# 1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament

The 1966 NCAA College Division basketball tournament involved 36 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA College Division basketball as a culmination of the 1965–66 NCAA College Division men's basketball season. It was won by Kentucky Wesleyan College, with Kentucky Wesleyan's Sam Smith named Most Outstanding Player.

## Increase in number of participating teams

In September 1965, the NCAA granted the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) an automatic berth in the NCAA College Division tournament. Tommy Niland, head coach of Le Moyne, which had received an at-large berth to each of the previous two NCAA tournaments, said that he was generally in favor of automatic qualification for the tournament, but, with one less at-large bid available, and the NCAA limiting how many teams from each area of the country enter the tournament, it would now be more difficult for teams in the northeast to be selected. Niland pointed out that none of the schools in the SUNYAC had ever been selected to play in the NCAA tournament in the past and that the conference might not be strong enough to merit an automatic bid. The SUNYAC joined the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) and the Tri-State Collegiate Basketball League as conferences with automatic tournament bids. This left five at-large bids available for the nearly 200 teams in the northeast, designated by the NCAA as District 1, since teams from this area generally participated in either the Northeast or East Regionals, each of which comprised four teams. Since the MASCAC was very large, with more than 20 teams, it split into two divisions: the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) North Division and the MAC South Division, and each division applied for and received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This left only four at-large bids available for teams from the northeast. After considering the large number of teams in District 1, particularly high-quality teams without access to an automatic bid, the NCAA decided that instead of two regions of four teams each as had previously been the case, District 1 would have 12 bids with regional games played at three sites. The winner emerging from one of these sites would go directly to the national quarterfinals, while the other two winners would play each other for a quarterfinal berth. One site would feature the two MAC teams and two at-large teams. The second site would have the Tri-State League champion and three at-large teams. The SUNYAC champion and three at-large teams would play at the third site.
The expansion of the tournament would make it less likely that overflow District 1 teams would need to be sent to the Mideast Regional, as had been the case with Le Moyne and Ithaca in 1964, and Buffalo in 1965.

## Regional participants

Outcome :
| American International | Fifth Place* |
| Assumption | Runner-up |
| Central Connecticut State | Regional Champion |
| Le Moyne | Fifth Place* |
| Northeastern | Third Place* |
| Philadelphia Textile | Third Place* |
| Potsdam State | Seventh Place* |
| Springfield | Seventh Place* |
Outcome :
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Regional Champion |
| Oglethorpe | Runner-up |
| South Carolina State | Fourth Place |
| Winston-Salem | Third Place |
Outcome :
| Albright | Third Place |
| Cheyney | Runner-up |
| Drexel | Fourth Place |
| Long Island | Regional Champion |
Outcome :
| Akron | Regional Champion |
| Randolph–Macon | Fourth Place |
| Steubenville | Runner-up |
| Youngstown State | Third Place |
Outcome :
| Fresno State | Regional Champion |
| Nevada | Third Place |
| San Diego | Fourth Place |
| Seattle Pacific | Runner-up |
Outcome :
| Evansville | Runner-up |
| Indiana State | Fourth Place |
| Lamar | Third Place |
| Southern Illinois | Regional Champion |
Outcome :
| Abilene Christian | Regional Champion |
| Arkansas State | Third Place |
| Jackson State | Fourth Place |
| SW Missouri State | Runner-up |
Outcome :
| Colorado State College | Third Place* |
| North Dakota | Regional Champion |
| St. Procopius | Third Place* |
| Valparaiso | Runner-up |
*indicates a tie

## Regionals
### Northeast

| First round Round of 36 See below | First round Round of 36 See below | First round Round of 36 See below | Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional Final - Worcester, MA Sweet 16 March 7 | Regional Final - Worcester, MA Sweet 16 March 7 | Regional Final - Worcester, MA Sweet 16 March 7 |
| Assumption | Assumption | 105 | | | | | | |
| American International | American International | 102 | | | | | | |
| American International | American International | 102 | Assumption | Assumption | 96 | | | |
| Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | Assumption | Assumption | 96 | | | |
| Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | Division A Springfield, MA March 2 and 3 | Northeastern | Northeastern | 69 | | | |
| Northeastern | Northeastern | 93 | Northeastern | Northeastern | 69 | | | |
| Springfield | Springfield | 80 | | | | | | |
| Springfield | Springfield | 80 | | | | Assumption | Assumption | 87 |
| | | | | | | Central Connecticut State | Central Connecticut State | 96 |
| Central Connecticut State | Central Connecticut State | 94 | | | | | | | Central Connecticut State | Central Connecticut State | 96 |
| Potsdam State | Potsdam State | 82 | | | | | | |
| Potsdam State | Potsdam State | 82 | Central Connecticut State | Central Connecticut State | 97 | | | |
| Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | Central Connecticut State | Central Connecticut State | 97 | | | |
| Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | Division B DeWitt, NY March 1 and 2 | Philadelphia Textile | Philadelphia Textile | 75 | | | |
| Philadelphia Textile | Philadelphia Textile | 83 | Philadelphia Textile | Philadelphia Textile | 75 | | | |
| Le Moyne | Le Moyne | 61 | | | | | | |
* Division B Consolation March 2 - Le Moyne 86, Potsdam State 63
* Division A Consolation March 3 - American International 96, Springfield 94*

#### Notes

* The right to host the regional final was given to the Division A winner, which was Assumption.
* American International College and Springfield College are both located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College was the host school for Division A.

