Thirty years ago to the day on March 22, 1975, all four NCAA Tournament regional finals were played. But those games were only half of the NCAA slate that day. There were also four regional consolation finals between the two Sweet 16 losers in each region.

Nine days later, a national consolation game was held between the two Final Four losers.

Back in the day, third place games were common in the NCAA Tournament. That means six teams every year won their last tournament game, yet only one was crowned champion.

While this concept seems unfathomable today, it was actually just as nonsensical to the players and coaches at the time.

Louisville players in 1975 discussed not playing against Syracuse in the national consolation game. Senior guard Junior Bridgeman, who went on to enjoy a 12-year career in the NBA with Milwaukee and the Los Angeles Clippers, said NCAA officials were forced to nudge the Cardinals to play.

‘Everybody’s hopes and dreams are to play for the championship,’ said Bridgeman, who also played in a regional third place game in 1974, losing to Creighton. ‘That’s the only thing that matters. The games were more like an obligation.

‘Once the game gets going, you do get caught up in the competition.’

However, after defeating Syracuse, 96-88, in overtime, Bridgeman said the locker room felt more like a loss. Players showered and dressed in silence. Nobody offered any congratulatory remarks. With little else to do, the players numbly filed into the stands to watch UCLA and Kentucky play for the title. Like a session in today’s tournament, the championship game started 30 minutes after the third place game ended.

The decision to schedule consolation games was a no-brainer when the tournament began in the 1930s. In fact, longtime NCAA executive Wayne Duke said it was necessary. The former Big 8 and Big Ten conference commissioner said the primary intention was to entice fans to attend the event. Guaranteeing a team at least two games helped fill the seats, which was hard early on.

‘We had an obligation to fans that came down to watch the teams play,’ Duke said. ‘You didn’t want to take a trip and spend all that money for just one game.’

Another major factor was the fear of ticket scalping, which safe to say hasn’t exactly been eliminated today. But nonetheless, Duke said he despised thousands of unused tickets floating around. There was also simply the notion that perhaps third place meant something.

‘The idea of placing third in the country was more important than it is now,’ Duke said. ‘But that mindset gradually eroded.’

In addition, the tournament became so large that the NCAA no longer had to worry about empty seats staining television sets.

Duke said the NCAA toyed with the idea of eliminating the games for years, but no action was taken until Duke himself was tournament chairman from 1975 to 1981. In 1975, the regional consolation finals were played for the final time. The last national third place game was played in 1981.

Ultimately, pressure from the National Association of Basketball Coaches forced the change.

‘Basketball coaches are a great barometer for actions of the tournament committee,’ Duke said. ‘They felt it wasn’t that important to them or the kids after having been beaten. They didn’t want to stick around a few more days.’

Bridgeman said the decision was one of the best ever made by the NCAA and allowed the Tournament to develop into the spectacle it is today. He particularly noted the prolonged agony fans felt when their team stayed to play the extra game.

‘When you look back, no one remembers even who finished second, so definitely not third or fourth,’ Bridgeman said.

The Official NCAA Tournament Record Book offers an intriguing note. Prior to 1981, third and fourth place finishers are listed. But since 1981, the two schools that lost in the Final Four are listed as having tied for third place. However, Duke said he knows of no trophy or plaque commemorating that specific achievement.

There is the idea that perhaps mid-major schools would enjoy another tournament game, seeing how their appearances are few and far between.

But at least in one case today, that is not true. Butler assistant coach Brad Stevens said the 12th- seeded Bulldogs were devastated after falling to top-seeded Oklahoma in a 2003 Sweet 16 game. Stevens said he couldn’t imagine playing another game, and he probably isn’t alone.

‘One of the beautiful things about the NCAA Tournament is the deal that if you win, you move on, and if you don’t, you go home,’ Stevens said. ‘I think it’s one of the neatest events in sports because of that.

‘I’m not sure what would be gained at all from third-place games.’

(1) NORTH CAROLINA (-10) VS. (5) VILLANOVA

FRIDAY, 9:57 P.M., CBS

Along with Illinois, the Tar Heels were among only a few of the favorites who dominated in their first two games. The Wildcats’ slim hopes were extinguished Monday when it was learned forward Curtis Sumpter was out for the remainder of the Tournament with a torn knee ligament.

PICK: UNC 86, ‘NOVA 72

(6) WISCONSIN (PICK ‘EM) VS. (10) NC STATE

FRIDAY, 7:27 P.M., CBS

The Wolfpack’s Julius Hodge returned to school to avenge last year’s second-round loss to Vanderbilt, and did he ever in hitting the game-winning shot against Connecticut on Sunday. He leads them to another win, meaning Tobacco Road detours through Syracuse on Sunday.

PICK: NC STATE 62, WISCONSIN 57

(2) OKLAHOMA STATE (-5) VS. (3) ARIZONA

THURSDAY, 9:57 P.M., CBS

While this one seems like the marquee Sweet 16 matchup, it’s not. As if the Cowboys don’t have enough senior weapons in guard Jon Lucas III and forward Joey Graham, forward Ivan McFarlin turned in a career day in OSU’s win over Southern Illinois with 31 points. No stopping them here.

PICK: OSU 78, ARIZONA 68

(1) WASHINGTON (-3) VS. (4) LOUSVILLE

THURSDAY, 7:10 P.M., CBS

Many pools all across the country have the disputed No. 1 seeded Huskies falling in this game, but that will not be the case. Little Nate Robinson, all of 5 feet, 7 inches, was 10-for-14 from the floor in scoring 23 points against Pacific. You can only hope to contain him. Huskies at the buzzer.

PICK: UW 82, LOUISVILLE 81

(6) TEXAS TECH (+5) VS. (7) WEST VIRGINIA

THURSDAY, 9:40 P.M., CBS

Red Raiders’ head coach Bobby Knight is in his first Sweet 16 since 1994. He won’t like his stay. The red-hot Mountaineers will march on provided they don’t lose their shooting prowess. Struggling for much of the season, center D’or Fischer is a force once again both inside and outside.

PICK: WVU 69, TEXAS TECH 57

Published on March 21, 2005 at 12:00 pm