1952 College Basketball Recap
Despite the involvement of five players in the point-shaving scandal brought to light in 1951, Kentucky kept on winning. Led by forwards Cliff Hagan and Frank Ramsey, the Wildcats went 28–2 and entered the NCAA tourney ranked No.1 by AP. The Cats' march to a fourth title was halted in the East Regional final, however, when St. John's beat them, 64–57.
St. John's advanced to the first full-fledged Final Four in Seattle, March 25–26. From 1946–51, four teams had gone to the site of the championship, but only the two regional champions contended for the title. The two regional runners-up played for third place. Now the tournament had four regionals (two in the East and two in the West) and four contenders: the Redmen, Illinois, Kansas and Santa Clara.
Kansas, led by 6-9 All-America center Clyde Lovellette, easily won the playoff, beating Santa Clara by 19 and then St. John's by 17. It would be KU coach Phog Allen's only NCAA crown.
This was also Duke All-America Dick Groat's final season. By 1960, he would be the MVP-winning short-stop for the world champion Pittsburgh Pirates.
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