&sq=&lang=&file=File:Dixie_Classic_logo.png){kind=logo} Logo from the 1958 tournament program | |
| Sport | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1949 |
| Ceased | 1960 |
| No. of teams | 8 |
| Country | United States |
| Venue(s) | William Neal Reynolds Coliseum |
| Most titles | NC State (7) |
The Dixie Classic was an annual college basketball tournament played from 1949 to 1960 in Reynolds Coliseum. The field consisted of the "Big Four" North Carolina schools, the host NC State Wolfpack, Duke Blue Devils, North Carolina Tar Heels, and Wake Forest Demon Deacons, and four teams from across the country.
North Carolina State head coach Everett Case originated the idea of the Classic. His assistant, Carl "Butter" Anderson provided the name. The tournament was played over a three-day period every December, just after Christmas, on North Carolina State's home court.[1]
The Classic consisted of three rounds. In the first round the four North Carolina schools would each play a visiting team. The winners of the first-round game would advance in the winners' bracket and the losers would advance in the losers' bracket. Each day would have four games played until the third and final day when a champion would be crowned. No team from outside North Carolina ever won the Classic.
The tournament came to an end after a point-shaving scandal in 1961 involving players from both North Carolina State and North Carolina.[2][3] The point-shaving scandal in question would ultimately be a part of the greater 1961 NCAA University Division men's basketball gambling scandal led by former NBA player Jack Molinas. The Big Four schools later participated in the Big Four Tournament from 1971 to 1981.
- ^ Peeler, Tim (August 11, 2008). "Remembering Reynolds: The Dixie Classic". North Carolina State University. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ "University Life". Biographical Conversations with William Friday. UNC-TV. Archived from the original on 2008-10-24. Retrieved November 25, 2008.
- ^ Carr, A.J. (March 16, 2006). "Dixie Classic scandal left bad taste". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007. Retrieved November 25, 2008.