### South - Durham, North Carolina

Location: McClendon–McDougald Gym Host: North Carolina College at Durham
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Kentucky Wesleyan | 81* | | | |
| South Carolina State | South Carolina State | 73 | | | |
| South Carolina State | South Carolina State | 73 | Kentucky Wesleyan | Kentucky Wesleyan | 48 |
| | | | Oglethorpe | Oglethorpe | 41 |
| Oglethorpe | Oglethorpe | 69 | Oglethorpe | Oglethorpe | 41 |
| Winston-Salem | Winston-Salem | 66 | | | |
* Third Place - Winston-Salem 85, South Carolina State 81

### East - Reading, Pennsylvania

Location: Bollman Center Host: Albright College
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 |
| Cheyney | Cheyney | 61 | | | |
| Albright | Albright | 56 | | | |
| Albright | Albright | 56 | Cheyney | Cheyney | 64 |
| | | | Long Island | Long Island | 67 |
| Long Island | Long Island | 62 | Long Island | Long Island | 67 |
| Drexel | Drexel | 54 | | | |
* Third Place - Albright 78, Drexel 61

### Mideast - Akron, Ohio

Location: Memorial Hall Host: Municipal University of Akron
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 |
| Steubenville | Steubenville | 77 | | | |
| Randolph–Macon | Randolph–Macon | 56 | | | |
| Randolph–Macon | Randolph–Macon | 56 | Steubenville | Steubenville | 76 |
| | | | Akron | Akron | 93 |
| Akron | Akron | 70 | Akron | Akron | 93 |
| Youngstown State | Youngstown State | 51 | | | |
* Third Place - Youngstown State 94, Randolph–Macon 63

### Pacific Coast - Fresno, California

Location: North Gym Host: Fresno State College
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 |
| Seattle Pacific | Seattle Pacific | 69 | | | |
| San Diego | San Diego | 63 | | | |
| San Diego | San Diego | 63 | Seattle Pacific | Seattle Pacific | 58 |
| | | | Fresno State | Fresno State | 64 |
| Fresno State | Fresno State | 127 | Fresno State | Fresno State | 64 |
| Nevada | Nevada | 78 | | | |
* Third Place - Nevada 74, San Diego 71

### Great Lakes - Carbondale, Illinois

Location: SIU Arena Host: Southern Illinois University
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 |
| Evansville | Evansville | 111 | | | |
| Lamar | Lamar | 103 | | | |
| Lamar | Lamar | 103 | Evansville | Evansville | 77 |
| | | | Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 90 |
| Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 83 | Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 90 |
| Indiana State | Indiana State | 65 | | | |
* Third Place - Lamar 93, Indiana State 78

### Southwest - Jonesboro, Arkansas

Location: Indian Fieldhouse Host: Arkansas State College
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional semifinals Round of 32 March 4 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 5 |
| Abilene Christian | Abilene Christian | 94 | | | |
| Jackson State | Jackson State | 79 | | | |
| Jackson State | Jackson State | 79 | Abilene Christian | Abilene Christian | 63 |
| | | | SW Missouri State | SW Missouri State | 58 |
| SW Missouri State | SW Missouri State | 72 | SW Missouri State | SW Missouri State | 58 |
| Arkansas State | Arkansas State | 71 | | | |
* Third Place - Arkansas State 84, Jackson State 77

### Midwest - Grand Forks, North Dakota

Location: Hyslop Sports Center Host: University of North Dakota
| Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional semifinals Round of 32 See below | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 7 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 7 | Regional Final Sweet 16 March 7 |
| Valparaiso | Valparaiso | 107 | | | |
| St. Procopius | St. Procopius | 76 | | | |
| St. Procopius | St. Procopius | 76 | Valparaiso | Valparaiso | 82 |
| | | | North Dakota | North Dakota | 112 |
| North Dakota | North Dakota | 84 | North Dakota | North Dakota | 112 |
| Colorado State College | Colorado State College | 71 | | | |
Note: The first-round game between North Dakota and Colorado State College was delayed a day to March 6; the Valparaiso/Saint Procopius game was played in Moorhead, Minnesota on March 5; and the third-place game was cancelled entirely. These occurrences were due to inclement weather.
*denotes each overtime played

## National Finals - Evansville, Indiana

Location: Roberts Municipal Stadium Host: Evansville College
| National Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 9 | National Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 9 | National Quarterfinals Elite Eight March 9 | National semifinals Final Four March 10 | National semifinals Final Four March 10 | National semifinals Final Four March 10 | National Championship March 11 | National Championship March 11 | National Championship March 11 |
| Central Connecticut State | Central Connecticut State | 76 | | | | | | |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Kentucky Wesleyan | 84 | | | | | | |
| Kentucky Wesleyan | Kentucky Wesleyan | 84 | Kentucky Wesleyan | Kentucky Wesleyan | 105 | | | |
| | | | Akron | Akron | 74 | | | |
| Long Island | Long Island | 68 | Akron | Akron | 74 | | | |
| Akron | Akron | 74 | | | | | | |
| Akron | Akron | 74 | | | | Kentucky Wesleyan | Kentucky Wesleyan | 54 |
| | | | | | | Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 51 |
| Fresno State | Fresno State | 70 | | | | | | | Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 51 |
| Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 93 | | | | | | |
| Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 93 | Southern Illinois | Southern Illinois | 69 | | | |
| | | | North Dakota | North Dakota | 61 | | | |
| Abilene Christian | Abilene Christian | 62 | North Dakota | North Dakota | 61 | | | |
| North Dakota | North Dakota | 63 | | | | | | |
* Third Place - Akron 76, North Dakota 71
*denotes each overtime played

## All-tournament team

* Phil Jackson (North Dakota)
* David Lee (Southern Illinois)
* George McNeil (Southern Illinois)
* Clarence Smith (Southern Illinois)
* Sam Smith (Kentucky Wesleyan)