The 1986 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship Game was the finals of the 1986 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament…. as it determined the national champion for the 1985-86 NCAA Division I men’s basketball season….which was played on March 31, 1986 at Reunion Arena in Dallas, Texas….home of the NBA Dallas Mavericks ….as this game matched the East Regional Champion and the nations # 1 ranked team, Duke University against the West Regional Champion and the nations # 3 ranked team, Louisville Cardinals. This was not just a matchup between two of the best teams in the country….but also both teams were led by two of the best college coaches to ever grace the hardwoods in Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski (better known as Coach K) and Louisville’s Denny Crum.
Duke entered this game with a record of 37 – 2 and ranked # 1….while the Cardinals came into the game with a record of 31 -7 and being ranked # 3….with the game being televised by none other than CBS….who has owned the NCAA Men’s Basketball contract since 1982 to present….while featuring their longtime basketball crew of Brent Musberger, Billy Packer and Dick Stockton. The game was played at Reunion Arena in front of 14,692 fan….as the Blue Devils took a 37 – 34 lead into halftime….but Louiville C Pervis Ellison led the Cardinals to a come from behind victory of 72 – 69 to give Louisville the National Championship….as Ellison garnered the MVP trophy.
The 1986 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament was the first tournament to use a shot clock limiting the amount of time for any one offensive possession by a team prior to taking a shot at the basket….for beginning with the 1986 tournament….the shot clock was set at 45 seconds….which it would remain at until being shortened to 35 seconds beginning in the 1994 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament….then further shortened to 30 seconds (the same as NCAA women’s basketball) starting with the 2016 NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament….and the 1986 tournament was also the last to not feature the three-point shot….so, in addition to being a great game between two outstanding coaches and their programs….this video provides pieces of history that make it well worth watching.
