1957 NCAA University Division basketball championship game

Men's college basketball tournament game March 2026 1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament August 2023 1957 NCAA Tournament Championship Game ncg Municipal Auditorium Kansas City Missouri.jpg The Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri, hosted the championship game. March 23, 1957 1956–57 University of North Carolina North Carolina Tar Heels 31–0 ACC 1 1 Frank McGuire 29 17 2 0 6 University of Kansas Kansas Jayhawks 24–2 Big Seven 2 2 Dick Harp 22 24 2 0 5 Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri 7,778Kirschner 2008 114 Joe Conway & Hagan AndersonKirschner 2008 114Bill Mayer http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/mar/15/ku_fans_fired_semifinals/ KU fans fired up for semifinals KUsports.com March 15, 2007 June 17, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224105514/http://www2.kusports.com/news/2007/mar/15/ku_fans_fired_semifinals/ December 24, 2013 live Kansas by 3Earl Morey http://www2.kusports.com/news/1957/mar/23/ku_dream_clash_32357/ 3/23/57 - K.U. in Dream Clash With Tar Heel Quint KUsports.com May 23, 1957 June 17, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224100243/http://www2.kusports.com/news/1957/mar/23/ku_dream_clash_32357/ December 24, 2013 live Wilt Chamberlain, Kansashttp://www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history/outstandingplayer Final Four Most Outstanding Players cbs.sportsline.com February 18, 2024 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080907123518/http://sportsline.com/collegebasketball/mayhem/history/outstandingplayer 7 September 2008 1956 1958 The 1957 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game took place on March 23, 1957, between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Kansas Jayhawks at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The matchup was the final one of the nineteenth edition of the single-elimination tournament now known as the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament—commonly referred to as the NCAA Tournament—organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It was used to crown a national men's basketball champion in the NCAA's University Division, known since 1973 as the NCAA Division I. After winning numerous close games during the regular season, the conference tournament, and a triple-overtime game against Michigan State in the national semifinal, North Carolina came into the national championship game with a record of 31–0. Led by coach Frank McGuire and Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year Lennie Rosenbluth, the Tar Heels were ranked first overall in the AP Poll. Kansas came into the national championship game with two losses, which were credited to poor ball control on the Jayhawks' part. The Jayhawks, led by sophomore phenom and first-team All-American Wilt Chamberlain, were favored to win against the Tar Heels. The game attracted heavy media attention with over ten television stations and sixty–three news reporters in attendance. The North Carolina Tar Heels jumped out to an early 19–7 lead in the first half until the Jayhawks reduced the Tar Heels' lead to seven points (29–22) at halftime. In the second half, the Jayhawks took the lead. The Tar Heels tied the game in the final minute, sending the game into overtime. In the first overtime, each team scored a basket before time ran out; in the second overtime, no points were scored due to lack of offensive execution by both teams. More action took place in the third overtime. The Tar Heels won the game 54–53 as Joe Quigg made two free throws in the closing seconds to give them their first NCAA Men's Basketball National Championship. The team received a large welcome at Raleigh–Durham International Airport when they arrived back in North Carolina. Due to the successful televising of the national championship game in North Carolina, the broadcasting of Atlantic Coast Conference collegiate basketball games expanded greatly. Kansas' Chamberlain was criticized for his inability to win the national championship. He eventually left Kansas after his junior year to join the Harlem Globetrotters. Background North Carolina Tar Heels 1956–57 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team thumb|left|upright|The Tar Heels' Lennie Rosenbluth cuts down the nets after winning the Dixie Classic.|alt=A basketball player cutting a net away from the rim. The North Carolina Tar Heels were coached by Frank McGuire, who was in his fifth season as the team's head coach. His offensive philosophy centered around passing before shooting.Walker 2011 103 McGuire's starting line up, and most of the roster, consisted primarily of players from New York state due to McGuire's connections in the area from his time as St. John's head coach.Walker 2011 103 Carolina squads prior to McGuire usually had several in-state players and select out of state talent.Walker 2011 103 Tommy Kearns and Pete Brennan were two offensive specialists.Walker 2011 103 Center Joe Quigg provided a solid presence in the paint (free throw lane) and grabbed almost nine rebounds per game.Walker 2011 103 Guard Bob Cunningham was one of the team's best defensive players.Walker 2011 103 Lennie Rosenbluth, who averaged almost twenty-eight points a game and served as the team's clutch performer, led the team.Walker 2011 103Walker 2011 104 North Carolina began their 1956–57 campaign with three straight wins by a wide margin of victory.Kirschner 