On March 27, 1939, the University of Oregon won the first-ever NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, which would later become known as "March Madness." The tournament was held in Evanston, Illinois, and featured just eight teams, a far cry from the 68-team extravaganza we know today.
In the championship game, the Oregon Webfoots (now known as the Ducks) faced off against the Ohio State Buckeyes. The game was a defensive battle, with Oregon leading 18-17 at halftime. However, the Webfoots pulled away in the second half, thanks in large part to the stellar play of their star player, John Dick, who scored 13 points in the game.
The final score was 46-33 in favor of Oregon, who became the inaugural champions of what would grow into one of the most iconic and exciting sporting events in the United States. The tournament MVP award went to Oregon's Bobby Anet, who scored a total of 30 points in the Webfoots' three tournament games.
Interestingly, the 1939 tournament was far different from the modern iteration. There was no shot clock, no three-point line, and the teams played with a center jump after each made basket. Additionally, the tournament was not yet the cultural phenomenon it is today, with only around 5,500 fans in attendance for the championship game.
Despite these differences, the 1939 NCAA Tournament laid the groundwork for the exciting, unpredictable, and cherished event we now celebrate each spring. The University of Oregon's victory on March 27, 1939, will forever be remembered as the start of one of the greatest traditions in American sports history.
