THE 1957 NIT MARKED A NUMBER OF FIRSTS FOR THE TIGERS. IT WAS THE SCHOOL´S FIRST APPEARANCE IN THE NIT, FIRST OFFICIAL GAME AT THE FAMED MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, AND THE UTAH CONTEST IN THE OPENING ROUND WAS MEMPHIS´ FIRST NATIONALLY- TELEVISED GAME.
AGAINST BRADLEY IN THE 1957 NIT FINAL, WIN WILFONG SCORED 31 POINTS AND WAS NAMED THE MVP OF THE TOURNAMENT. THE TIGERS LOST THE GAME, HOWEVER, 84-83.
The team that started the city of Memphis´ love affair with Tiger basketball - the 1956-57 Memphis squad - grabbed the spotlight with its run to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) final. Nicknamed "The Dixie Darlings" by the New York City media, the Tigers defeated Utah, New York City favorite Manhattan and St. Bonaventure, but lost to Bradley 84-83 in the title game. Despite the loss, the 1956-57 Tigers and their NIT championship game appearance sparked a bond between the program and the city that grows stronger with each season.
BOB VANATTA
BOB SWANDER 2012 Tigers Men's Basketball Yearbook Page 40 University of Memphis
