March 30, 1996
UMass Plays in Final Four
Region:
Western
On this day in 1996, the UMass Minutemen ended the winningest season in UMass basketball history. Coached by John Calipari and led by future NBA star Marcus Camby, the Minutemen racked up a 26 game winning streak. Their ability to press opponents with a superior defense helped earn them only their second appearance in the NCAA tournament in 81 years. Ranked No. 1 in the nation, UMass beat Georgetown to reach the Final Four. The largest television audience ever for a college basketball game watched the Minutemen lose to the Kentucky Wildcats in the semi-finals. Although fans were disappointed, the team had brought unprecedented attention to the University of Massachusetts.