Xavier Nation Magazine Feature: Remembering XU’s NIT Title

Six decades ago in March, Xavier University won its one and only national championship with an improbable run through the National Invitation Tournament, which was, at the time, the most prestigious postseason college basketball tourney. To commemorate the anniversary of that title, test yourself with these 11 questions about the 1957–1958 season.

Test your knowledge of Xavier's 1958 NIT Championship season:

1. Xavier started the season 10–1. The team lost only twice in the first 15 games. To what opponents?

2. The day after a victory over Western Kentucky that improved Xavier to 15–9, NIT officials offered a bid to the tournament. What was the date?

3. Xavier's No. 1 rebounder and No. 3 scorer was declared academically ineligible for the second semester. What was his name?

4. What did NIT officials do after Xavier lost seven of its last nine games?

5. In the 12-team NIT, what was Xavier seeded?

6. Which of these three phrases did not appear in newspaper articles about Xavier:
a) The team was "unheralded and unwanted"
b) The players were "cornfed hucksters"
c) Xavier was "the laughingstock of New York"

7. The Musketeers defeated Niagara, No. 2 seed Bradley, and No. 3 seed St. Bonaventure to advance to the final, where they faced the No. 1 seed. Who was it?

8. That opponent had faced Xavier twice during the regular season. What was the result of those matchups?

9. Sport magazine called the final "one of the greatest upsets in basketball history." What was the final score?

10. This final game notched three "firsts," one for the NIT, one for Xavier, and one for Ohio universities in general. What were they?

11. Tournament MVP Hank Stein, who passed away last August at age 81, scored 23 points in the final and averaged 22.5 points in the tournament. What were his average points on the season?

Before you check your answers, check out some of our favorite photos from the archives. (Scroll left to right.)

And now the answers:

1. Cincinnati (with Oscar Robertson) and at St. Joseph's (by four)
2. Feb. 27, 1958
3. Corny Freeman
4. Asked Xavier to give up its spot in the NIT field. First-year coach Jim McCafferty said no.
5. No. 12
6. B is not true. A and C appeared in articles at the time.
7. Dayton
8. Dayton defeated Xavier twice and was heavily favored in the tournament.
9. Xavier won 78–74
10. NIT: first final to go into overtime; Xavier: first nationally televised game; Ohio universities: first national championship from an Ohio school
11. 15.5 points

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