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Question of the Day: The First NCAA Tournament Champions
March 16, 2022
Test your college basketball history: Which team won the first NCAA Tournament in 1939?
The first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament was held in 1939, featuring just eight teams competing for the championship. The Oregon Ducks, coached by Howard Hobson, captured the inaugural title by defeating Ohio State 46-33 at Patten Gymnasium in Evanston, Illinois.
This modest beginning laid the foundation for what would become March Madness, now one of the most popular sporting events in America. The tournament has grown from those eight original participants to the 68-team field that captivates fans every spring.