2012 117 In their fourth game, the Tar Heels traveled to Columbia, South Carolina, to play the South Carolina Gamecocks. They took the Tar Heels to overtime before North Carolina was able to come away with a four-point victory.Kirschner 2012 117 Near the end of December, the Tar Heels participated in the annual Dixie Classic.Kirschner 2012 117 They won it and remained undefeated after beating the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in the championship game.Kirschner 2012 117 North Carolina then won five more games before going into double overtime against the Maryland Terrapins winning the game 65–61 to earn their seventeenth consecutive victory.Kirschner 2012 138http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1154821/2/index.htm Frank Deford A Season Of Change April 15, 2009 Sports Illustrated December 23, 2013 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20131225012311/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1154821/2/index.htm December 25, 2013 dead In the following game, the Duke Blue Devils and North Carolina were tied with 73 points each before Tar Heel Kearns sank two free throws to give North Carolina a two-point lead before the game ended.Kirschner 2012 138Louie Horvath http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2009/10/1957_recap_tar_heels_nish_season_unblemished 1957 recap: Tar Heels finish season unblemished The Daily Tar Heel October 12, 2009 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20141206151712/http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2009/10/1957_recap_tar_heels_nish_season_unblemished December 6, 2014 live The Tar Heels closed out the regular season with six more victories to finish with a record of 24–0.Kirschner 2012 117 North Carolina won their quarterfinal match-up in the ACC tournament by twenty points to advance to the semifinals against Wake Forest.Kirschner 2012 134 & 138 The Demon Deacons were leading 59–58 as the game entered the final minute.Walker 2011 105 With time running out, Rosenbluth made a two-point shot but was fouled in the act of shooting, which sent him to the line to shoot a free throw; he made the free throw and the Tar Heels won 61–59.Walker 2011 105 The Tar Heels then beat South Carolina in the championship to earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.Kirschner 2012 134 The Tar Heels defeated the Yale Bulldogs 90–74 in the NCAA East Regional Quarterfinal to advance to the semifinal against Canisius College.Kirschner 2012 117 & 138 North Carolina won the game by twelve points allowing them to move on to the NCAA East Regional Final against the Syracuse Orange.Kirschner 2012 117 & 138 The final, and the semifinal, was held at the Palestra in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Kirschner 2012 117 The Syracuse Orange fell to the Tar Heels 67–58 allowing them to advance to the Final Four in Kansas City, Missouri.Kirschner 2008 114Kirschner 2012 117 The Tar Heels' opponent for the national semifinal was the Michigan State Spartans.Kirschner 2008 114https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2007-03-26-lopresti-1957-unc_N.htm Mike Lopresti Tar Heels' 1957 victory may be best NCAA title game ever USA Today March 26, 2007 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20150325004755/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/lopresti/2007-03-26-lopresti-1957-unc_N.htm March 25, 2015 live The Tar Heels were tied with the Spartans as regulation time was winding down.http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/basketball/men/02tourney/greatest-games.htm Greatest 63 games in NCAA Tournament history Mike Douchant USA Today March 25, 2003 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20141104050149/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/college/basketball/men/02tourney/greatest-games.htm November 4, 2014 live Michigan State's Jack Quiggle made a half court shot that would have given the Spartans the lead, but it left his hands after time expired, nullifying the basket. In the first overtime, Michigan State had a two-point lead with eleven seconds remaining and had a player at the foul line. The Spartan missed both shots. Carolina's Brennan gathered the rebound, dribbled down the court, and made a shot as time expired to send the game to a second overtime. The Tar Heels pulled away in the third overtime to win the game 74–70. The game saw the lead change thirty-one times before the Tar Heels were able to emerge victorious after three overtime periods. Kansas Jayhawks 1956–57 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team thumb|right|alt=A picture of Wilt Chamberlain posing while wearing a Harlem Globetrotters uniform. | Sophomore Wilt Chamberlain (pictured in 1959) joined the Kansas varsity basketball team in 1956. Dick Harp was in the midst of his first season as head coach of the Kansas Jayhawks when the team entered the national championship game.Fulks 2000 20 Kansas began the season favored to win the national title.Ira Berkow https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/sports/college-basketball-final-four-a-repeat-of-1957-final-is-too-much-to-ask.html College Basketball: Final Four; A Repeat of 1957 Final Is Too Much to Ask The New York Times subscription March 29, 1991 December 23, 2013 1 https://web.archive.org/web/20150525232906/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/sports/college-basketball-final-four-a-repeat-of-1957-final-is-too-much-to-ask.html May 25, 2015 live This was due in large part to Wilt Chamberlain joining the varsity team after finishing his freshman year on the freshman team per NCAA rules.Cherry 2004 63 At the beginning of the season, the Jayhawks starting line up consisted of seniors Gene Elstun, Maurice King, John Parker, Lew Johnson, and sophomore Chamberlain.Lucas 2006 52 Ron Loneski replaced Johnson in the starting line up during the season. Associated Press New Nightmare for Stilt? 