Do our two NIT championships in 1951 and 1966 count as national championships?

Mar 18, 2018
8:46:55pm

eddog All-American

Wasn't the NIT a much bigger deal back then? Wasn't it actually more prestigious and popular than the NCAA tournament at that time?

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eddog

Bio page: eddog
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Messages

Author

Time

Do our two NIT championships in 1951 and 1966 count as national championships?

eddog

3/18/18 8:46pm

1951 should. 1966 probably not.

Little Mac

3/18/18 8:47pm

In 51 the NIT was the tournament

BigYfan

3/18/18 8:50pm

In 1951 BYU went to the NCAA and lost to Kansas State in the West Region

Bullrider

3/18/18 9:40pm

Interesting, that contradicts this article:

chilango

3/18/18 9:57pm

Yes it does, but then information is in BYU records. I thought the writer

Bullrider

3/18/18 10:05pm

I disagree with this statement “It’s obvious the NCAA was the most

gwalker

3/19/18 6:29am

A neutral historical perspective

dratax

3/19/18 9:36am

Thanks, interesting stuff. I also believe UCLA's run under Wooden made a big

chilango

3/19/18 9:56am

Yup. '51 should be viewed as a national championship. By '66 the national

Soy Celeste

3/18/18 11:47pm

Should only be viewed as the NIT champion. We were beat out of the NCAA,

Bullrider

3/19/18 11:57am

I disagree. See Gentleman Stan's post below.

Soy Celeste

3/19/18 12:23pm

You don't understand the history of college sports in America.

gwalker

3/19/18 2:42pm

What a rude comment when you don’t even know me.

Bullrider

3/19/18 8:36pm

Agree!

Soy Celeste

3/19/18 10:04pm

WJCougar

3/18/18 8:47pm

In 1951 it was the more prestigious tournament

gwalker

3/18/18 8:49pm

1951 NIT counts as a national tournament championship absolutely, as much as

ArchbishopMitty

3/18/18 8:51pm

Look at who we beat to win the 1951 title, on this list. Pretty tough run.

chilango

3/18/18 8:51pm

The 1951, 1981, and 2011 are our 3 best teams ever. THE 2041 team is going to

Dynasty1

3/18/18 9:02pm

I'll have to outlive my life expectancy to see it.

gwalker

3/18/18 9:22pm

If that is true, not to bad a way to kickoff retirement for me. 🙂

Ode to Hoy

3/19/18 7:34am

Here’s a good article. The 51 team picked the NIT over the NCAA.

Pee Wee Reese

3/18/18 9:08pm

No. Kentucky was the 1951 National Champion.

RSL

3/18/18 9:32pm

The 1951 team that opted out of the NCAA tourney appears to have

Cougtruth

3/18/18 11:03pm

Utah was in the Final 4 that year.

Pee Wee Reese

3/18/18 11:45pm

Why would it have been awkward?

CougarThug

3/19/18 12:48am

Except they didn't opt out. They played in both

dratax

3/19/18 10:06am

Not only did the not opt out of the NCAA, they got beat out. Also Utah was in

Bullrider

3/19/18 12:01pm

Yup

rockyrd

3/18/18 11:20pm

No.

thebruce

3/19/18 5:50am

BYU lost in the NCAA tournament in 1951 and the NIT was missing 7 of the top

thebruce

3/19/18 5:51am

My grandfather played for DePaul in the late 40s

byukarl

3/19/18 6:35am

Safe to say that....

bluegato

3/19/18 1:35pm

RE: Do our two NIT championships in 1951 and 1966 count as national

OriginalBlue

3/19/18 7:20am

I don’t know how BYU could be considered Nation Champions in 1966.

Cougtruth

3/19/18 8:36am

weren't there 3 that were 6'11?

dratax

3/19/18 10:13am

In 1951, BYU went to the NCAA tourney, beat San Jose St. then lost to

Cougtruth

3/19/18 8:19am

Up to 1953, the NIT was considered a national championship winning tournament.

Gentleman Stan

3/19/18 11:17am

Do 2 Chuk-E-Cheese tokens equal 1 Krugerrand?

AxelDC

3/19/18 8:53am

<< Deleted >>

Gentleman Stan

3/19/18 11:22am

1951 yes, 1966 no.

Gentleman Stan

3/19/18 11:31am

There's a book on the '51 team

Schultz is back

3/19/18 11:38am

I remember looking this up because I wanted to know. If i remember correctly according to wikipedia(take it for what its

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