It's March Madness time again, and if you are a basketball fan--or even if you're not-- it's the greatest time of the year.

This year marks a milestone for one national championship. It was 75 years ago this month when Wyoming put together one magical season.  The Cowboys' run to the 1942-43 NCAA National Championship is the single greatest moment in school history. That season Wyoming created its own special March Madness.

From March 26 through April 1, of 1943, the Cowboys shocked the world of college basketball by winning the NCAA Tournament in New York's Madison Square Garden, then hanging around the Big Apple for two more days to beat the National Invitational Tournament (NIT) champion, St. John's. When it was over, Wyoming was officially crowned collegiate basketball's world champions.

You might be surprised, but I actually wasn't here yet for that milestone (I haven't been around that long!), but I remember my dad proudly talking about it. What a run it must have been. 

While aware of it, and certainly proud of it, I'm not sure how many of us really stop to think what a special time that was, and is, for this state.

A team from Wyoming, with little pedigree for national success, won 31 games and beat all comers. National powers Oklahoma, Texas, Georgetown and St. John's were no match for the talented and gritty Cowboy team on its way to the world crown.  I'm sure the nation wondered, how could it happen?  How could a team from the middle of nowhere go to New York and win a title over those powerhouses?

When answering the why, you start with a great basketball coach in Everett Shelton, a man with a burning will to win who instilled that drive in his players. Obviously it was a talented team—it only suited up three All-Americans and the guy who revolutionized the game with his jump shot—but it jelled and gained momentum as the season moved along. Perhaps the best indicator of "why Wyoming" came with the fact that seven members of that championship team went on to serve in the military during World War II.

This collection of hard-nosed Cowboys certainly defied the odds and they did it during one of the most difficult times in this country's history. It was a time of uncertainty.  Because of World War II, universities were beginning to discuss the discontinuation of their intercollegiate athletic programs. Everyone was filled with doubts about the future of the country, and the world for that matter.  In fact UW would suspend its athletic programs the following year of 1943-44.

Wyoming played through that to win a national title.

What I found most interesting about this team is that there really wasn't an indication that Wyoming would produce that kind of a magical ride. For example, during the three seasons prior to the championship run, the Cowboys won six, 14 and 15 games respectively.  Hardly the stuff of champions.

As a matter of fact, the championship season began with little fanfare.  The Pokes defeated a team organized at Fort Warren in Cheyenne three times to open the season. Then when they did encounter a team one would consider at a national level, Duquesne, they lost by 10. Interestingly that game was the first of 10 straight road games—can you imagine that happening now—so prospects for the season weren't looking very promising. 

But a switch was flipped on following that Duquesne loss, and the team got on a roll. The Cowboys won 23 consecutive games over a two-month stretch. Of those 23 wins, amazingly 15 were away from Laramie!  In fact they lost just one more game and that came a week before the NCAA tournament began. 

The Cowboys entered the NCAAs with a tremendous amount of confidence and momentum.  They were driven.

Wyoming began the post season of 1943, in Kansas City for the Western Regional. It won two games there, and both came down to the wire.  The underdog Cowboys "upset" Oklahoma (53-50) and Texas (58-54) to advance. While the nation thought they were upsets, were they really?  Wyoming entered the tournament beating its opponents by an average of 25.6 points per game!

Nobody wanted to draw the Pokes in the tournament, and Oklahoma and Texas found out why.  The Pokes were the Western Regional champions and they were headed for Madison Square Garden in New York.  There they would face the Eastern Regional Champion, Georgetown for the crown.

What a matchup, unknown Wyoming and basketball power Georgetown for the national title.  The game did not disappoint, featuring seven ties and seven lead changes.  But with seven minutes remaining the Hoyas were in control, 31-26 (a good lead in those days).  But Kenny Sailors and Jimmy Collins brought the Pokes back with baskets, and center Milo Komenich hit two free throws to tie the game.

The final four minutes were all Wyoming as it outscored the Eastern Regional champ, 15-3.  The Cowboys were NCAA Tournament Champions.

But they weren't finished.

Because it was war time, one final game was "created" as a benefit for the Red Cross.  The game's organizers wondered if the NCAA champion Wyoming and the NIT champion St. John's might want to play for the "World Championship".  Both agreed and this game, too, was played in Madison Square Garden. 

It was virtually a home game for St. John's.  But the Pokes relied on that poise and chemistry that had carried them through this phenomenal year.  The game was tied at 46-46, at the end of regulation play. Playing in front of that partisan crowd, and having their center, Komenich foul out of the game made things look dim for the Pokes.

But Floyd Volker turned out to be the Cowboy hero scoring five of Wyoming's six overtime points, while the defense held St. John's to one point. Wyoming was the "World Champion", 52-47.

When the season was over, Sailors, Komenich and Jim Weir were named All-Americans.  Sailors also received the Chuck Taylor award as the national College Player of the Year!

What a glorious season, that 1942-43 campaign.  The Cowboys were champions.  In fact, at the time they were only the fifth school to earn that title since the tournament didn't begin until 1939.  To this day only 38 schools have the right to be called national basketball champions. Wyoming is one of those special schools. 

That campaign of 1942-43 was something special indeed, and its impact on the university, and the state of Wyoming was incalculable.  Every time March Madness rolls around I think about our national champs and smile.  That crown is so rare, so special, and we will forever appreciate what those guys accomplished. I just wish I could have seen them play!