The 1954 Dixie Classic was a mid-season college basketball tournament held December 27–29, 1954 at NC State's Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was the sixth iteration of the Dixie Classic and it was part of the 1954–55 NCAA men's basketball season.

1954 Dixie Classic
Cover of the tournament program
Season1954–55
Teams8
Finals siteReynolds Coliseum
Raleigh, North Carolina
ChampionsNC State (5th title)
Runner-upMinnesota (1st title game)
Winning coachEverett Case (5th title)
MVPRonnie Shavlik (NC State)
Attendance65,000
Dixie Classic
«1953 1955»

Coming into the tournament, undefeated NC State and reigning champion Duke were considered favorites.[1] The NC State Wolfpack won the final, defeating the Minnesota Golden Gophers 85–84.

Ronnie Shavlik of NC State was named most valuable player. Across the three days of six double-headers, the total attendance was 65,000.[2]

Teams

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Each year, the Dixie Classic included the "Big Four" teams (Duke, NC State, North Carolina, and Wake Forest), as well as four other invited teams. The 1954 teams were:[3]

Bracket

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Consolation finalConsolation semifinalsQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
Dec. 27, 2:00pm
Southern California58
Dec. 28, 2:00pmNorth Carolina67Dec. 28, 3:30pm
Southern California77North Carolina44
Cornell58Dec. 27, 3:30pmNC State47
Cornell61
Dec. 29, 3:30pmNC State95Dec. 29, 9:00pm
Southern California85NC State85
Wake Forest93Dec. 27, 7:30pmMinnesota84
Minnesota81
Dec. 28, 7:30pmWake Forest73Dec. 28, 9:00pm
Seventh placeWake Forest96Minnesota79Third place
Dec. 29, 2:00pmWest Virginia94Dec. 27, 9:00pmDuke73Dec. 29, 7:30pm
Cornell71West Virginia79North Carolina65
West Virginia79Duke92Duke52

Game log

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December 27
2:00pm
Southern California 58, North Carolina 67
Scoring by half: 22–31, 36–36
Pts: Welsh (15) Pts: Rosenbluth (30)
No. 1[4][5]
Attendance: 11,500[6]
December 27
3:30pm
Cornell 61, NC State 95
Scoring by half: 32–44, 29–51
Pts: Dwyer (25) Pts: Sheehy (28)
No. 2[4][5]
Attendance: 11,500[6]
December 27
7:30pm
Minnesota 81, Wake Forest 73
Scoring by half: 43–35, 38–38
Pts: Garmaker (30) Pts: Hemric (21)
No. 3[4][5]
Attendance: 12,000
December 27
9:00pm
West Virginia 79, Duke 92
Scoring by half: 31–49, 48–43
Pts: Witting (24) Pts: Mayer (25)
No. 4[4][5]
Attendance: 12,000
December 28
2:00pm
Southern California 77, Cornell 58
Scoring by half: 40–30, 37–28
Pts: Nagai (18) Pts: Sheehy (26)
No. 5[7][8]
Attendance: 11,000
December 28
3:30pm
North Carolina 44, NC State 47
Scoring by half: 18–20, 26–27
Pts: Rosenbluth (13) Pts: Shavlik (10)
No. 6[7][8]
Attendance: 11,000
December 28
7:30pm
Wake Forest 96, West Virginia 94
Scoring by half: 57–40, 39–54
Pts: Hemric (35) Pts: Hundley (47)
No. 7[7][8]
Attendance: 10,500
December 28
9:00pm
Minnesota 79, Duke 73
Scoring by half: 40–38, 39–35
Pts: Mencel (24) Pts: Kalbfus (21)
No. 8[7][8]
Attendance: 10,500
December 29
2:00pm
Cornell 71, West Virginia 79
Scoring by half: 39–39, 32–40
Pts: Sheehy (23) Pts: Hundley (24)
No. 9[9][10]
Attendance: 8,500[2]
December 29
3:30pm
Southern California 85, Wake Forest 93
Scoring by half: 46–43, 39–50
Pts: Psaltis (22) Pts: Hemric (30)
No. 10[9][10]
Attendance: 8,500[2]
December 29
7:30pm
North Carolina 65, Duke 52
Scoring by half: 20–24, 45–28
Pts: Rosenbluth (29) Pts: Mayer (29)
No. 11[9][10]
Attendance: 12,400
December 29
9:00pm
NC State 85, Minnesota 84
Scoring by half: 45–53, 40–31
Pts: Shavlik (32) Pts: Garmaker, Simonovich (24)
No. 12[9][10]
Attendance: 12,400

References

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  1. ^ "Duke, N. C. State Co-Favorites". The New York Times. UPI. December 27, 1954. p. 23. ProQuest 113021592.
  2. ^ a b c Helms, Herman (December 30, 1954). "Shavlik Chosen 'Most Valuable'". The Charlotte Observer. p. 14.
  3. ^ "Program, Men's basketball, Dixie Classic, 6th Annual, 27 December to 29 December 1954". Men's Basketball, 1911–2008 (UA015.010 Series 4), Special Collections Research Center at NC State University Libraries.
  4. ^ a b c d "N. C. State Downs Cornell By 95–61". The New York Times. UPI. December 28, 1954. p. 30. ProQuest 112914515.
  5. ^ a b c d "Cage Classic In Second Round Today". The Durham Sun. December 28, 1954. p. 10.
  6. ^ a b McDuffie, Mac (December 28, 1954). "Carolina Upsets Southern California; State Routs Cornell; Minnesota Beats Deacs, 81–73; Duke Wallops West Virginia". The News and Observer. p. 11.
  7. ^ a b c d "Minnesota Surge Stops Duke, 79–73". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 29, 1954. p. 27. ProQuest 113035311.
  8. ^ a b c d Helms, Herman (December 29, 1954). "Gopher Prexy One Of Few To Make Baron Rupp Jump". The Charlotte Observer. p. 16.
  9. ^ a b c d "N. C. State Checks Minnesota, 85–84". The New York Times. Associated Press. December 30, 1954. p. 21. ProQuest 113037357.
  10. ^ a b c d "Dixie Classic Box Scores". The Virginian-Pilot. December 30, 1954. p. 16.
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