1941 NCAA basketball tournament

The 1941 NCAA basketball tournament involved eight schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA college basketball. The 3rd annual edition of the tournament began on March 21, 1941, and ended with the championship game on March 29, at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. A total of nine games were played, including a third place game in both regions.

1941 NCAA basketball tournament

Teams	8
Finals site	Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri
Champions	Wisconsin Badgers (1st title, 1st title game, 1st Final Four)
Runner-up	Washington State Cougars (1st title game, 1st Final Four)
Semifinalists	Arkansas Razorbacks (1st Final Four) Pittsburgh Panthers (1st Final Four)
Winning coach	Bud Foster (1st title)
MOP	John Kotz (Wisconsin)
Attendance	48,055
Top scorer	John Adams (Arkansas) (48 points)
NCAA Division I men's tournaments «1940 1942»

Wisconsin, coached by Bud Foster, won the national title with a 39–34 victory in the final over Washington State, coached by Jack Friel. John Kotz of Wisconsin was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Locations

The following are the sites selected to host each round of the 1941 tournament:

Regionals

March 21 and 22

East Regional, Wisconsin Field House, Madison, Wisconsin (Host: University of Wisconsin-Madison)

West Regional, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri (Host: Missouri Valley Conference)

Championship Game

March 29

Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City, Missouri (Host: Missouri Valley Conference)

Teams

East Regional - Madison
School	Coach	Conference	Record
Dartmouth	Osborne Cowles	EIBL	18–4
North Carolina	Bill Lange	Southern	19–7
Pittsburgh	Doc Carlson	Independent	12–5
Wisconsin	Bud Foster	Big Ten	17–3

West Regional - Kansas City
School	Coach	Conference	Record
Arkansas	Glen Rose	Southwest	19–2
Creighton	Eddie Hickey	Missouri Valley	17–6
Washington State	Jack Friel	Pacific Coast	24–5
Wyoming	Everett Shelton	Mountain States	14–4

Bracket

	Regional Semifinals March 21					Regional Finals March 22					National Championship March 29
	Wisconsin		51
	Dartmouth		50
						Wisconsin		36
	East – Madison
						Pittsburgh		30
	Pittsburgh		26
											Kansas City
	North Carolina		20
											Wisconsin		39
											Washington State		34
	Arkansas		52
	Wyoming		40
						Arkansas		53
	West – Kansas City
						Washington State		64
	Washington State		48
	Creighton		39
	East Third Place Game March 22					West Third Place Game March 22
	Dartmouth		60			Wyoming		44
	North Carolina		59			Creighton		45

Source:^[1]

See also

• 1941 National Invitation Tournament
• 1941 NAIA Basketball Tournament