The NCAA tournament in 1979 had 40 teams.
So let us take a deeper look
The NCAA tournament, also known as March Madness, is one of the biggest events in college basketball, attracting fans from all across the country. The tournament has evolved over time, from its early days with just eight teams to the 68-team format that is currently in place.
In 1979, the NCAA tournament consisted of 40 teams, marking an increase from the 32-team format that had been used since 1975. This expansion allowed more teams from smaller conferences to participate in the tournament, giving them a chance to compete with the big boys.
According to NCAA.com, “the field consisted of 25 automatic qualifiers, who earned their spot in the tournament by winning their conference championship, and 15 at-large bids, who were selected by a committee.”
Here is a table showing the teams that made the tournament in 1979:
Region | Team |
---|---|
East | Syracuse |
East | Villanova |
East | Boston College |
East | St. John’s |
East | Pennsylvania |
East | Connecticut |
East | Iona |
East | Lafayette |
East | North Carolina |
East | Purdue |
East | St. Bonaventure |
East | Tennessee |
East | Virginia Commonwealth |
East | Western Kentucky |
East | Georgetown |
East | Notre Dame |
Midwest | Indiana State |
Midwest | Arkansas |
Midwest | Minnesota |
Midwest | Louisville |
Midwest | Bradley |
Midwest | Western Michigan |
Midwest | Texas |
Midwest | Oklahoma |
Midwest | Ohio State |
Midwest | Iowa |
Midwest | Detroit |
Midwest | Tennessee State |
Midwest | Florida |
Midwest | Weber State |
West | Arizona State |
West | Oregon State |
West | UCLA |
West | Arkansas State |
West | DePaul |
West | Utah State |
West | Gonzaga |
West | San Francisco |
West | Wyoming |
West | Santa Clara |
West | San Diego |
West | North Carolina State |
West | UNLV |
West | USC |
West | Charlotte |
As famed basketball coach John Wooden once said, “Don’t measure yourself by what you’ve accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability.” For the teams that made the NCAA tournament in 1979, they had a unique opportunity to showcase their abilities on a national stage and compete for a chance to become champions.
See a video about the subject.
The video shows the final moments of every March Madness men’s basketball championship game since 1979, featuring buzzer-beaters, comebacks, and emotional celebrations from the winning teams. Memorable moments include Villanova’s championship-winning shot in 2016 and Virginia’s historic comeback victory in 2019. The clip also showcases Duke’s win in 2010 and Kentucky’s championship in 2012, among others, demonstrating the excitement and suspense that make March Madness beloved among fans. Overall, the video provides a glimpse into the dramatic finishes of March Madness games over the past four decades.
I discovered more data
40 schoolsThe 1979 NCAA Division I basketball tournament involved 40 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men’s NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 9 and ended with the championship game on March 26 in Salt Lake City.
1979 NCAA Division I basketball tournament; Season: 1978–79: Teams: 40: Finals site: Special Events Center Salt Lake City, Utah: Champions: Michigan State Spartans (1st title, 1st title game, 2nd Final Four) Runner-up: Indiana State Sycamores (1st title game, 1st Final Four) Semifinalists
Interesting facts on the topic
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The NCAA tournament field grew to 16 teams in 1951, doubled to 32 in 1975 and expanded to its current size of 64 teams in 1985.
Season | 1976–77 |
---|---|
Teams | 32 |
Finals site | The Omni Atlanta |
Champions | Marquette Warriors (1st title, 2nd title game, 2nd Final Four) |
Runner-up | North Carolina Tar Heels (4th title game, 7th Final Four) |
Seven Big 12 teams will play in the Big Dance for the seventh season since 2010, including six of the last nine tournaments conducted. The Big 12 has had six or more NCAA Championship teams in 19 of 26 years, including 10 seasons since 2012.