Beehive State Basketball is in the Books

If you ever get thinking the NCAA is completely unaware of Utah’s colleges and their basketball histories, take a look at the Men’s Final Four Records Book.

The Beehive State is present and accounted for — not only among the records, such as the most points scored in a losing effort (127-120, Utah vs. St. Joseph’s, 1961) and free throws made (41 by Utah against Santa Clara in 1960 ranks second). But also in pictures.

Right there on page 41 is Britton Johnsen of Utah, leaping in the air and waving a towel during the 1998 NCAA Tournament. Also in the book is a picture of the Huntsman Center, with Magic Johnson scoring a basket in the 1979 Final Four against Penn; another of Larry Bird going up for a shot against Michigan State in ’79, while Johnson looks on.

BYU gets nice play with a sequence of photos of Danny Ainge’s 1981 drive against Notre Dame that sent the Cougars to the Elite Eight.

There is also a team photo of every championship team, including the 1944 Utah team that beat Dartmouth, 42-40 for the championship. The team photo includes one Jim Nance, middle row, far left.

Not to be confused with CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz, who began his career in Salt Lake.

But nowhere in the book is a photo of Utah State or Weber State.

The record book also indicates the Huntsman Center has hosted more tournament games (81) than any other arena except Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

Only five other states have hosted more NCAA Tournament games than Utah (138).