1934–35 NCAA men's basketball season
The 1934–35 NCAA men's basketball season began in December 1934, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded in March 1935. This is the 17th season of the NCAA's men's basketball.
Rules changes
The regulation basketball was reduced in circumference, from to between.Season headlines
- Ned Irish began to promote college basketball doubleheaders between New York City-area teams at Madison Square Garden and intersectional games there between New York City-area teams and teams from other regions. The first intersectional game — an [1934–35 1934–35 NYU Violets men's basketball team|NYU Violets men's basketball team|NYU] 25–18 victory over Notre Dame on December 29, 1934 — drew 16,138 fans, a world record for attendance at a college basketball game. In the next game on January 5, 1935, NYU defeated Kentucky 23–22 before another new world record crowd of 16,539. After the NYU–Kentucky game, Kentucky head coach Adolph Rupp called for the creation of a round-robin national championship college basketball tournament.
- The American Legion sponsored an intersectional "Rose Bowl", promoted as a basketball game "for the national collegiate championship," on April 13 at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. LSU defeated Pittsburgh 41–37 and claim the national collegiate basketball champion for the 1934–35 season based on this victory.
Regular season
Major independents
A total of 69 college teams played as major independents. was undefeated. and finished with the most wins.Postseason
The American Legion sponsored a postseason game on April 13 at the Convention Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey as a feature of the city's Palm Sunday festivities. The intersectional contest was modeled after college football's famous east vs. west Rose Bowl. Eastern Intercollegiate Conference champion Pittsburgh was invited as the eastern representative, while SEC co-champion LSU represented the south.The game was billed as "for the national collegiate championship" and was expected to attract up to 20,000 fans. LSU came from behind to beat Pittsburgh 41–37 in front of a disappointing 5,000 attendees. The Tigers claim a national championship based on the victory.