Phog Helped Lure NCAA Tournament To K.C.

The first NCAA Tournament lost money and the future of the event was in question. Phog Allen promised NCAA officials that if the tournament moved to Kansas City, a profit was guaranteed.
Kansas City did host the second NCAA Tournament and ultimately turned a $10,000 profit.
Kansas played in the tournament -- losing to Indiana in the finals -- and its Western Region game against Southern Cal was arguably the best KU game of the decade.
Southern Cal, considered the nation's second-best team, led by one when Allen's son, Bobby, stole the ball. All-American Howard Engleman made the winning shot, giving Kansas a 43-42 win over the Trojans on March 23, 1940.