Kristian Ferrell
The City College of New York (CCNY) Beavers basketball team is part of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC), which is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. The CUNYAC was founded in 1978 as the CUNY Athletic Directions Association (CUNYADA) and sponsors Division III intercollegiate athletic competitions in various sports, including men's and women's basketball. The CCNY Beavers have a notable history in college basketball, including winning both the National Invitation Tournament and the NCAA tournament in the 1949-50 season, becoming the only team to achieve this feat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Division | III |
| Conference | City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC) |
| Nickname | Beavers |
| Colors | Lavender and Black |
| Location | New York, NY |
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What You'll Learn
CCNY Beavers are Division III
The CCNY Beavers are Division III. The team represents the City College of New York and is part of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC). The CUNYAC is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division III. All its member institutions are located in New York City and are campuses of the City University of New York.
The CCNY Beavers have a storied history in basketball, particularly the 1949-50 men's basketball team. Coached by Nat Holman, one of the game's greatest innovators and playmakers, the team was composed of players from the sidewalks of New York City, recruited from Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) schools. This team is the only team in history to win both the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and the NCAA tournament in the same year, defeating Bradley University in both championship games.
Following their NIT victory, the Beavers were selected to participate in the NCAA tournament. They defeated second-ranked Ohio State 56-55 in the first round and fifth-ranked North Carolina State 78-73 to reach the final. There, they beat Bradley University for the second time, winning the tournament 71-68 and scoring the only Grand Slam in college basketball history. Irwin Dambrot, a 6-foot-4 All-American forward, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Unfortunately, the team later became implicated in a point-shaving scandal, which resulted in criminal charges and the end of some players' basketball careers. Despite this, the 1949-50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team remains a legendary chapter in the history of college basketball.
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CCNY won the NIT title
The CCNY Beavers men's basketball team won the NIT title in 1950, becoming the only team to win both the NIT and NCAA championships in the same year. The team was coached by Nat Holman, who was one of the game's greatest innovators and playmakers. The CCNY Beavers were composed of "kids from the sidewalks of New York City," with a starting five of two Black and three Jewish players.
After winning the NIT title, the CCNY Beavers were invited to participate in the NCAA tournament, where they defeated Ohio State 56-55 in the opening round. They then beat North Carolina State 78-73 to advance to the title game, where they faced Bradley University. The CCNY Beavers won the NCAA tournament, defeating Bradley 71-68 to score the only Grand Slam in college basketball history.
The team's victory was voted the most exciting event in the history of college basketball at Madison Square Garden. However, in 1951, several players from the CCNY Beavers, including Ed Warner and Irwin Dambrot, were arrested and charged with conspiring to fix games in a point-shaving scandal. As a result of the scandal, the CCNY basketball program was suspended, and the school was moved from Division I to Division III.
Despite the scandal, the 1949-50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team remains a historic and celebrated squad, known not only for their athletic achievements but also for their diverse roster and impact on civil rights.
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CCNY won the NCAA tournament
The 1949–50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team represented the City College of New York. The team was composed of "kids from the sidewalks of New York City," recruited by assistant coach Harold "Bobby" Sand from local Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) schools. The team's starting five included two Black players and three Jewish players.
The 1949–50 CCNY Beavers are the only team to win both the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) and the NCAA tournament in the same year. After winning the NIT, the Beavers were selected to participate in the NCAA tournament. In the first round, they defeated second-ranked Ohio State 56–55. They then beat fifth-ranked North Carolina State 78–73 to reach the title game. In the final, they faced top-ranked Bradley University, winning the tournament 71–68. This victory, known as the only Grand Slam in the history of college basketball, was voted the most exciting event in the history of college basketball at Madison Square Garden.
The 1950 CCNY team was also the first NCAA champion to have Black players in its starting lineup. Irwin Dambrot, a 6-foot-4 All-American forward and the only senior in the starting lineup, was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. However, the team's success was later marred by a point-shaving scandal, in which players were found to have taken money from gamblers during the 1948–1949 season and some regular-season games in 1949–1950. While no games were fixed during the post-season tournaments, the scandal had significant repercussions for the program, resulting in the suspension of the basketball program and the school being moved from Division I to Division III.
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CCNY's coach, Nat Holman, was an innovator
CCNY, or the City College of New York, is an NCAA Division III school. The 1949–50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team was coached by Nat Holman, a former professional basketball player and one of the game's greatest innovators and playmakers. Known as "Mr. Basketball", Holman was the youngest college coach in the United States when he took the helm at CCNY in 1919 at the age of 23. During his 41-year career at CCNY, Holman's teams boasted a remarkable 422-188 win-loss record.
Holman's teams were known for their well-drilled and fundamentally sound play, with Holman moving his players around the floor as if they were chess pieces. He adopted the fast-break style, and his well-patterned, quick-moving offense became known as "New York-style" basketball. As a player, Holman used guile and finesse to improvise individual moves that became the foundation of the type of basketball played in New York.
Holman was also an important player for the Original Celtics, where he devised the "center pivot" play, an offensive concept that revolutionized basketball. Every Celtic game was a virtual basketball clinic, as college coaches flocked to watch Holman demonstrate his "cutting off the pivot" and execute the "give-and-go."
In addition to his coaching and playing career, Holman founded Camp Scatico in 1921 and wrote two books on basketball technique: "Scientific Basketball" (1922) and "Winning Basketball" (1932). He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the New York Basketball Hall of Fame, and the CCNY Hall of Fame.
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CCNY's 1949-50 team was diverse
The 1949-50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team was indeed diverse. The team was composed of players from various backgrounds, including two Black players and three Jewish players in the starting five. This diversity was a significant aspect of the team's identity and helped them achieve great success on the court.
The team was coached by Nat Holman, a renowned innovator and playmaker in the game of basketball. Holman's assistant coach, Harold "Bobby" Sand, recruited the players from local New York City high schools, including Taft, Clinton, Boys, Erasmus, and Franklin High Schools. This local talent pool contributed to the team's diverse composition.
The 1949-50 CCNY Beavers were the first NCAA champions to have Black players in their starting lineup. This milestone was a significant step forward in racial diversity and representation in college basketball. The team's diversity extended beyond the starting five, as the squad also included players of various racial and ethnic backgrounds.
The team's diversity was not just limited to their racial and ethnic makeup but also extended to their playing styles and positions. The team had a well-rounded roster with players of different heights, weights, and positions. For example, Irwin Dambrot, the tournament's Most Outstanding Player, was a 6-foot-4, 175-pound forward, while Alvin Roth played guard at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds. Norm Mager, the top reserve on the team, stood at 6-foot-5.
The diversity of the 1949-50 CCNY Beavers extended beyond the basketball court as well. The team included players with diverse academic and professional interests. For example, Irwin Dambrot went on to enrol at Columbia University Dental School and served in the U.S. Air Force Dental Corps. This team truly embodied a diverse range of backgrounds and aspirations.
In summary, the 1949-50 CCNY Beavers men's basketball team was diverse in multiple aspects, including racial and ethnic background, playing style and position, and academic and professional pursuits. This diversity contributed to their historic achievements, both on and off the court, and helped pave the way for greater diversity and inclusion in college basketball.
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Frequently asked questions
CCNY basketball is in Division III of the City University of New York Athletic Conference (CUNYAC).
CCNY competes in baseball, cross country, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
The CCNY basketball team's colours are lavender and black.
The CCNY basketball team's nickname is the Beavers.
The CUNY Athletic Conference was founded in 1978 as the CUNY Athletic Directions Association (CUNYADA).
