Wyoming's 1943 NCAA Championship: A Triumph Forged in War and Unity
In 1943, amidst the backdrop of World War II, the University of Wyoming Cowboys achieved a historic victory, claiming the national college basketball championship. This triumph, however, was more than just a game; it was a symbol of unity and a prelude to the sacrifices many of these young men would soon make for their country.
The Road to the Championship
The 1942-43 season saw the Cowboys, coached by Everett Shelton, achieve an impressive 31-2 record. This stellar performance led them to secure the 1943 Skyline Conference Championship and a coveted spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Their journey through the tournament began with a hard-fought 53-50 victory over Oklahoma in the opening round, held in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 26. The following day, they continued their winning streak by defeating Texas 58-54, securing their place in the NCAA Championship game at Madison Square Garden in New York City on March 30.
Victory Over Georgetown
In the NCAA Championship game, the Cowboys faced Georgetown University. Led by Kenny Sailors, who scored a game-high 16 points, Wyoming secured a convincing 46-34 victory, claiming the 1943 NCAA Championship title. Sailors was named Most Outstanding Player and won the Chuck Taylor College Basketball Player of the Year Award.
A Champion Crowned: Wyoming vs. St. John's
In that era of college basketball, determining a single, undisputed national champion was not as straightforward as it is today. The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) held significant prestige. After St. John's won the NIT Tournament Title, Wyoming coach Everett Shelton challenged the Red Storm to a benefit game to crown an outright champion and raise money for the Red Cross war effort.
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On April 1, 1943, the NCAA champion Wyoming Cowboys and the NIT champion St. John's Redmen met at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This unprecedented matchup, a benefit for the American Red Cross, was the first time the winners of the competing championships faced each other, effectively making it the first unified national collegiate basketball championship.
Over 18,000 fans packed Madison Square Garden to witness the back-and-forth battle. After Wyoming's All-American center Milo Komenich fouled out, St. John's rallied from six points down in the final minute to send the game into overtime. In the extra session, Wyoming guard Jim Weir hit two hook shots and added a pair of clutch free throws to secure the Pokes 52-47 victory.
“Never have I had a band of boys whose team spirit was such that you could almost see it and feel it,” Wyoming coach Everett Shelton told reporters.
The Shadow of War
The Cowboys' triumph was celebrated across the nation, but the joy was tempered by the ongoing war. Shortly after their victory, several members of the team traded their basketball jerseys for military uniforms, preparing for a far greater battle.
The Legacy Lives On
The story of the 1943 Wyoming Cowboys is more than just a basketball tale; it is a testament to the spirit of a nation at war and the dedication of young men who answered the call to duty.
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A new movie about the Cowboys’ epic championship game victory against St. John’s in fabled Madison Square Garden premieres Thursday in Laramie, Wyo.
The 61-minute documentary includes interviews with Kenny Sailors, the last surviving Cowboys player in the game; players Jimmie Reese and Tony Katana, and the children of Cowboys players Milo Komenich, Floyd Volker and Lew Roney.
Sailors, 93, was the shooting guard on the 1943 team and was the national player of the year. Sen. Alan K. Simpson, who drove for miles with his parents to listen to this historic game on the radio, and played for the Cowboys a decade later; Marialyce Barrett Tobin, who attended the game and is the daughter of a former Wyoming governor; Jim Brandenburg, former Wyoming coach; Tracy Ringolsby, Hall of Fame sportswriter; and Ken Cook, former Wyoming football player.
The film is narrated by Dave Walsh, in his 30th season as voice of Cowboys basketball and football, and directed by Kim Komenich, son of star Cowboys center Milo Komenich.
Director Kim Komenich says, "This Cowboys movie was obviously a labor of love for me because that team was very important to my dad. But everyone we talked with is really happy this story is now a documentary film!
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Remembering the Champions
In February, the UW Athletics Department honored the 1943 team at halftime of the Wyoming-San Diego State game in Laramie. Three members of the 1942-43 team were in attendance at the game, and represented their team in halftime festivities: Jim Reese, Lew Roney and Kenny Sailors. Reese, a native of Rock Springs, Wyo., lived in Denver, Colo. Roney, originally from Powell, Wyo., was a longtime resident of Laramie. Sailors, who grew up in Hillsdale and Laramie, Wyo., lived in Gooding, Idaho.
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