1956–57 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

The 1956–57 NCAA men's University Division basketball season began in December 1956. It progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 23, 1957, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The North Carolina Tar Heels won their first NCAA national championship with a 54–53 triple-overtime victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.

Rule changes

 * The width of the free throw lane (also known as the "key"), increased from 6 to 12 ft.
 * When teams lined up along the key for a free throw, it became mandatory that the two spaces adjacent to the end line be occupied by opponents of the player shooting the free throw. Previously, one player from each team occupied the spaces adjacent to the end line, with a player from the home team occupying a space marked "H" and a player from the visiting team occupying a space marked "V."
 * Grasping the rim of the basket was deemed a form of unsportsmanlike conduct.

Season headlines

 * This was the first season in which NCAA basketball was split into two levels of play – the University Division for schools competing at the highest level of play and the College Division for teams playing at lower levels with limited or no scholarships. It also was the first season in which the NCAA held more than one championship tournament — one for the University Division and one for the College Division. In 1973, the University Division would be replaced by Division I and the College Division by Division II and Division III.
 * The California Basketball Association was renamed the West Coast Athletic Conference. It would be renamed the West Coast Conference in 1989.
 * In the 1957 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, Forddy Anderson of Michigan State and Frank McGuire of North Carolina became the first head coaches to take two different teams to the NCAA tournament Final Four. Anderson had done it previously with Bradley in 1950 and McGuire with St. John's in 1952. McGuire also became the first head coach to take two different teams to the national championship game, having also done that with St. John's in 1952.
 * In 1957, the Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively selected its national champions for the seasons from 1900–01 through 1918–19.

Pre-season polls
The top 20 from the AP Poll and the UP Coaches Poll during the pre-season.

NCAA tournament
Frank McGuire brought the ACC its first national championship as his undefeated North Carolina Tar Heels defeated Wilt Chamberlain and the Kansas Jayhawks in what is considered one of the best games in NCAA history – a 54–53 triple–overtime thriller. Chamberlain was named tournament Most Outstanding Player.

Final Four
Played at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri


 * Third Place – San Francisco 67, Michigan State 60

National Invitation tournament
Bradley won its first NIT title, defeating Memphis State in a one-point contest. Memphis State's Win Wilfong won the MVP in a losing cause as he poured in 89 points in the Tigers' four games, including 31 in the final.

NIT Semifinals and Final
Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City 


 * Third Place – Temple 67, St. Bonaventure 50

Major player of the year awards

 * Helms Foundation Player of the Year: Lennie Rosenbluth, North Carolina
 * UPI Player of the Year: Chet Forte, Columbia

Major coach of the year awards

 * UPI Coach of the Year: Frank McGuire, North Carolina

Other major awards

 * Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Guy Rodgers, Temple
 * NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in NYC): Chet Forte, Columbia

Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.