Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2022 22:26:48 GMT -6
A number of years ago, somebody who claimed to care did some research on Terre Haute sports and concluded that their long run of great teams never ended in first place -- ever. The story cited everything from the old Gerstmeyer Black Cats to the Bird Magic of 1979.
But that turns out to not be true. In fact, the Syc's were one of America's dominant small college teams in the late 1940s, challenging several times for the NAIB (National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball) title -- that would eventually become the NAIA.
Evansville was a member of that organization, as were more than 1,300 other small schools, many of whom branched off into the NCAA College Division when it was formed in 1957, finding a tournament home in Evansville.
The Aces were a longtime nemesis and were a contender for the NAIB title as well at times, though never truly establishing themselves in that program.
But 1950 turned out to be a juicy one for the Tee-Town Trees, who got the right to hold a regional tournament at their gym, and the winner earned the right to be one of 32 teams to advance on to Kansas City to join Wilbert Harrison at 12th Street and Vine (I hope you know this song, OK?).
So we pick it up in mid-March 1950 as the other NCAA tournament and the NIT were being played with unusual teams being lauded -- CCNY, St. John's ... and our pals Bradley being favored in the New York tournament over such nobodies as UCLA. Holy Cross was led by the fabled Bob Cousy.
The sadder part of this is in the point-shaving that involved CCNY and some other schools, but that's a separate topic. Indiana State did not have any connection to it.
A few snips. First off, EC beat up on Indiana Central by the quite unusual score of 90-81 and fell the next night to the Sycos, who skipped on to KC and womped up on several unsuspecting victims before easing past East Central Oklahoma for the national title. An estimated 10,000 filled the fieldhouse. Kansas City loved its college teams! The tournament was a physical grind over five days.
Evansville finished 14-13 that year but lost 3 times to the Sickos.
Eastern Illinois was also a member of the 32 finalists, having beat the Carbondales in a regional game.
In related sports that week, Indiana University defeated Wabash Valley 1,389 bullets to 1,329 in varsity rifle shooting.
So yeah, Martha, Indiana State did win something after all. At the time, it was a very big deal because Evansville, along with other regional college programs, fed off the notoriety and inevitably, we came into the middle-50s with a reputation that the NCAA did not fail to notice.
But that turns out to not be true. In fact, the Syc's were one of America's dominant small college teams in the late 1940s, challenging several times for the NAIB (National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball) title -- that would eventually become the NAIA.
Evansville was a member of that organization, as were more than 1,300 other small schools, many of whom branched off into the NCAA College Division when it was formed in 1957, finding a tournament home in Evansville.
The Aces were a longtime nemesis and were a contender for the NAIB title as well at times, though never truly establishing themselves in that program.
But 1950 turned out to be a juicy one for the Tee-Town Trees, who got the right to hold a regional tournament at their gym, and the winner earned the right to be one of 32 teams to advance on to Kansas City to join Wilbert Harrison at 12th Street and Vine (I hope you know this song, OK?).
So we pick it up in mid-March 1950 as the other NCAA tournament and the NIT were being played with unusual teams being lauded -- CCNY, St. John's ... and our pals Bradley being favored in the New York tournament over such nobodies as UCLA. Holy Cross was led by the fabled Bob Cousy.
The sadder part of this is in the point-shaving that involved CCNY and some other schools, but that's a separate topic. Indiana State did not have any connection to it.
A few snips. First off, EC beat up on Indiana Central by the quite unusual score of 90-81 and fell the next night to the Sycos, who skipped on to KC and womped up on several unsuspecting victims before easing past East Central Oklahoma for the national title. An estimated 10,000 filled the fieldhouse. Kansas City loved its college teams! The tournament was a physical grind over five days.
Evansville finished 14-13 that year but lost 3 times to the Sickos.
Eastern Illinois was also a member of the 32 finalists, having beat the Carbondales in a regional game.
In related sports that week, Indiana University defeated Wabash Valley 1,389 bullets to 1,329 in varsity rifle shooting.
So yeah, Martha, Indiana State did win something after all. At the time, it was a very big deal because Evansville, along with other regional college programs, fed off the notoriety and inevitably, we came into the middle-50s with a reputation that the NCAA did not fail to notice.