46-34". Milwaukee Journal. United Press. March 31, 1943. p. 8, part 2.
  2. ^ "Wyoming defeats Georgetown, 46-34, for NCAA basketball title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). March 31, 1943. p. 8.
  3. ^ "Wyoming takes coveted crown". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). United Press. March 31, 1943. p. 11.