'Dream Defense' Up Again Atlanta Constitution 5 February 2, 1957 1611977539 Harp began the season with a man-to-man defense, but later switched to a zone defense to give the Jayhawks an advantage in rebounding the basketball.Nelson 1993 52–56 The Jayhawks began the regular season with twelve consecutive victories before losing to the Iowa State Cyclones by two points having lost the lead in the closing seconds of the game.Fulks 2000 22Top Rating Kiss of Death To Kansas? 2 The Milwaukee Sentinel Associated Press January 15, 1957 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rgkkAAAAIBAJ&pg=2468,2040030 September 6, 2010April 2022Theisen Bauer 2013 192 Kansas' next game was against Iowa State; this time, the Jayhawks won the game by a margin of nine points.Theisen Bauer 2013 192 The Jayhawks won their next four games before losing to the Oklahoma State Cowboys in Stillwater, Oklahoma.Theisen Bauer 2013 192Stilt & Co. Fall To Aggies, 56–54 16 Sarasota Journal Associated Press February 21, 1957 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=xQUdAAAAIBAJ&pg=4904,5830514 September 6, 2010 The shot clock was not in use in 1957Official 2008 NCAA Men's Basketball Records Book http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2008/2008RB.pdf National Collegiate Athletic Association December 1, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20190820153413/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2008/2008RB.pdf August 20, 2019 live allowing the Cowboys to hold the ball for the final three and a half minutes and win the game 56–54.Cherry 2004 48–57 Both of the Jayhawks' regular season losses were due in part to their poor ball control. The Jayhawks' squad closed out the regular season with four more victories,Theisen Bauer 2013 192 finishing the regular season with a conference best 11–1 record, earning them the Big Seven Conference regular season crown and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.Fulks 2000 22 In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, the Jayhawks faced the Southern Methodist Mustangs and were forced into an overtime period.Fulks 2000 22Theisen Bauer 2013 192 With 36 points from Chamberlain, the Jayhawks won 73–65 to advance to the regional finals.Theisen Bauer 2013 192 There, they defeated the Oklahoma City Stars 81–61 to reach the Final Four.Theisen Bauer 2013 192Fulks 2000 23 Chamberlain posted 30 points in the contest, adding 15 rebounds. The two-time defending NCAA Tournament champions, the San Francisco Dons, faced Kansas at the Final Four's host site, Kansas City.Fulks 2000 23Jayhawkers' Status Up As Tourney Nears 8 The Times-News United Press March 19, 1957 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PEEaAAAAIBAJ&pg=7101,3388235 September 6, 2010 With a field goal percentage of almost 60 percent, the Jayhawks posted an 80–56 win to advance to the championship game against undefeated North Carolina, the number one-ranked team in the country.Fulks 2000 23https://www.si.com/vault/1957/04/01/599954/cool-32-in-kansas-city Jeremiah Tax Cool 32 In Kansas City April 1, 1957 Sports Illustrated August 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190820152421/https://www.si.com/vault/1957/04/01/599954/cool-32-in-kansas-city August 20, 2019 live Even though the Tar Heels were undefeated, and ranked number one in the nation, Kansas entered the game as a three-point favorite, mostly because playing in Kansas City—close to nearby Lawrence, the school's location—was virtually a home game. Team rosters + 1956–57 North Carolina Tar Heels rosterNo.NamePositionHeight WeightClass 10 Lennie Rosenbluth F 6–5 180 Sr. 11 Ken Rosemond G 5–10 155 Jr. 20 Bob Young C 6–6 220 Sr. 22 Roy Searcy F 6–4 185 Jr. 31 Gehrmann Holland F 6–3 200 So. 32 Bob Cunningham G 6–4 190 Jr. 33 Danny Lotz F 6–7 198 So. 35 Pete Brennan F 6–6 190 Jr. 40 Tommy Kearns G 5–11 191 Jr. 41 Joe Quigg C 6–9 210 Jr. Reference:National Collegiate Basketball Championship National Collegiate Athletic Association http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/kusports/pdf/2007/ncaa-50-years-ago.pdf 13–14 June 6, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034224/http://worldonline.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/kusports/pdf/2007/ncaa-50-years-ago.pdf March 4, 2016 live Morris 1988 281 + 1956–57 Kansas Jayhawks rosterNo.NamePositionHeight WeightClass 8 Maurice King G 6–2½ 190 Sr. 12 Gene Elstun F 6–3¼ 175 Sr. 13 Wilt Chamberlain C 7–0 214 So. 21 Eddie Dater G 6–2½ 195 Sr. 22 John Parker G 6–0 173 Sr. 24 Blaine Hollinger G 5–10¼ 159 Sr. 25 Lew Johnson C–F 6–6 198 Sr. 29 Lee Green F 6–5¼ 190 Sr. 31 Harry Jett F 6–3 166 Sr. 32 Bob Billings G 5–11½ 173 So. 33 Ron Loneski F 6–4½ 215 So. 34 Lynn Kindred G 6–2¼ 156 So. 35 Monte Johnson F 6–5 168 So. Reference: Broadcasting The national semifinal between Kansas and San Francisco was not televised, while the North Carolina-Michigan State Spartans match-up was broadcast in some areas.Luke DeCock https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article16916909.html DeCock: UNC's Lennie Rosenbluth remembers '57 title, Wilt Chamberlain The News & Observer March 21, 2013 August 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190820152856/https://www.newsobserver.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/luke-decock/article16916909.html August 20, 2019 live Plans to televise the national championship game were made in advance in anticipation that the Kansas Jayhawks would reach the championship game. By the time the match-up was set between the Jayhawks and the Tar Heels, an eleven-station network had been organized.Lucas 2010 75 Castleman D. Chesley, a local television producer, broadcast the game in North Carolina on five stations.Walker 2011 119http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1191296/index.htm Alexander Wolff Something Special On The Air October 20, 2011 Sports Illustrated December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131227050959/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1191296/index.htm December 27, 2013 dead After the Tar Heels won the Eastern Regional, Chesley managed to get announcers, sponsors and five stations to set up a network to broadcast North Carolina's Final Four games from Kansas City.Walker 2011 119Menzer 2004 63Menzer 2004 65Morris 1988 214 Locally, the game was to appear on channels 9 and 13. The 1957 national championship game saw the largest media crowd to date for a men's basketball game. Over eleven television stations, 73 radio stations, and 63 news writers were represented.Lucas 2006 145–146 Game summary First half The game began with a tip-off between Kansas' seven foot tall Chamberlain and North Carolina's Kearns, who was not even six feet tall.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1154821/3/index.htm Frank Deford A Season Of Change April 15, 2009 Sports Illustrated December 23, 2013 3 https://web.archive.org/web/20131225010200/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1154821/3/index.htm December 25, 2013 dead Coach McGuire used Kearns after he had talked down Chamberlain the night before. The rest of the North Carolina squad set up in their zone defense rather than around the center circle as McGuire requested to "show them the zone we were going to use." The Jayhawks were unable to score on their opening possession and set up in their defense as the Tar Heels came down the court with the ball.Lucas 2006 149 Kansas' initial defense was a box-and-one, which consisted of four players in a box around a basket while one player, King, played defense on North Carolina's Rosenbluth.Lucas 2006 149Ira Berkow https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/sports/college-basketball-final-four-a-repeat-of-1957-final-is-too-much-to-ask.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm College Basketball: Final Four; A Repeat of 1957 Final Is Too Much to Ask The New York Times subscription March 29, 1991 December 23, 2013 2 https://web.archive.org/web/20140116151942/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/29/sports/college-basketball-final-four-a-repeat-of-1957-final-is-too-much-to-ask.html?pagewanted=2&src=pm January 16, 2014 live Kearns received a pass along the baseline and was fouled in the act of shooting.Lucas 2006 149 He missed the shot, but made both free throws to give Carolina the early 2–0 lead.Lucas 2006 149 Kansas missed a jump shot, and North Carolina's Joe Quigg converted a 12-foot baseline shot.Lucas 2006 149 Kansas scored their first points from two free throws.Lucas 2006 150 thumb|right|alt=A diagram of a two–three zone defense | Coach Frank McGuire started the Tar Heels in a 2–3 zone defense at the beginning of the game. The Tar Heels' began to strain Kansas' defense with several players making perimeter shots. When combined with Kansas' inability to convert from the field, this allowed the Tar Heels to jump out to an 11–4 lead.Lucas 2006 152–153 This led Harp to change Kansas' defensive formation to a 2–3 zone defense, with Chamberlain under the basket.Lucas 2006 153 Rosenbluth—who was now relatively unguarded compared to Kansas' previous formation—made a contested seventeen-foot jumper.Lucas 2006 153 Kansas retaliated by giving the ball to Chamberlain who was then fouled as he went up for a shot.Lucas 2006 153 He went to the free-throw line and made one of two shots.Lucas 2006 154 As Kansas went up the floor coach Harp ordered his squad to revert to their original box–and–one.Lucas 2006 154 Carolina's Kearns made a jumper from the floor after pump faking to lose a defender, which brought the score to 15–7 in favor of Carolina.Lucas 2006 154 Kansas came up the floor and missed their shot, but Chamberlain grabbed the rebound and was then fouled in the air.Lucas 2006 154 He went to the line for a one–and–one and missed the first shot, while Rosenbluth caught the rebound.Lucas 2006 155 During the following possession, Harp changed Jayhawks' defense to a man-to-man.Lucas 2006 155 This caused the Tar Heels to become more active with several screens and movement on offense.Lucas 2006 155 The possession resulted in an off-the-ball foul that sent Rosenbluth to the free-throw line where he made both shots.Lucas 2006 155 Kansas pushed the ball up the court quickly with King taking an eight-foot shot. Carolina collected the rebound and continued to slow the tempo in the half-court as Kansas shifted back into a 2–3 zone.Lucas 2006 155 The Tar Heels passed the ball back and forth until the Jayhawks broke from their zone and went into a man-to-man again.Lucas 2006 156 Kearns made a close-quarters shot near the basket.Lucas 2006 156 Kansas stepped up their defense at the behest of coach Harp and held Carolina scoreless for two minutes.Lucas 2006 157 During that time Kansas made four free throws to cut their deficit to two points—the score now 19–17.Lucas 2006 157 The Tar Heels continued to slow the pace and work the ball around to get the open shot, while the Jayhawks would rush up the court and attempt to give the ball to Chamberlain before taking a poor shot.Lucas 2006 157 This resulted in moderate success for both teams as North Carolina scored eight points to Kansas' three before the final two minutes began.Lucas 2006 157 In the closing two minutes, the two teams both scored two free throws to bring the score to 29–22 in favor of North Carolina.Lucas 2006 157 Second half thumb|left|alt=A picture of Frank McGuire posing for a photo. | Frank McGuire (pictured in 1960) was the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels for the 1956–57 season. The second half began with another jump ball between the two competing teams.Lucas 2006 160 Chamberlain won the tip as Carolina sent out Quigg this time to contest the jump, not Kearns.Lucas 2006 160 Both teams failed to score on their first possession, but after Carolina missed their opening shot, Kansas scored on a fast-break pull-up shot.Lucas 2006 160 Kansas scored once more—from a lob to Chamberlain—before the Tar Heels were able to score with a baseline jump shot from Quigg to bring the score to 31–26.Lucas 2006 161 Kansas closed the lead to 31–30 with a basket and a pair of free throws from Chamberlain.Lucas 2006 161 Carolina's Kearns returned with an acrobatic layup to extend the lead to three points.Lucas 2006 161 After Kansas failed to convert a shot on their next possession, North Carolina proceeded to pass the ball around the perimeter of the court for close to two minutes.Lucas 2006 162 After finding the right setup, Rosenbluth drove to the basket and scored.Lucas 2006 162 Following that possession, Kansas began to make outside jump shots. When combined with Carolina's inability to score, Kansas' improved jump shots led to a 10–2 Kansas run, with Kansas taking the lead nine minutes into the second half.Lucas 2006 162https://www.si.com/vault/1982/03/29/564855/a-team-that-was-blessed Frank Deford A Team That Was Blessed March 29, 1982 Sports Illustrated August 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190820153149/https://www.si.com/vault/1982/03/29/564855/a-team-that-was-blessed August 20, 2019 live https://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/sports/year_in_sports/03.23.html Little Guys Win Big The New York Times United Press March 23, 1957 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20140810233321/http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/sports/year_in_sports/03.23.html August 10, 2014 live In addition, as North Carolina players continued to foul Chamberlain to make him score from the free throw line, they began to get into foul trouble.Lucas 2006 162 Kansas' coach Harp had his team hold the ball beginning with their next possession.Lucas 2006 163 This plan worked for a while and Carolina was unable to overcome Kansas' three-point lead; Kansas did not attempt a shot for over five minutes.Lucas 2006 164 With 1:45 remaining in the game, Kansas' Elstun was fouled by Rosenbluth on a lay-up attempt. This was Rosenbluth's fifth foul, which disqualified him for the rest of the game.Lucas 2006 164 Elstun missed the two free throws from the foul, and Carolina got the rebound.Lucas 2006 164 The Jayhawks were able to score only two points after Rosenbluth's disqualification.Lucas 2006 164 North Carolina then began to rally after scoring a basket and then an accompanying free throw.Lucas 2006 165 Bob Young—who had replaced Rosenbluth after his fifth foul—scored a lay-up bringing Carolina to within two points.Lucas 2006 165 Carolina tied the game at 46–46 after Kearns made a free throw in the closing seconds. The Tar Heels got the ball back and held it for one final possession.Lucas 2006 165 The ball was passed to Cunningham who missed his initial shot, but was able to get the rebound.Lucas 2006 165 Cunningham went up for another shot, but received heavy contact from Chamberlain.Lucas 2006 165 No foul was called and the time ran out, sending the game to overtime.Lucas 2006 165 Overtime periods Overtime began with a jump ball won by Chamberlain for Kansas. He quickly passed the ball to KingLucas 2006 165 who took a jump shot that missed. Carolina's Cunningham grabbed the rebound.Lucas 2006 165 The Tar Heels traversed the court and Young managed to score a basket to give Carolina the edge.Lucas 2006 165 However, North Carolina was unable to stop Kansas during the ensuing drive as Chamberlain scored a basket to bring the score to 48–48.Lucas 2006 165 After Kansas scored the tying basket, North Carolina proceeded to hold the ball for one final shot before the overtime period ended.Lucas 2006 165 Carolina's Kearns drove and put up a shot that was blocked by Chamberlain as time ran out.Lucas 2006 165 thumb|right|alt=A picture of the Municipal Auditorium, a stone building in Kansas City. | The NCAA National Championship and national semifinal games took place in the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. North Carolina's first possession of the second overtime period ended with a turnover, while Kansas missed a long jump shot in theirs.Lucas 2006 166 North Carolina's Brennan boxed out Chamberlain who went over him to collect the rebound and was called for over the back.Lucas 2006 166 Joe Quigg turned the ball over after traveling,Lucas 2006 166 while Chamberlain threw the ball out of bounds on the subsequent possession.Lucas 2006 167 Carolina failed to capitalize on Chamberlain's error when Kearns missed the front end of a one-and-one.Lucas 2006 167 Kansas came down the court and passed the ball to Chamberlain who was then fouled hard by Cunningham.Lucas 2006 167 This sparked an altercation between the teams,Morris 1988 46 resulting in Chamberlain being hit in the stomach with a megaphone and his knee being scarred by a Carolina cheerleader.Lucas 2006 168 The referees stopped the commotion, and Chamberlain was sent to the free-throw line. He missed both shots, and Carolina got the rebound.Lucas 2006 168 The Tar Heels aimed to hold the ball for a final, shot but they turned the ball over to Kansas with ten seconds to go. Then the Jayhawks called a timeout with six seconds left.Lucas 2006 168 The ball went to Kansas' Loneski who missed a shot, and the game remained tied at 48.Lucas 2006 168 After a one-minute break between periods, the third overtime began with another jump ball again won by Chamberlain.Lucas 2006 169 After King missed the opening shot of the period, Carolina's Kearns made a right-handed lay-up to bring the score to 50–48.Lucas 2006 169 Kansas failed to score again, and this time Kearns missed his shot after being fouled; he then made both free throws.Lucas 2006 169–170 Off a pass from Loneski, Chamberlain made a shot, was fouled, and made the ensuing free throw to complete the three-point play and bring the Jayhawks within one point.Lucas 2006 170 Cunningham was fouled after being trapped in a double team and then missed the first shot of the one-and-one.Lucas 2006 170 The Jayhawks' Loneski missed a contested, close layup, but King got the offensive rebound and was fouled on a put back shot.Lucas 2006 170 King made one of the free throws and tied the score at 52–52.Lucas 2006 171 On the next possession, Kansas' John Parker stole the ball and crossed half court when coach Harp called a timeout.Lucas 2006 171 Chamberlain received the ball in the post, went up for a shot and received some contact; however, no referee called a foul and the ball rolled out of bounds off Carolina.Lucas 2006 172 On the next play, Elstun was run into by a Tar Heel and went to the foul line for two shots with 31 seconds remaining; he missed the first and made the second shot.Lucas 2006 172–173 Out of timeouts, Kearns drove into the lane and put up a shot that was blocked out of bounds by Chamberlain.Lucas 2006 174 The following play, Quigg pump-faked and went up for a shot that Chamberlain blocked; however, simultaneously King made contact with Quigg's body while he was shooting and the referees called a shooting foul.Lucas 2006 175 Quigg went to the free-throw line for two shots with six seconds to go and made both, giving the Tar Heels the lead 54–53.Lucas 2006 176–177 Kansas called a timeout and in-bounded to Loneski who then passed the ball towards Chamberlain who was under the basket.Lucas 2006 177 The pass was underthrown, and Quigg tipped the ball away from Chamberlain.Lucas 2006 177–178 Kearns grabbed it and got away from a defender before he threw the ball into the air to run out the clock.Lucas 2006 178 Time expired as the ball was in the air and the Tar Heels won the national championship.Lucas 2006 178 Box score Source:http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/ncaa-tournament/history/yearbyyear/1957 1957 Men's NCAA basketball tournament Jeff Borzello CBSSports.com June 11, 2008 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224115009/http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/ncaa-tournament/history/yearbyyear/1957 December 24, 2013 live Richard Dozer Tar Heels Beat Kansas Chicago Daily Tribune A1 March 24, 1957 180105014 #eee March 23, 1957 9:00 pm CDTLucas 2006 141 Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri Joe Conway and Hagan Anderson 7,778 #1 North Carolina Tar Heels 54 Lennie Rosenbluth 20 Pete Brennan 11 #2 Kansas Jayhawks 53 Wilt Chamberlain 23 Wilt Chamberlain 14 29–22 17–24 8–7 3OT LegendPosPositionFGMField goals madeFGAField goals attemptedFTMFree throws madeFTAFree throws attemptedRebReboundsPFPersonal foulsPtsPoints +North Carolina Tar HeelsPlayerPos PositionFGM Field goals madeFGA Field goals attemptedFTM Free throws madeFTA Free throws attemptedReb ReboundsPF Personal foulsPts PointsPete BrennanF483711311Bob Cunningham Bob Cunningham (basketball)G0300640Tommy KearnsG48373411Danny LotzF0000200Lennie RosenbluthF815446520Joe QuiggC4102310410Bob Young Bob Young (basketball)C110041202Team totals21451222422154Reference:Kirschner 2008 114 +Kansas JayhawksPlayerPos PositionFGM Field goals madeFGA Field goals attemptedFTM Free throws madeFTA Free throws attemptedReb ReboundsPF Personal foulsPts PointsBob BillingsF0000020Wilt ChamberlainF613111614323Gene ElstunC412365211Lew Johnson Lew Johnson (basketball)G0122012Maurice King Maurice King (basketball)G312565411Ron LoneskiF0523422John Parker John Parker (basketball)G240000402Team totals15472333281453Reference:Kirschner 2008 114 Aftermath Despite his team losing the championship game, Kansas' Chamberlain was named the NCAA tournament's Most Outstanding Player.Larry Schwartz Wilt battled loser label https://static.espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014133.html February 10, 2007 December 23, 2013 ESPN.