Kristian Ferrell
The tradition of cutting down basketball nets is believed to have started in 1947 when Everett Case, the head coach of the North Carolina State Wolfpack, wanted a souvenir to commemorate his team's second Southern Conference title win. As there was no ladder available, his players hoisted him onto their shoulders, and he cut the net while being cradled in their grasp. Case had previously spent 23 years as a high school basketball head coach in Indiana, where net-cutting was already a tradition. This moment is widely considered the origin of the tradition at the NCAA level, although there is some debate as to whether Case cut his first net with NC State or if he brought the ritual from his time in Indiana.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the tradition | Cutting of the Nets |
| Started by | Everett Case |
| Year | 1947 |
| Team | North Carolina State Wolfpack |
| Position | Head coach |
| Reason | To have a souvenir to commemorate the win |
| Obstacle | No ladder available |
| Solution | Players hoisted Case onto their shoulders |
| Spread to | Women's college basketball tournaments, high school basketball programs, Philippine Basketball Association |
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What You'll Learn
Everett Case began the tradition in 1947
The tradition of cutting down basketball nets began in 1947, and its origins can be traced back to Everett Case, a coaching legend in the Hoosier state of Indiana. Case had a long and illustrious career in basketball, dating back to his days as a player in high school. In 1919, when asked about his future ambitions, Case replied that he wanted to be a basketball coach, which was not a common profession at the time. This response showcased his unwavering passion for the sport.
Case's coaching career took off when he became the head coach at Frankfort High in Indiana at the young age of 22. He went on to spend 23 years as a high school basketball head coach in his home state, leading his teams to four state championships. In 1946, Case took on a new challenge as the coach of North Carolina State University, and his success continued.
The Wolfpack, as the North Carolina State team was known, won the Southern Conference tournament in both 1946 and 1947. Following the 1947 victory, Case, wanting a souvenir to cherish the memory, recalled a tradition from his days at Frankfort High in Indiana, where players would snip the net to keep as a memento. Driven by excitement and pride, Case asked for a ladder but was unable to find one. Determined to carry out the net-cutting ritual, Case's players hoisted him onto their shoulders, and he cut the net while being cradled by his team.
This moment marked the beginning of the tradition of cutting down basketball nets in college basketball. While there is some debate as to whether Case initiated this ritual at North Carolina State or if it originated during his time in Indiana, it is undisputed that the practice quickly spread and became entrenched in college basketball. The tradition has since expanded to women's college basketball tournaments and high school basketball programs across the country.
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Case was a coach from Indiana
In 1946, Case became the coach at North Carolina State University (NC State). The following year, his team won the Southern Conference title. Excited and proud, Case wanted to commemorate the victory. He recalled his time at Frankfort High in Indiana, where his players would snip the net, so he asked for a ladder. When no ladder could be found, his players hoisted him onto their shoulders, and he cut the net while being cradled by them. This moment is widely recognized as the start of the net-cutting tradition in college basketball.
While the origin of the tradition is largely attributed to Case's time at NC State, there is some debate. Some sources claim that Case may have brought the ritual from his years of coaching in Indiana, where high school teams had been celebrating championships by cutting down nets as far back as the 1920s. Case himself had been a part of these net-cutting ceremonies four times.
Case's impact on basketball extended beyond starting the net-cutting tradition. He also introduced other traditions to NC State, such as a pep band, a noise meter, and a spotlight for introducing players. His coaching expertise led NC State to a remarkable 377-134 record, and he was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
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The tradition started at the collegiate level
The tradition of cutting down basketball nets started at the collegiate level in 1947. After the North Carolina State Wolfpack claimed their second Southern Conference title, their head coach Everett Case, who had previously spent 23 years as a high school basketball head coach in Indiana, wanted a souvenir to commemorate the win. Case decided that the basketball net from the game would be perfect. However, there was no ladder available to help him reach the net, so his players hoisted him onto their shoulders, and he cut the net while being cradled in their grasp.
