College basketball

College basketball most often refers to the American basketball league organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, or NCAA.

History

The game of basketball was devised by James Naismith in 1892. The first recorded game involving a college basketball team took place in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania on April 8, 1893 when a team from Geneva College defeated the New Brighton YMCA http://www.geneva.edu/athletics/mens_basketball/ http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/living/s_84152.html. The first intercollegiate game was played on February 9,1895 when Minnesota State School of Agriculture defeated Hamline College by a score of 9 to 3. The first intercollegiate game involving the now familiar five-player format occurred in Iowa City, Iowa on January 18, 1896 when the University of Chicago defeated the University of Iowa 15 to 12. Before that time, there were usually seven to nine players

Related Topics:
James Naismith - 1892 - Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania - April 8 - 1893 - Geneva College - New Brighton - YMCA - February 9 - 1895 - Minnesota State School of Agriculture - Hamline College - Iowa City, Iowa - January 18 - 1896 - University of Chicago - University of Iowa

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on each team.

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By the turn of the 20th Century, enough colleges were fielding basketball teams that leagues began to form. The NCAA was founded in Chicago in 1906. The first NCAA Men's College Basketball Championship tournament was held before 5,500 fans in Evanston, Illinois in 1939. That year, Oregon beat Ohio State 46 to 33 in the final game to win the national championship.

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NCAA - Chicago - 1906 - Evanston, Illinois - 1939 - Oregon - Ohio State

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The first college games to be televised took place at Madison Square Garden in 1940. Pittsburgh defeated Fordham, 57 to 37, and NYU beat Georgetown, 50 to 27. Since the advent of television, the popularity of college basketball has exploded. March Madness is consistently one of the most watched events of the year and draws over 700,000 fans.

Related Topics:
Madison Square Garden - 1940 - Pittsburgh - Fordham - NYU - Georgetown - March Madness

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