Princeton Makes NCAA Championship Round

Mar. 13, 1965 - For the first time in 21 years, the Ivy League will be represented in the NCAA basketball championship round, but Princeton coach Butch van Breda Kolff has no fears.

“We can play any team in the country,” said the Tiger mentor, speaking from Cloud Nine after tonight’s startling 109-69 rout of Providence in the Eastern Regional final at the Baltimore Civic Center.

“I’m not saying we can beat everyone,” explained van Breda Kolff, “but we can give them a good game. We have good size, play good defense, and when we’re loose on offense — like tonight — we’re tough.”

“Tough” isn’t the word. Princeton merely made 41 of 60 field goal attempts — a glazing 68.3%. That would dazzle the Celtics.

“We want Michigan,” roared the Tiger student body, and the coach talked about a rematch with the top-ranked Wolverines in the national semifinals next Friday at Portland, Ore.

“One team’s as tough as another,” he said. “If we’re playing our style of ball and playing well, we can beat them.”Princeton, which has now won 13 straight, suffered one of its five seasonal losses to Michigan, 80-78, in the semifinals of New York’s Holiday Festival. The Tigers had a 12-point lead in the second half but collapsed after Bill Bradley fouled out.

“We’ve improved greatly since then,” said van Breda Kolff, “especially in rebounding.”And Bradley?

“All the superlatives have been used on him,” said his coach, “and tonight he lived up to them.”

Bradley’s contribution to tonight’s success was 41 points plus the best of his passing and playmaking skills. He made 14 field goals in 20 attempts and 13 free throws. He was credited with nine assists and got 10 rebounds.

The All-American said this victory was as big a thrill for him as the U.S. Olympic triumph “because the competition is tougher here.”

No Ivy League team has ever won the NCAA tournament title, although Dartmouth lost in the final game in 1942.

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