1956-57
ROSTER:
* Varsity letter Cpt. = Captain # = Walk-on % = Nonletterman
LOSSES FROM LAST YEAR ('56 stats):
1957 FINAL TEAM STATISTICS (Team highs in bold):
Statistics, Cont'd
GAME-BY-GAME
Link to Big Conference for |
FINAL FOUR STORY, KU Rips Dons, 80-56, by Dick Snider
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME STORY, by Dick Snider
1957 RECAP, Topeka Capitol-Journal
1957 TITLE GAME, by Joe Gergan
A PIVOTAL MOMENT FOR SPORTS, by Blair Kerkoff
KU IN DREAM CLASH WITH TARHEEL QUINT, by Earl Morey
ACROSS REGION, JAYHAWK FAITHFUL MADE HOOPS HOT TOPIC, by Bill Mayer
BILL MAYER'S SPORTS TALK, by Bill Mayer
CAROLINA'S LITTLE GUYS PREVAILED, by Bill Mayer
CELEBRATIONS PLANNED FOR WEE HOURS, by Bill Mayer
FAN MEMORIES OF '57, by Ryan Greene
JAYHAWKS DEVASTATED BY SETBACK, by Bill Mayer
STILL SMARTING AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, by Tom Keegan
TWO INCIDENTS PROVED INTENSITY, by Bill Mayer
Ghosts of '57 banished, by Bill Mayer
The 1956-57 team was one of the best squads KU ever fielded. Sophomore Wilt Chamberlain led the Jayhawks all the way to the NCAA Championship game against North Carolina, in what even today is regarded as one of the most fascinating, thrilling and memorable of all time.
Coach Phog Allen had won a nationwide recruiting battle for Chamberlain, but was forced to retire because of the mandatory retirement age of 70, and was replaced by Dick Harp, his eight-year assistant who had been a co-captain of Kansas’ 1940 NCAA tourney finalist.
In his first varsity game, Wilt the Stilt scored 52 points and grabbed 31 rebounds, both new school records. With 800 points, a 29.6 average, and 510 rebounds for the ’57 season, Wilt was THE dominant player of his time and a unanimous All-American.
Supporting Wilt were senior guards Maurice King, who was later drafted by the Boston Celtics, and John Parker. Forwards were 6’3 senior Gene Elstun and 6’4 sophomore Ron Loneski. Lew Johnson, who started at center the previous year and Bob Billings, a sophomore guard, also contributed heavily. Senior Ron Johnston, a 6’1 forward/guard was also a large factor before being declared scholastically ineligible, and was sorely missed down the stretch. Sophomore Monte Johnson, who was later to become KU’s Athletic Director, played in 11 games.
Kansas had only two losses heading into the NCAAs. After 12 straight wins, the Hawks first loss was a last-second 37-39 stall by Gary Thompson-led Iowa State in Ames. After four more wins, the Hawks dropped a non-conference game, 54-56, to Oklahoma State at Stillwater, in another slow-down match (there was no shot clock back then).
After closing out the conference schedule 11-1, clinching the Big Seven crown and ranked No. 2 in the AP poll, KU headed to the NCAA regional in Dallas, where they met SMU, the host school, and rolled to an 81-61 victory. Then the Jayhawks made quick work of San Francisco, 80-56, to set up the final game against No. 1 North Carolina.
In the Championship game, Tar Heel coach Frank McGuire sent 5’11 Tommy Hearns out to jump center against the 7’1 Chamberlain. It was a master psychological stroke that ridiculed the Jayhawks’ major asset and brought smiles to his players.
Taking advantage, Carolina held a 29-22 lead at the half, shooting 65% to Kansas’ 27%. But KU came out strong the second half and quickly built a five point lead. The Tarheels then started a stall and managed to tie the game 46-46 at the end of regulation. All-American Lenny Rosenbluth fouled out with 1:45 to go, after scoring 20 points. In the first overtime, both teams scored only one basket each and Kansas missed a last shot. Both teams played for the unmissable basket in the second overtime, but neither scored. In the final OT, KU went in front 53-52 with 31 seconds to go. However, with six seconds left, Carolina center Joe Quigg was fouled, and he made both free throws.
After the game, Chamberlain slumped on a stool in the dressing room. He had scored a game-high 23 points and accounted for half of his team’s rebounds. “We lost. That’s all”. In his autobiography, Wilt said “I’ve always been more bitter about that loss than any other single game in my whole college and professional career”.
In retrospect, it’s really unfortunate that Chamberlain played in an era before the shot clock and the three-point basket. Without those factors, teams could collapse on him and stall until they had a layup. It made for boring basketball, and prevented him from showing how good he could really be.
Dr. Ken Johnson
1957 NCAA Final Kansas vs North Carolina. Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMi-f6WexCk
1957 NCAA Final Kansas vs North Carolina. Part 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo6fsyEH0tA&feature=related
1957 NCAA Final Kansas vs North Carolina: Wilt Chamberlain: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPH05iwWm0U&feature=related
Wilt Chamberlain at Kansas University: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJkZEPEMI0A
900: K.U. Plays Oke City For Regional Trophy, March 17, 1957
K.U. in Dream Clash With Tar Heel Quint -3/23/57
N.C. Proves Ranking By Edging Jay Quint, March 25, 1957
Harp thinks his Jay Battlers Deserve Win as Final Reward, March 23, 1957