Cards to Recognize 50th Anniversary of '56 NIT Champions
February 03, 2006 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 3, 2006
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - On the 50th anniversary year of the achievement, the University of Louisville's 1956 National Invitation Tournament Championship team will be recognized at halftime of the Cardinals' Feb. 11 game against USF in Freedom Hall.
The 1956 NIT Champions, which U of L Coach Peck Hickman had directed to a No. 6 national ranking entering the tournament, beat third-ranked Dayton 93-80 in the title game to cap a 26-3 season behind consensus All-America center Charlie Tyra. Nearly every living member of the team will be in attendance at the event.
The Cardinals' 1986 NCAA Championship will also be honored at the game on this 20th anniversary of U of L's second NCAA title. The 1985-86 Cardinals, who posted a 32-7 overall record, were guided by future Hall of Fame Coach Denny Crum and featured four starters that currently rank among the top 11 scorers all-time at Louisville: Pervis Ellison (2,143 career points), Milt Wagner (1,836), Herbert Crook (1,723) and Billy Thompson (1,685). Several members of that team will be in attendance, including three of its top six scorers in Crook, Jeff Hall and Tony Kimbro. An extensive celebration will be scheduled for the '86 team on its silver anniversary.
In addition to honoring the championship teams, nearly 100 former U of L men's basketball players are expected to be in attendance for Cardinal Basketball Legends Day. Among those expected to be recognized during timeouts at the game are Tony Branch, Lancaster Gordon, Bud Olsen, Kenny Reeves and many more. The list includes representatives from the Cardinals' 1980 and 1986 NCAA Championship teams, 1956 NIT Title squad and 1948 NAIB National Champions.
