Along with the ball on the rim, defensive interference by touching the ball after it had started its downward flight during an opponent's field goal attempt was declared a goal for the shooting team.[1]
A player fouls out after committing five fouls, including fouls committed in overtime. Previously, a player fouled out after committing four fouls in regulation or a fifth foul in overtime.[1] An extra foul was not permitted in overtime games.
Unlimited substitution is permitted for the first time. Previously, a player could re-enter a game only twice.[1]
It became a violation for an offensive player to remain in the free-throw lane for more than three seconds.[1][2]
The three-point shot — called a "long goal" at the time — was used experimentally for the first time in a college basketball game, played between Columbia and Fordham on February 7, 1945, with the three-point line 21 feet (6.4 m) from the basket. Columbia made 11 "long goals," while Fordham made nine. The game also experimented with allowing free-throw shooters to take their shots from the normal 15 feet (4.6 m) for one point or to attempt a "long foul" shot from 21 feet (6.4 m) for two points. The teams combined for eight "long fouls" during the game, which Columbia won 73–58.[3]
The February 7, 1945, game between Columbia and Fordham also saw the first use of the 12-foot-wide (3.7 m) free-throw lane, an experiment at a time when the free-throw lane was standardized at 6 feet (1.8 m) wide. The 12-foot-wide (3.7 m) free-throw lane eventually was adopted for the 1955–56 season.[4]
More than 18,000 fans attended the final installment of an annual American Red Cross benefit game between the NCAA Tournament and NIT champions at Madison Square Garden. Oklahoma A&M, led by Bob Kurland, defeated George Mikan's DePaul 52–44.[6] Kurland scored 14 points while Mikan scored 9 before fouling out in only 14 minutes of playing time.[6]
In 1995, the Premo-Porretta Power Poll retroactively ranked teams during the 1944–45 season as follows by reviewing results, opponents, and margins of victory.[6][7]
No Tournament; Oregon defeated Washington State in North Division best-of-three championship playoff series and defeated UCLA in best-of-three conference championship playoff series
Scoring leader – George Mikan averaged 23.3 points per game and was retroactively declared the "unofficial" season scoring leader. Between 1935–36 and 1946–47, there were no official NCAA scoring champions. The statistics during that era were compiled from the National Basketball Committee Official Basketball Guide, which was not regulated by NCAA authorities. Therefore, those players are included in the annual NCAA men's basketball media guide, but are listed as unofficial season scoring leaders.[10] No other personal statistics were tracked during the 1944–45 basketball season.
After a two-year suspension of all athletic programs during World War II, Georgetown University decided to reconstitute its basketball program during the 1945–46 season with a mostly walk-on team. Engles – a Georgetown player returning to school for the 1945–46 academic year after military service – was named the coach, becoming the only player-coach in Georgetown men's basketball history.[11]
^ abcESPN (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia. New York, NY: Random House, Inc. p. 372. ISBN978-0-345-51392-2.
^ abESPN, ed. (2009). ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. New York, NY: ESPN Books. pp. 526, 529–587. ISBN978-0-345-51392-2.