Attending a game at the Huntsman Center, it is hard to miss the many banners hanging from the rafters, highlighting the numerous accomplishments of various Utah teams. Out of all of those banners, one tends to stick out: the 1944 Men’s Basketball National Championship banner. While many may subtly acknowledge the banner, most don’t know the story behind the university’s sole championship.
The sport of basketball in 1944 looked very different than it does today. Aspects of the sport that seem unfathomable today were commonplace then. Coaches were not allowed to speak to their players during timeouts, the NIT was considered a more prestigious tournament and the first in-game dunk happened that year. Of course, the 3-point line was also nonexistent 80 years ago, causing teams’ strategies to look very different.
Taking a glance at Utah’s schedule for the 1943-1944 season, one may notice a stark difference when compared to modern schedules. First off, their schedule was not composed of solely collegiate opponents. For instance, Utah’s first five games of the regular season consisted of match-ups with various military entities.
To say these games were in Utah’s favor would be an understatement: over the five-game stretch, Utah outscored their opponents 307-112. Their 5-0 start to the season was ample foreshadowing for the significant season they had ahead of them. Utah’s momentum continued throughout November and December, as the team found themselves heading into 1944 with an 8-0 record.
In late January, Utah traveled out of state for a three-game road trip, marking their first games of the season outside of the state. In Colorado, Utah defeated Colorado College and Fort Logan in back-to-back days to extend their winning streak. These critical wins were significant, as they claimed the Rocky Mountain collegiate title for the so-far unbeaten Utes.
Hoping to continue their momentum, Utah traveled to Cheyenne, Wyoming to take on Fort Warren. Despite Utah’s best efforts, they ultimately fell short in a close game that was described as a “thrilling tussle.” Following the loss, the 14-1 Utes returned home to Nielsen Fieldhouse for their next three games.
Utah went 2-1 over those games, losing to the Salt Lake Air Base “Wings” 54-39. From there, Utah would only go on to lose one more of their regular season games, which was a 10-point loss to the Dow Chemical team from Midland, Michigan. In their final game of the year, Utah got their revenge against the Wings, posting a 24-point victory.
Finishing the regular season with an 18-3 record, Utah was invited to both the NIT and NCAA tournaments. As previously mentioned, the NIT was considered the more prominent tournament at the time. Thus, it was no surprise when Utah favored it over the NCAA tournament. Utah’s first-round NIT game did not go as planned though. They were immediately eliminated from the tournament in an eight-point loss to the Kentucky Wildcats.
Utah’s season did not end there, though. A tragic automobile accident left the Arkansas Razorbacks unable to fulfill their participation in the NCAA tournament. Arkansas’ spot was offered to Utah, giving them the rare opportunity to play in both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same year.
Ample victories in Kansas City over Missouri and Iowa State earned Utah a trip to Madison Square Garden to face Dartmouth in the championship. The game was as close as can be, ultimately requiring overtime to decide a victor. Utah’s Arnold Ferrin, a freshman, posted 22 points, leading the team to the championship title, 42-40.
The NCAA Champion Utes then had the opportunity to face the NIT Tournament winners, St. Johns, two days later in a Red Cross Benefit Game. Utah proved their dominance, rolling over the NIT victors in a 43-36 ballgame.
The ‘44 team’s unconventional path to the national title was not the only historically significant aspect of the team. Wat Misaka, a point guard for the team, transferred from Weber College to Utah for the 1943-44 season. While standing only at five-foot-seven, Misaka was noted for his “tenacious” and fast play.
After the conclusion of the season, he would leave the team to enlist in the U.S. Army. Misaka returned to the Utah team two years later, leading the team to the NIT title in 1947. Months later, Misaka became the first player to break the NBA’s color barrier, making history.
The story behind that 1944 championship team, while unknown to many, is one to reflect on. From their unusual opponents to their circumstantial appearance in the NCAA tournament and the historical impact of Wat Misaka, their championship banner in the Huntsman Center has plenty of stories to tell.
