1946–47 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team
Encyclopedia
The 1946–47 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represented The College of the Holy Cross in NCAA
competition
in the 1946–47 season. The Crusaders, behind coach Alvin "Doggie" Julian
, NCAA tournament MVP
George Kaftan
, star Joe Mullaney and a freshman point guard named Bob Cousy
, beat Oklahoma
at Madison Square Garden
to win the NCAA championship. The team entered the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
as the last seed in the 8-team tournament. In the first match, Holy Cross defeated the United States Naval Academy
in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden by a score of 55 to 47. Mullaney led the team in scoring with 18 points, mostly in part to Navy coach Ben Carnevale
's decision to have his players back off from Mullaney, who was reputed as being more of a playmaker than a shooter. In the semi-final match, Holy Cross faced the City College of New York
(CCNY), coached by Nat Holman
, one of the game's earliest innovators. The Crusaders, led by Kaftan's 30-point game, easily defeated the Beavers 60–45. In the championship game, Holy Cross faced the University of Oklahoma
, behind coach Bruce Drake
, in another sold-out game at Madison Square Garden. Kaftan followed up the semi-final match with 18 points in the title game, leading the Crusaders to a 58–47 victory against the Sooners. Holy Cross became the first college from the New England
area to win a national college basketball title.The Crusaders finished the 1947 season with 23 straight wins. Afterward, 35,000 people watched a parade in the team's honor on Holy Cross Day in Worcester
. Future NBA legend Cousy was named AP and UP player of the year, and George Kaftan was voted to the all-decade team of the 1940s by the NCAA in 1989.
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
competition
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
in the 1946–47 season. The Crusaders, behind coach Alvin "Doggie" Julian
Doggie Julian
Alvin F. "Doggie" Julian was a well-known college men's basketball coach. After graduating in 1923 from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, he gained legendary status by leading the College of the Holy Cross to the NCAA title in 1947. His team almost repeated this feat in 1948,...
, NCAA tournament MVP
NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
At the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
George Kaftan
George Kaftan
George Kaftan is a retired American basketball player.George grew up in New York City and went to Xavier High School in Manhattan before going to Holy Cross for college. Though just 6'3", Kaftan was the starting center for the College of the Holy Cross team that won the 1947 NCAA Basketball...
, star Joe Mullaney and a freshman point guard named Bob Cousy
Bob Cousy
Robert Joseph "Bob" Cousy is a retired American professional basketball player. The 6'1" , 175-pound Cousy played point guard with the National Basketball Association's Boston Celtics from 1951 to 1963 and briefly with the Cincinnati Royals in the 1969–70 season...
, beat Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners
The University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,...
at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden (1925)
Madison Square Garden was an indoor arena in New York City, the third of that name. It was built in 1925 and closed in 1968, and was located on Eighth Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets in Manhattan on the site of the city's trolley car barns. It was the first Garden that was not located near...
to win the NCAA championship. The team entered the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
1947 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....
as the last seed in the 8-team tournament. In the first match, Holy Cross defeated the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden by a score of 55 to 47. Mullaney led the team in scoring with 18 points, mostly in part to Navy coach Ben Carnevale
Ben Carnevale
Bernard Louis "Ben" Carnevale was an American college men's basketball coach.-Early years:Born in Raritan, New Jersey, Carnevale was a graduate of Somerville High School in Somerville, New Jersey...
's decision to have his players back off from Mullaney, who was reputed as being more of a playmaker than a shooter. In the semi-final match, Holy Cross faced the City College of New York
City College of New York
The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York , in New York City. It is also the oldest of the City University's twenty-three institutions of higher learning...
(CCNY), coached by Nat Holman
Nat Holman
Nat Holman was one of the early pro basketball players and one of the game's most important innovators.-Career:...
, one of the game's earliest innovators. The Crusaders, led by Kaftan's 30-point game, easily defeated the Beavers 60–45. In the championship game, Holy Cross faced the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, behind coach Bruce Drake
Bruce Drake
Bruce Drake was a college men's basketball coach. The Gentry, Texas native was head coach at the University of Oklahoma between 1938 and 1955, compiling a 200-181 record. He also coached the Air Force team to a 34-14 record in 1956Prior to coaching, he was also a star for Hugh McDermott's Oklahoma...
, in another sold-out game at Madison Square Garden. Kaftan followed up the semi-final match with 18 points in the title game, leading the Crusaders to a 58–47 victory against the Sooners. Holy Cross became the first college from the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
area to win a national college basketball title.The Crusaders finished the 1947 season with 23 straight wins. Afterward, 35,000 people watched a parade in the team's honor on Holy Cross Day in Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. Future NBA legend Cousy was named AP and UP player of the year, and George Kaftan was voted to the all-decade team of the 1940s by the NCAA in 1989.
NCAA tournament results
SourceAwards and honors
- George KaftanGeorge KaftanGeorge Kaftan is a retired American basketball player.George grew up in New York City and went to Xavier High School in Manhattan before going to Holy Cross for college. Though just 6'3", Kaftan was the starting center for the College of the Holy Cross team that won the 1947 NCAA Basketball...
- NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerNCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding PlayerAt the conclusion of the NCAA men's and women's Division I basketball championships , the Associated Press selects a Most Outstanding Player. The MOP need not be, but almost always is a member of the Championship team, especially since the third place game was eliminated after 1981...
(MOP) - Consensus Second Team All-American1947 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansThe Consensus 1947 College Basketball All-American team, as determined by aggregating the results of three major All-American teams. To earn "consensus" status, a player must win honors from a majority of the following teams: the Helms Athletic Foundation, Converse, and True Magazine.-1947...
- NCAA Basketball Tournament Most Outstanding Player
See also
- Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketballHoly Cross Crusaders men's basketballThe Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represents the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, in NCAA Division I competition. The team competes in the Patriot League and plays their home games in the Hart Center...
- 1947 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament1947 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament-External links:* on Shrp Sports * , source for much of the information on this page....