More “4” Year Tournament And “Utes” Notes
In the first “4” year NCAA Tournament held in 1944, Utah, given a chance to play in the event when tragic losses struck the Arkansas team, won the crown with future NBA star, Arnie Ferrin leading the way.
Utah, tonight playing its third straight NIT home game won the ’44 NCAA crown at Madison Square Garden. Eighty years ago they lost an NIT game, but as cited above won the NCAA title, after the events involving Arkansas gave Utah its chance.
There will be no return to New York, 80 years later for the Utes even if they win tonight’s “quarter” vs Virginia Commonwealth, as for the second straight season there are no Madison Square Garden NIT games.
Iowa State, still going in the ’24 tournie, was a semi-final round losing team in ’44.
Utah, as “The Utes,” brings to mind Messrs Pesci and Gwynne (Joe and Fred) in a nice scene from “My Cousin Vinny,” visible with a click of the link below.
Andy B Sports 