1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1977 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 32 American
schools playing in single-elimination
play to determine the National Champion of Men's NCAA
Division I college basketball
. It began on March 12, 1977, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia
. A total of 32 games were played, including a national third place game. This was the final tournament in which teams were not seeded.
Marquette
, coached by Al McGuire
, won the national title with a 67–59 victory in the final game over North Carolina, coached by Dean Smith
. Butch Lee of Marquette was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player
. Publicly announcing his retirement during the middle of the season, McGuire retired as head coach immediately after the game. UNLV and Charlotte
(at that time known by a longer abbreviation of its full name, UNC Charlotte) were third and fourth place, respectively.
- College Park, Maryland
- Provo, Utah
- Lexington, Kentucky
- Atlanta, Georgia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
schools playing in single-elimination
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
play to determine the National Champion of Men's NCAA
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...
Division I college basketball
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....
. It began on March 12, 1977, and ended with the championship game on March 28 in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. A total of 32 games were played, including a national third place game. This was the final tournament in which teams were not seeded.
Marquette
Marquette Golden Eagles men's basketball
The Marquette Golden Eagles Basketball team is the basketball team that represents Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The school's 1977 team, coached by Al McGuire, won the NCAA championship. Currently the team competes in the Big East Conference. It last played in the NCAA Division I...
, coached by Al McGuire
Al McGuire
Al McGuire was the head coach of the Marquette University men's basketball team from 1964 to 1977. He compiled impressive numbers throughout his coaching career, resulting in his induction to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992, and was also well known for his colorful personality.-Early life:He...
, won the national title with a 67–59 victory in the final game over North Carolina, coached by Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
. Butch Lee of Marquette was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player
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...
. Publicly announcing his retirement during the middle of the season, McGuire retired as head coach immediately after the game. UNLV and Charlotte
Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers represent the NCAA Division I sports teams of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Charlotte joined the Atlantic 10 in 2005. The 49ers field 16 teams, 8 men and 8 women....
(at that time known by a longer abbreviation of its full name, UNC Charlotte) were third and fourth place, respectively.
East region
Cole Field HouseCole Field House
The William P. Cole, Jr. Student Activities Building, more commonly known as Cole Field House, was the home of the University of Maryland basketball teams from 1955 until it was replaced by Comcast Center in 2002...
- College Park, Maryland
West region
Marriott CenterMarriott Center
Marriott Center is a 22,700-seat multi-purpose arena at 1497 N 450 E on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, and is home to the BYU Cougars men's and women's basketball teams. It is also used for weekly devotionals and forums...
- Provo, Utah
Mideast region
Rupp ArenaRupp Arena
Rupp Arena is an arena located in downtown Lexington, Kentucky, U.S. Since its opening in 1976, it has been the centerpiece of Lexington Center, a convention and shopping facility owned by an arm of the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, and serves as home court to the University of...
- Lexington, Kentucky
Midwest region
Myriad Convention Center - Oklahoma City, OklahomaFinal Four
Omni ColiseumOmni Coliseum
The Omni Coliseum, usually called The Omni, from the Latin for "all," or "every," was an indoor arena, located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Completed in 1972, the arena seated 16,378, for basketball and 15,278, for ice hockey...
- Atlanta, Georgia
External links
- 1977 NCAA Basketball Tournament on Shrp Sports (source for the bracket)
- HoopsTournament.Net, source for much of the information on this page.