1946–47 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1946–47 Holy Cross Crusaders Basketball Independent N/A N/A 27–3 N/A Alvin "Doggie" Julian Hop Riopel NCAA tournament National champions National Championship Game W Won 58–47 vs. Oklahoma The 1946–47 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represented the College of the Holy Cross, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in NCAA competition in the 1946–47 season. The Crusaders, behind coach Alvin "Doggie" Julian, NCAA tournament MVP George Kaftan, star Joe Mullaney and a freshman point guard named Bob Cousy, beat Oklahoma at Madison Square Garden to win the NCAA championship.14 March 2009 Holy Cross Was Once King of Hoops https://sportslifer.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/once-upon-a-time-holy-cross-was-king-of-hoops/ live 6 September 2010 sportslifer.wordpress.com https://web.archive.org/web/20110718110834/http://sportslifer.wordpress.com/2009/03/14/once-upon-a-time-holy-cross-was-king-of-hoops/ 2011-07-18 The Crusaders, who played their home games at Boston Garden and the South High Community School in Worcester, Massachusetts, won their first four games of 1946–47, tripped through a three-game losing streak, then finished the year with 23 straight victories.https://www.telegram.com/sports/20170402/70-years-ago-cinderella-kids-from-holy-cross-won-ncaa-title 70 years ago, 'Cinderella kids' from Holy Cross won NCAA title The team entered the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament as the last seed in the 8-team tournament. In the first match, Holy Cross defeated the United States Naval Academy in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden by a score of 55–47. Mullaney led the team in scoring with 18 points, mostly in part to Navy coach Ben Carnevale's decision to have his players back off from Mullaney, who was reputed as being more of a playmaker than a shooter.Reynolds, p51. In the semi-final match, Holy Cross faced the City College of New York (CCNY), coached by Nat Holman, one of the game's earliest innovators. The Crusaders, led by Kaftan's 30-point game, easily defeated the Beavers 60–45.Reynolds, p52. In the championship game, Holy Cross faced the University of Oklahoma, behind coach Bruce Drake, in another sold-out game at Madison Square Garden. Kaftan followed up the semi-final match with 18 points in the title game, leading the Crusaders to a 58–47 victory against the Sooners. Holy Cross became the first school from the New England area, as well as the state of Massachusetts, to win a national college basketball title. The Crusaders finished the 1947 season with 23 straight wins. Afterward, 35,000 people watched a parade in the team's honor on Holy Cross Day in Worcester. Future NBA legend Cousy was named AP and UP player of the year, and George Kaftan was voted to the all-decade team of the 1940s by the NCAA in 1989. NCAA tournament results thumb|upright|Future NBA legend Bob Cousy was a freshman point guard on Holy Cross   Holy Cross 55   Navy 47   CCNY 70   Wisconsin 56   Texas 42   Wyoming 40   Oklahoma 56   Oregon State 54   Holy Cross 60   CCNY 45   Texas 54   Oklahoma 55   Holy Cross 58   Oklahoma 47 CCNY 50 Texas 54 Source 1947 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket All-time NCAA Tournament brackets databaseSports.com 2007 http://www.databasesports.com/ncaab/tourney.htm?yr=1947 September 6, 2010 Awards and honors George Kaftan NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player (MOP) Consensus Second Team All-American References External links Holy Cross – 1947 NCAA Champions Holy Cross Category:Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball seasons Holy Cross Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons