1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament

Edition of USA college basketball tournament August 2023 March 2026 II 1966 100px 36 Roberts Municipal Stadium Evansville, Indiana Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers 1st Southern Illinois Salukis 2nd Akron Zips 2nd North Dakota Fighting Sioux 2nd Guy R. Strong 1st Sam Smith Kentucky Wesleyan 26,082 The 1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament involved 36 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA College Division basketball as a culmination of the 1965–66 NCAA College Division men's basketball season. It was won by Kentucky Wesleyan College, with Kentucky Wesleyan's Sam Smith named Most Outstanding Player. Increase in number of participating teams In September 1965, the NCAA granted the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) an automatic berth in the NCAA College Division tournament. Tommy Niland, head coach of Le Moyne, which had received an at-large berth to each of the previous two NCAA tournaments, said that he was generally in favor of automatic qualification for the tournament, but, with one less at-large bid available, and the NCAA limiting how many teams from each area of the country enter the tournament, it would now be more difficult for teams in the northeast to be selected. Niland pointed out that none of the schools in the SUNYAC had ever been selected to play in the NCAA tournament in the past and that the conference might not be strong enough to merit an automatic bid.https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-herald-journal/1965/09-22/page-99 Niland Displeased The Post-Standard Syracuse, New York 51 September 22, 1965 June 28, 2024 The SUNYAC joined the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the Tri-State Collegiate Basketball League as conferences with automatic tournament bids. This left five at-large bids available for the nearly 200 teams in the northeast, designated by the NCAA as District 1, since teams from this area generally participated in either the Northeast or East Regionals, each of which comprised four teams.https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-herald-journal/1965/09-22/page-99 SUNY Cagers Given NCAA Tourney Berth The Post-Standard Syracuse, New York 51 September 22, 1965 June 28, 2024 Since the MASCAC was very large, with more than 20 teams, it split into two divisions: the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) North Division and the MAC South Division, and each division applied for and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This left only four at-large bids available for teams from the northeast. After considering the large number of teams in District 1, particularly high-quality teams without access to an automatic bid,https://www.newspapers.com/image/382649172 KWC in Contention for NCAA Meet Bid Messenger & Inquirer Owensboro, Kentucky January 27, 1966 14-A June 28, 2024 the NCAA decided that instead of two regions of four teams each as had previously been the case, District 1 would have 12 bids with regional games played at three sites. The winner emerging from one of these sites would go directly to the national quarterfinals, while the other two winners would play each other for a quarterfinal berth.https://www.newspapers.com/image/1058371986 Maroons and Huskies Play Key Cage Tilt Daily News Springfield, Massachusetts January 18, 1966 24 June 28, 2024 One site would feature the two MAC teams and two at-large teams. The second site would have the Tri-State League champion and three at-large teams. The SUNYAC champion and three at-large teams would play at the third site.https://www.newspapers.com/image/1069082528 The Good and the Bad The Springfield Union Radding Jerry January 22, 1966 25 June 28, 2024 The expansion of the tournament would make it less likely that overflow District 1 teams would need to be sent to the Mideast Regional, as had been the case with Le Moyne and Ithaca in 1964, and Buffalo in 1965. USA 450 right 1966 NCAA Division II Men's sites - first round (white) first 2 rounds (yellow) regionals (cyan) Elite Eight (red) USA yellow pog.svg 42.15 -72.4 bottom Springfield Springfield College USA yellow pog.svg 43.14 -76.155 left DeWitt Le Moyne College USA white pog.svg 46.62 -96.54 left Moorhead Moorhead, Minnesota USA cyan pog.svg 40.8 -82 left Akron University of Akron Municipal University of Akron USA cyan pog.svg 35.6 -90.7 left Jonesboro Arkansas State College USA cyan pog.svg 40.4 -76.3 bottom Reading Albright College USA cyan pog.svg 42.25 -71.8 top Worcester Assumption University (Worcester) USA cyan pog.svg 47.75 -97.1 left Grand Forks University of North Dakota USA cyan pog.svg 37.75 -89.35 left Carbondale Southern Illinois University USA cyan pog.svg 36.6 -119.6 bottom Fresno Fresno State College USA cyan pog.svg 35.78 -78.65 right Durham North Carolina College at Durham USA red pog.svg 38.15 -87.35 top Evansville Roberts Municipal Stadium Regional participants 25em SchoolOutcomeAmerican InternationalFifth Place*AssumptionRunner-upCentral Connecticut StateRegional ChampionLe MoyneFifth Place*NortheasternThird Place*Philadelphia TextileThird Place*Potsdam StateSeventh Place*SpringfieldSeventh Place* SchoolOutcomeKentucky WesleyanRegional ChampionOglethorpeRunner-upSouth Carolina StateFourth PlaceWinston-SalemThird Place SchoolOutcomeAlbrightThird PlaceCheyneyRunner-upDrexelFourth PlaceLong IslandRegional Champion SchoolOutcomeAkronRegional