1973 NCAA University Division basketball championship game
men's college basketball tournament game
The 1973 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game was the final of the 1973 NCAA University Division basketball tournament and determined the national champion for the 1972–73 season. The game was held at the St. Louis Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 26, 1973.
The UCLA Bruins of the Pacific-8 Conference, who were seeking their seventh consecutive championship, were matched against the Memphis State Tigers (now known as the Memphis Tigers), who were playing in the national title game for the first time. The Bruins won 87–66 behind a 44-point effort by Bill Walton, who scored on 21 of his 22 field goal attempts.
Background
UCLA Bruins
The Bruins were coached by John Wooden, who was in his 25th season with the team. UCLA entered the 1972–73 season as the six-time defending national champions, and the Bruins were coming off of an undefeated 30–0 season in 1971–72. Five players on UCLA's roster later played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Center Bill Walton was the Bruins' top scorer and rebounder, averaging 20.4 points and 16.9 rebounds.
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