The 1937-1938 National Championship Team National Invitational Tournament Champion (2007) - Hall of Fame

The 1937-1938 National Championship Team National Invitational Tournament Champion

Induction:
2007

Temple reached the pinnacle of college basketball in 1938, claiming the first-ever national championship. The Owls rolled to regular season 20-2 record, earning a bid to the inaugural National Invitation Tournament (NIT). With the first NCAA Tournament a year away, the Owls rolled over Bradley, 53-40, Oklahoma A&M, 56-44 and Colorado 60-36, for the NIT crown. Don Shields, a Temple Hall of Famer, was the MVP. The owls were directed by head coach James Usilton, Sr. and assistant coach Harry Litwack, who eventually was inducted in the Basketball Hall of Fame. The starting five included Shields, Mike Bloom, Howard Black, Ed Boyle and Don Henderson who were nicknamed “The Five Ironmen” often playing the entire game.