The 1949 NCAA basketball tournament involved eight schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. The 11th annual edition of the tournament began on March 18, 1949, and ended with the championship game on March 26, at Hec Edmundson Pavilion, located on the campus of the University of Washington in Seattle. A total of 10 games were played, including a third place game in each region and a national third place game.
Kentucky, coached by Adolph Rupp, won the national title with a 46–36 victory in the final game over Oklahoma A&M, coached by Henry Iba. Alex Groza of Kentucky was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Locations The following were the sites selected to host each round of the 1949 tournament:
Regionals
March 18 and 19 West Regional, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri (Host: Missouri Valley Conference) March 21 and 22 East Regional, Madison Square Garden, New York, New York (Host: Metropolitan New York Conference)
Championship Game
March 26 Hec Edmundson Pavilion, Seattle, Washington (Host: University of Washington)
Teams Region Team Coach Conference Finished Final Opponent Score East East Illinois Harry Combes Big Ten Third PlaceOregon StateW 57–53 East Kentucky Adolph Rupp Southeastern ChampionOklahoma A&MW 46–36 East Alex Severance Independent Regional third placeW 78–67 East Howard Hobson Ivy League Regional Fourth PlaceL 78–67 West West Arkansas Eugene Lambert Southwest Regional third placeWyomingW 61–48 West Oklahoma A&M Henry Iba Missouri Valley Runner UpKentuckyL 46–36 West Oregon State Slats Gill Pacific Coast Fourth PlaceIllinoisL 57–53 West Wyoming Everett Shelton Mountain States Regional Fourth PlaceArkansasL 61–48
Bracket
Regional third place games
See also 1949 National Invitation Tournament 1949 NAIA Basketball Tournament
References