Case had immediate success at NC State, leading them to the 1946 Southern Conference title. In 1947, NC State won the conference title again. Excited and proud, Case wanted to cherish the memory and recalled his days at Frankfort High in Indiana, where he remembered his players snipping the net. Case asked the arena workers for a ladder, but none could be found. Undeterred, he had his players lift him up on their shoulders so he could grab his memento.
This tradition of "cutting the nets" or "net-cutting" began in Indiana, where Everett Case had spent many years as a high school basketball coach before becoming the head coach at North Carolina State University. While the moment when Case cut the net after his NC State team's 1947 victory is widely regarded as the origin of the tradition at the NCAA level, some believe that Case may have brought the ritual with him from his time in Indiana.
The practice has since become deeply ingrained in college basketball and has even spread to the women's college basketball tournament and high school basketball programs across the country.
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It spread to women's basketball and high school
The tradition of cutting down the nets in basketball started at the collegiate level in 1947. After the North Carolina State Wolfpack claimed their second Southern Conference title, head coach Everett Case wanted a souvenir to commemorate the win. Case introduced net-cutting to college basketball, but there was no ladder available, so his players hoisted him onto their shoulders, and he cut the net while cradled in their grasp. Case spent 23 years as a high school basketball head coach in Indiana, where his team won four state championships. There is some dispute as to whether Case cut his first net with NC State or whether he brought the ritual from his time in Indiana.
The tradition has since spread to women's college basketball tournaments and high school basketball programs across the country. Stanford coach Tara VanDerveer has cut down a few nets in her time. Her teams have won 21 conference titles, two national championships, and an Olympic gold medal. The tradition of cutting the nets is also done in the Philippine Basketball Association, where it has been a custom since the league's establishment in 1975.
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The NBA does not follow this tradition
The tradition of cutting down basketball nets began in Indiana, in the 1920s and 1930s. Everett Case, a high school basketball coach, is credited with popularising the tradition, which he brought with him when he became the coach at North Carolina State University. Case and his team won the Southern Conference championship in 1947, and he wanted a souvenir to mark the occasion. As there was no ladder available, the players hoisted Case onto their shoulders so that he could cut the net.
While this tradition has become synonymous with college basketball, the NBA does not follow this custom. The NBA is the highest level of basketball in the world, and its teams do not cut down the nets after winning a championship. This is because the NBA is a professional league, and the tradition of cutting down the nets is primarily associated with college basketball.
The NBA also differs from college basketball in terms of the structure of the league and the players involved. The NBA is a closed league, with a fixed number of teams that remain the same from season to season. College basketball, on the other hand, has a more fluid structure, with teams moving up and down between divisions based on their performance. Additionally, NBA players are professional athletes who are paid to play basketball, while college basketball players are student-athletes who typically play for their respective schools or universities.
The NBA has its own set of traditions and rituals that are unique to the league. For example, the NBA Finals trophy, awarded to the championship-winning team, is named after the Larry O'Brien Championship Trophy. Additionally, the NBA Draft, where teams select new players to join their roster, is a highly anticipated event that often shapes the future of franchises. The NBA also has a rich history of legendary players and iconic moments that are celebrated and remembered throughout the league and by fans worldwide.
While the NBA does not follow the tradition of cutting down basketball nets, the league has its own set of customs and rituals that are integral to the NBA experience and community.
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Frequently asked questions
Everett Case, a basketball coach from Indiana, is credited with starting this tradition. After his team at North Carolina State University won the Southern Conference title in 1947, he wanted a souvenir to commemorate the win and decided to cut down the net.
Case wanted to cherish the memory of his team's victory and harked back to his days at Frankfort High in Indiana, where he remembered his players snipping the net.
Unable to find a ladder, Case had his players hoist him up on their shoulders so he could reach the net and cut it while cradled in their grasp.
There is some dispute regarding this. While some sources claim that Case started the tradition at North Carolina State University, others argue that he might have brought the ritual from his time in Indiana, where he was a high school basketball coach.