ChampionRandolph–MaconFourth PlaceSteubenvilleRunner-upYoungstown StateThird Place SchoolOutcomeFresno StateRegional ChampionNevadaThird PlaceSan DiegoFourth PlaceSeattle PacificRunner-up SchoolOutcomeEvansvilleRunner-upIndiana StateFourth PlaceLamarThird PlaceSouthern IllinoisRegional Champion SchoolOutcomeAbilene ChristianRegional ChampionArkansas StateThird PlaceJackson StateFourth PlaceSW Missouri StateRunner-up SchoolOutcomeColorado State CollegeThird Place*North DakotaRegional ChampionSt. ProcopiusThird Place*ValparaisoRunner-up *indicates a tie Regionals Northeast First roundRound of 36See below Regional semifinalsRound of 32See below Regional Final - Worcester, MASweet 16March 7 Division ASpringfield, MA March 2 and 3 Division BDeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 Assumption 105 American International 102 Northeastern 93 Springfield 80 Central Connecticut State 94 Potsdam State 82 Philadelphia Textile 83 Le Moyne 61 Assumption 96 Northeastern 69 Central Connecticut State 97 Philadelphia Textile 75 Assumption 87 Central Connecticut State 96 Division B Consolation March 2 - Le Moyne 86, Potsdam State 63 Division A Consolation March 3 - American International 96, Springfield 94* Notes The right to host the regional final was given to the Division A winner, which was Assumption.https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/massachusetts/north-adams/north-adams-transcript/1966/03-03/page-17 Springfield Teams Out of Tournament North Adams Transcript North Adams, Massachusetts 16 March 3, 1966 January 31, 2024 American International College and Springfield College are both located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College was the host school for Division A.https://www.newspaperarchive.com/us/new-york/syracuse/syracuse-post-standard/1966/02-28/page-26 NCAA Cage Meet Opens Tomorrow The Post-Standard Syracuse, New York 14 February 28, 1966 January 31, 2024 South - Durham, North Carolina Location: McClendon–McDougald Gym Host: North Carolina College at Durham Regional semifinalsRound of 32March 4 Regional FinalSweet 16March 5 Kentucky Wesleyan 81* South Carolina State 73 Oglethorpe 69 Winston-Salem 66 Kentucky Wesleyan 48 Oglethorpe 41 Third Place - Winston-Salem 85, South Carolina State 81 East - Reading, Pennsylvania Location: Bollman Center Host: Albright College Regional semifinalsRound of 32March 4 Regional FinalSweet 16March 5 Cheyney 61 Albright 56 Long Island 62 Drexel 54 Cheyney 64 Long Island 67 Third Place - Albright 78, Drexel 61 Mideast - Akron, Ohio Location: Memorial Hall Host: Municipal University of Akron Regional semifinalsRound of 32March 4 Regional FinalSweet 16March 5 Steubenville 77 Randolph–Macon 56 Akron 70 Youngstown State 51 Steubenville 76 Akron 93 Third Place - Youngstown State 94, Randolph–Macon 63 Pacific Coast - Fresno, California Location: North Gym Host: Fresno State College Regional semifinalsRound of 32March 4 Regional FinalSweet 16March 5 Seattle Pacific 69 San Diego 63 Fresno State 127 Nevada 78 Seattle Pacific 58 Fresno State 64 Third Place - Nevada 74, San Diego 71 Great Lakes - Carbondale, Illinois Location: SIU Arena Host: Southern Illinois University Regional semifinalsRound of 32March 4 Regional FinalSweet 16March 5 Evansville 111 Lamar 103 Southern Illinois 83 Indiana State 65 Evansville 77 Southern Illinois 90 Third Place - Lamar 93, Indiana State 78 Southwest - Jonesboro, Arkansas Location: Indian Fieldhouse Host: Arkansas State College Regional semifinalsRound of 32March 4 Regional FinalSweet 16March 5 Abilene Christian 94 Jackson State 79 SW Missouri State 72 Arkansas State 71 Abilene Christian 63 SW Missouri State 58 Third Place - Arkansas State 84, Jackson State 77 Midwest - Grand Forks, North Dakota Location: Hyslop Sports Center Host: University of North Dakota Regional semifinalsRound of 32See below Regional FinalSweet 16March 7 Valparaiso 107 St. Procopius 76 North Dakota 84 Colorado State College 71 Valparaiso 82 North Dakota 112 Note: The first-round game between North Dakota and Colorado State College was delayed a day to March 6; the Valparaiso/Saint Procopius game was played in Moorhead, Minnesota on March 5; and the third-place game was cancelled entirely. These occurrences were due to inclement weather. *denotes each overtime played National Finals - Evansville, Indiana Location: Roberts Municipal Stadium Host: Evansville College National QuarterfinalsElite EightMarch 9 National semifinalsFinal FourMarch 10 National ChampionshipMarch 11 Central Connecticut State 76 Kentucky Wesleyan 84 Long Island 68 Akron 74 Fresno State 70 Southern Illinois 93 Abilene Christian 62 North Dakota 63 Kentucky Wesleyan 105 Akron 74 Southern Illinois 69 North Dakota 61 Kentucky Wesleyan 54 Southern Illinois 51 Third Place - Akron 76, North Dakota 71 *denotes each overtime played All-tournament team Phil Jackson (North Dakota) David Lee (Southern Illinois) George McNeil (Southern Illinois) Clarence Smith (Southern Illinois) Sam Smith (Kentucky Wesleyan) See also 1966 NCAA University Division basketball tournament 1966 NAIA Basketball Tournament References Sources 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball Championship Tournament Records and Statistics: Division II men's basketball Championship 1966 NCAA College Division Men's Basketball Tournament jonfmorse.com Category:NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament Tournament NCAA College Division basketball tournament NCAA College Division basketball tournament