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150310015955/http://static.espn.go.com/sportscentury/features/00014133.html March 10, 2015 live International News Service Wilt Chamberlain Voted MVP of NCAA Tournament Atlanta Daily World 5 March 27, 1957 491108071 He was also named to the Consensus All-American squad for the 1956–57 season.Harvey Araton http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/sports/ncaabasketball/27araton.html?_r=2&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/C/Chamberlain,%20Wilt& N.C.A.A.'s 1957 Classic Is Only a Memory for Now The New York Times Associated Press March 27, 2007 December 23, 2013 https://archive.today/20240527014927/https://www.webcitation.org/6QS7qSj6T?url=http://select.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/sports/ncaabasketball/27araton.html%3F_r=2&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/C/Chamberlain,%20Wilt& May 27, 2024 dead http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2009/Award.pdf Division I Consensus All-American Selections December 28, 2013 2009–10 NCAA Men's Basketball Records National Collegiate Athletic Association 137 https://web.archive.org/web/20090816065108/http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2009/Award.pdf August 16, 2009 live North Carolina's Rosenbluth was named the Helms Foundation College Basketball Player of the Year for his performance throughout the basketball season,Helms Foundation Player of the Year Winners Sports Reference 2010 https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/helms-poy.html December 30, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140706224220/http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/awards/helms-poy.html July 6, 2014 live as well as a Consensus All-American. The Tar Heels' coach McGuire was named UPI College Basketball Coach of the Year for leading North Carolina to a win in the National Championship game and a perfect record of 32–0.United Press International Coach of the Year winners NCAA Individual Awards Association for Professional Basketball Research http://www.apbr.org/ncaaawrd.html December 30, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20140716101245/http://apbr.org/ncaaawrd.html July 16, 2014 live https://www.si.com/vault/1957/12/09/605731/dixies-yankee-hero Gerald Holland Dixie's Yankee Hero December 9, 1957 Sports Illustrated August 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190820152039/https://www.si.com/vault/1957/12/09/605731/dixies-yankee-hero August 20, 2019 live thumb|left|alt=The logo of the Atlantic Coast Conference in blue letters| The television contract that the Atlantic Coast Conference agreed to with Castleman Chesley led to the athletic conference's growth in the period after. While coach McGuire and Rosenbluth boarded a plane to New York to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show,Menzer 2004 66Lucas 2006 185Caroll Rogers http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA325058948&v=2.1&it=r&p=STND&sw=w&asid=9582deb1134ea7a43889de3ec8bcc034 National Identity: 1957 Championship: Taking down Wilt gave ACC credibility The Atlanta Journal-Constitution subscription April 5, 2013 December 23, 2013 the rest of the Tar Heels returned to North Carolina two days later where they landed at Raleigh–Durham International Airport (RDU).http://www2.kusports.com/news/1957/mar/25/32507_ncaa_cage_champs_given_roaring_welcome_home_/ NCAA Cage Champs Given A Roaring Welcome Home At Chapel Hill Airport KUsports.com Associated Press March 25, 1957 December 23, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20131224164623/http://www2.kusports.com/news/1957/mar/25/32507_ncaa_cage_champs_given_roaring_welcome_home_/ December 24, 2013 live Over 10,000 fans greeted the North Carolina squad. Associated Press No. Carolina's Champions Met by 10,000 Fans Chicago Daily Tribune C2 March 25, 1957 180101312 Some players were carried by members of the crowd from the airport ramp to the terminal.Morris 1988 44Morris 1988 47 The airport manager believed the crowd gathered to meet the Tar Heels was the biggest in RDU's history. It was so big it prevented Chancellor Robert House from giving a planned speech for the team. The size of the crowd at the airport was credited to the broadcast of both the national semifinal and National Championship games on television around North Carolina. In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Tar Heel fans who had watched the game on television flooded Franklin Street after the victory over the Jayhawks.Lucas 2010 79 Over two thousand people rushed the street preventing cars from passing for over an hour.Lucas 2010 79 Police were required to help maintain order.Lucas 2010 79 This has since turned into a tradition where people overrun Franklin Street following a Tar Heel win over the Duke Blue Devils or whenever they have won a National Championship.http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/16/ncaa-tournament-picks-and-predictions/ NCAA Tournament: Picks and predictions Rob Harms The San Diego Union-Tribune March 16, 2016 March 26, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160325231708/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/16/ncaa-tournament-picks-and-predictions/ March 25, 2016 live Chamberlain was criticized for his inability to lead Kansas to a win in the National Championship game; He later admitted this loss was the most painful in his life.Cherry 2004 48–57 He returned to Kansas for his junior year and to play another season under coach