NYU Fighting Violets

From Hoopedia

New York University (NYU) is a private, nonsectarian, coeducational research university in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan. Founded in 1831, NYU is the largest private, non-profit institution of higher education in the United States, with an enrollment of more than 40,000.

NYU Violets is the name of the sports teams and other competitive teams at New York University. The colors are the trademarked hue "NYU Violet" and white and the school mascot is the bobcat. The Violets compete as NCAA Division III teams in the University Athletic Association conference. The university sponsors varsity sports as well as several intramural and club teams.

NYU has a long and rich basketball tradition. The Fighting Violets won the AAU Men's championship in 1920. The following year the Helms Foundation crowned the 1934-35 team mythical national champions. Howard Cann led the Violets to both championships; the first as a player and the second as a coach. Cann also led NYU to an undefeated season in 1933-34 and the NCAA Championship Game in 1945. Under his leadership NYU won the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) Championship in 1948, with his star guard Sid Tannenbaum.

NYU faced Notre Dame on December 29, 1934 in the first intersectional college game ever played at Madison Square Garden.