March 17

From Hoopedia

• 1896 - Hall of Fame high school and college coach Cliff Wells is born in Indianapolis, Indiana.

• 1937 - A rule change that fundamentally altered the game: The center jump after every made basket is eliminated. Beginning with the 1937-38 season, after a basket the defending team receives possession of the ball under their opponent's basket. As a result, the game would speed up and capture greater spectator interest.

• 1939 - In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the first NCAA tournament game in history tips off at the Palestra. The Villanova Wildcats defeat the Brown Bears, 42-30.

• 1973 - Washington beats Philadelphia, 120-115, handing the Sixers. The Sixers end their season with a 9-63 mark, the NBA record for futility. The Sixers remain the only team in NBA history not to reach double figures in victories.

• 1978 - Iron Man Dave Corzine gives his all in a Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA tournament. He plays all 50 minutes of the double-overtime game, coming up with 46 points, nine rebounds and three blocks to lead DePaul to a 90-89 win over Louisville.

• 1979 - Indiana State, led by Larry Bird, squeaks by Arkansas, 73-71, to win the Midwest Regional Final of the NCAA tournament. As a result, the Sycamores become the only team to reach the Final Four in their only tournament appearance.

• 1989 - Alonzo Mourning blocks two shots in the last six seconds of the game to permit #1-seed Georgetown's to avoid upset at the hands of #16-seed Princeton, 50-49.

• 2006 - Northwestern State, a #14-seed, upsets Iowa, the Big Ten champs, 64-63, in the opening round of the NCAA tournament.