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1943–44 Utah Redskins men's basketball team

(Redirected from 1943–44 Utah Utes men's basketball team)

The 1943–44 Utah Redskins men's basketball team represented the University of Utah during the 1943–44 NCAA men's basketball season. The Redskins captured the Mountain States Conference championship and its only national championship.

1943–44 Utah Redskins men's basketball
NCAA tournament National champions
ConferenceMountain States Conference
Record22–4 ( Mountain States)
Head coach
Seasons

Utah was given an opportunity to compete in the NCAA tournament through an unusual circumstance. The University of Arkansas Razorbacks squad, who were supposed to appear in the tournament, were victimized by an automobile accident. Prior to the tournament, two of Arkansas’ starters were injured when their station wagon broke down after returning from a scrimmage in Fort Smith, Arkansas. While attempting to fix a flat tire, Deno Nichols and Ben Jones were injured when another car rammed into the back of the station wagon. Both players were injured. The severity of the accident caused Arkansas to withdraw from the upcoming NCAA tournament and the Redskins were tapped as a replacement.[1]

Schedule and results

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[2]

Date
time, TV 		Rank# Opponent# Result Record Site
city, state
Regular Season
November 12, 1943
 18th Replacement Wing W 48–24  1–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
November 19, 1943
 A.S.T.P. Company D W 51–21  2–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
November 22, 1943
 A.S.T.P. Company B W 76–24  3–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
November 24, 1943
 A.S.T.P. ERC W 71–17  4–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
November 26, 1943
 at Hill Field Fliers W 61–26  5–0
  
Ogden, UT
December 4, 1943
 at Weber W 63–25  6–0
  
Ogden, UT
December 4, 1943
 at Weber Navy W 60–25  7–0
  
Ogden, UT
December 16, 1943
 at Kearns 2nd Air Force W 45–35  8–0
  
Kearns, UT
January 4, 1944
 Fort Douglas W 41–26  9–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
January 6, 1944
 at Wendover Bomber Quin. W 64–28  10–0
  
Wendover, UT
January 15, 1944
 Idaho State W 54–43  11–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
January 22, 1944
 Ecker Studio W 46–44  12–0
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
January 28, 1944
 at Colorado College W 48–34  13–0
  
Colorado Springs, CO
January 29, 1944
 at Fort Logan W 55–38  14–0
  
Denver, CO
January 31, 1944
 at Fort Warren L 59–61  14–1
  
Cheyenne, WY
February 5, 1944
 Kearns W 57–37  15–1
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
February 12, 1944
 Salt Lake Air Base L 39–54  15–2
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
February 16, 1944
 Bushnel Hospital W 78–31  16–2
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
February 19, 1944
 at Idaho State W 52–40  17–2
  
Pocatello, ID
February 26, 1944
 Dow Chemical L 36–46  17–3
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
March 4, 1944
 Salt Lake Air Base W 62–38  18–3
 Nielsen Fieldhouse 
Salt Lake City, UT
NIT
March 20, 1944
 vs. Kentucky L 38–46  18–4
 Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
NCAA tournament
March 24, 1944
 vs. Missouri
Quarterfinals 		W 45–35[3]  19–4
 Municipal Auditorium 
Kansas City, MO
March 25, 1944
 vs. Iowa State
Semifinals 		W 40–31[4]  20–4
 Municipal Auditorium 
Kansas City, MO
March 28, 1944
 vs. Dartmouth
Championship 		W 42–40 OT[5][6] 21–4
 Madison Square Garden 
New York, NY
Red Cross Benefit Game
March 30, 1944
 vs. St. John's
Red Cross Benefit Game 		W 43–36  22–4
 Madison Square Garden (18,125[7])
New York, NY
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.

Postseason

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National Invitation Tournament

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Utah competed in the 1944 National Invitation Tournament and lost its quarterfinal match.

  • Quarterfinal
    • Kentucky 46, Utah 38

[8]

NCAA tournament

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In need of a replacement, the NCAA committee turned to Utah, despite the fact that the Redskins had 4 losses and had just lost their first-round game in the NIT tournament. Utah had one player, Lyman Condie, a medical student, who midway through the season quit the team to pursue medical school. Additionally, all of Utah's players were raised within 30 miles of the Utah campus. These players included Arnie Ferrin, Fred Sheffield, and Wat Misaka, who was of Japanese descent.[1]

  • West
    • Utah 45, Missouri 35
  • Final Four
    • Utah 40, Iowa State 31
  • Championship
    • Utah 42, Dartmouth 40 (OT)

[9]

Awards and honors

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References

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  1. ^ a b "My Losing Season: Wyoming @ Utah: Sailors, Ferrin, Mikan and the Great Santini". Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved October 7, 2010.
  2. ^ "record book (PDF)" (PDF). Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  3. ^ "Utah vs. Missouri Box Score, March 24, 1944". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  4. ^ "Utah vs. Iowa State Box Score, March 25, 1944". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  5. ^ "Utah Upsets Dartmouth in Extra Period to Take N.C.A.A Basketball Title". The New York Times. March 29, 1944. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  6. ^ "Utah vs. Dartmouth Box Score, March 28, 1944". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Utah's 'Blitz Kids' Surprised the Basketball World in 1944". Deseret News. April 2, 1988.
  8. ^ "NIT OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - History". Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  9. ^ "RotoWire Fantasy Football, Baseball, Basketball and More".
  10. ^ "Final Four Most Outstanding Players". cbs.sportsline.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2008. Retrieved March 31, 2009.
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