Harp.Cherry 2004 68–71 Chamberlain quickly became frustrated with the opposing teams' way of playing him, which consisted primarily of double- or triple-teaming him to limit his offensive production and effectiveness.Cherry 2004 68–71 In addition, many teams resorted to running out the time on the clock when they had the lead over the Jayhawks to increase their odds of winning the game.Cherry 2004 68–71 After the Jayhawks failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament that year, Chamberlain decided to forgo his senior season to play with the Harlem Globetrotters.Cherry 2004 68–71 He did not return to Kansas' campus for over 40 years after leaving for the Globetrotters; he finally returned in 1998, the year before his death, when his jersey was retired.Fulks 2000 24 The 1957 North Carolina players were awarded watches for their part in the winning the national championship. (In the 1990s, the players were given rings to commemorate their win in the national championship game at the insistence of then-North Carolina coach Dean Smith.) Coach McGuire was given a brand new Carolina blue and white Cadillac by the university and signed a new five-year contract worth $11,500 per year.Morris 1988 47 After seeing the success of televising the tournament's final games, Castleman Chesley believed, "ACC basketball could be as popular as any TV show in North Carolina."Menzer 2004 66 The broadcast of North Carolina's national semifinal and National Championship games led to increased awareness and attention towards basketball around the state. It also led to Chesley and the Atlantic Coast Conference agreeing to a television contract whereby he would broadcast twelve ACC games league-wide during the 1957–58 season.Walker 2011 119 The games aired on Saturdays the following season were called the ACC Game of the Week.Menzer 2004 64 The television contract allowed the league to expand and increase the conference's visibility.Walker 2011 119 It also led to an increase in ticket sales for the members of the ACC. More children began to pick up the sport of basketball as a result of the increase in the number of ACC games being televised.Fulks 2000 33 References Citations 30em Bibliography Cherry Robert Wilt: Larger than Life 2004 Triumph Books Chicago, Illinois 1-57243-672-7 Wilt: Larger than Life Fulks Matt CBS Sports Presents Stories From the Final Four Taylor Trade Publishing Chapter 2: 1957 Final, North Carolina vs. Kansas 2000 Lanham, Maryland https://books.google.com/books?id=0ZuhAQAAQBAJ&q=1957+north+carolina+kansas&pg=PA19 978-1-4617-0303-7 2008 Kirschner Steve Bowers Matt History http://www.goheels.com/fls/3350/old_site/pdf/m-baskbl/93-150_history.pdf?SPID=12965&DB_OEM_ID=3350 June 17, 2014 2008–09 Men's Basketball Media Guide Phillips Brothers Printers Huntington, Indiana PDF https://www.webcitation.org/6QRGs7Olp?url=http://www.goheels.com/fls/3350/old_site/pdf/m-baskbl/93-150_history.pdf?SPID=12965&DB_OEM_ID=3350 June 19, 2014 live 2012 Kirschner Steve Bowers Matt History 2012–13 Men's Basketball Yearbook http://www.goheels.com/fls/3350/MBB/UNCMBB2013_web.pdf?SPID=12965&DB_OEM_ID=3350 December 23, 2013 UNC Athletic Communications office Chapel Hill, North Carolina PDF https://www.webcitation.org/6QQx5M7rs?url=http://www.goheels.com/fls/3350/MBB/UNCMBB2013_web.pdf?SPID=12965&DB_OEM_ID=3350 June 18, 2014 Lucas Adam The Best Game Ever: How Frank McGuire's '57 Tar Heels Beat Wilt and Revolutionized College Basketball Guilford, Connecticut Lyons Press https://books.google.com/books?id=9kB9CAAAQBAJ 2006 978-1-59228-982-0 Lucas Adam Carolina Basketball: A Century of Excellence Chapel Hill, North Carolina University of North Carolina Press 2010 https://books.google.com/books?id=rK6ylz8eMCMC 978-0-8078-3410-7 Menzer Joe Four Corners: How UNC, N.C. State, Duke, and Wake Forest Made North Carolina the Center of the Basketball Universe University of Nebraska Press 2004 Lincoln, Nebraska https://books.google.com/books?id=drQg7CxGWqQC&q=1957+north+carolina+kansas&pg=PA62 978-0-8032-8300-8 Morris Ron ACC Basketball: An Illustrated History Four Corners Press 1988 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 978-0-9609548-9-6 Nelson Eric The Crimson & Blue Handbook: Stories, Stats, and Stuff about KU Basketball The Wichita Eagle and Beacon Publishing Wichita, Kansas 1993 978-1-8806-5231-2 2013 Record Book 2013–14 Kansas Men's Basketball Media Guide http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/kuathletics.com/documents/2013/10/19/Kansas_mbb_media_guide_201314.pdf December 23, 2013 Pittcraft Printing, Inc. Theisen Chris Bauer Alissa Pittsburg, Kansas https://www.webcitation.org/6QQxSAhKI?url=http://sidearm.sites.s3.amazonaws.com/kuathletics.com/documents/2013/10/19/Kansas_mbb_media_guide_201314.pdf June 18, 2014 live Walker J. Samuel ACC Basketball: The Story of the Rivalries, Traditions, and Scandals of the First Two Decades of the Atlantic Coast Conference A Championship Won, A Classic Lost University of North Carolina Press 2011 Chapel Hill, North Carolina https://books.google.com/books?id=3Lvw9t0d248C 978-0-8078-3503-6 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball championship games Category:Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball Category:North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball Category:College sports tournaments in Missouri Category:Basketball competitions in Kansas City, Missouri NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game Category:1950s in Kansas City, Missouri