1966: It’s not like African-American players were widely shunned in college hoops—it just that a lot of teams didn’t have them. That was about to change.
BOISE, Idaho — THIS DAY IN SPORTS…March 19, 1966:
A landmark day in college basketball history, as Texas Western College (now UTEP) wins the NCAA championship with a 72-65 triumph over Kentucky. It was the first time an all-Black starting five had won the national title, and it came against a Wildcats team that was all-Caucasian. Adolph Rupp, Kentucky’s coach from 1930-72, allegedly did not recruit African-American players, although some historians in the Bluegrass State dispute that. They claim he recruited Black athletes as early as 1964. Rupp signed his first Black player, 7-2 center Tom Payne, in 1969.
As time progressed, the contest became known as an upset. But it was simply a great game, as Kentucky entered the game ranked No. 1 and Texas Western No. 2, with both schools sporting 27-1 records. …