What Did March Madness Look Like in 1975?
Experience the emotional journey of John Wooden's farewell victory in 1975's March Madness, securing UCLA's 10th NCAA title.
March Madness in 1975 was the first to have 32 teams, up from 25, competing, a far cry from today's 68-team lineup.
The 1975 tournament was marked by legendary performances of one of basketball's greatest coaches, John Wooden (aka the "Wizard of Westwood” – a title he hated) of UCLA. Only Kentucky was standing between Wooden and his 10th national championship in 12 years. This was 1975, the year after high-flying David Thompson and North Carolina State had ended UCLA’s string of seven consecutive NCAA titles in the semifinals by upsetting Bill Walton and the vaunted Walton Gang.
Kentucky was waiting two days after an exhausted Wooden had informed his stunned players in the locker room following an emotional overtime win over Louisville in the national semifinals that he would be retiring.
“I’m bowing out,” Wooden said in the vast quiet. “I don’t want to. I have to.”
Right then and there Andre McCarter knew he and his teammates had to send John Wooden out a winner.
“I just blurted out after all the emotions of the moment, because this came from left field, we had no idea. And I said, ‘We’re gonna win this game against Kentucky no matter what,’ ” McCarter told The NY Post.
The announcement of his retirement during the tournament added an emotional narrative to UCLA's pursuit of its 10th NCAA championship under his guidance. Only Kentucky was standing between Wooden and his 10th national championship in 12 years.
“This is John Wooden!” McCarter said. “You’re sitting here with the greatest coach ever. And he’s telling you that this is his final game on Saturday.”
The championship game between UCLA and Kentucky was a fitting finale, with UCLA clinching a narrow 92-85 victory to secure Wooden's 10th and final NCAA title. This victory not only marked the end of an era for UCLA but also cemented Wooden's legacy as one of the sport's greatest coaches.
