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Who won the men's NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player the year you were born?
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Who won the men's NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player the year you were born?

The Men's NCAA Basketball Tournament started in 1939, and a Most Outstanding Player (MOP) has been named each year. Who will join this list in 2021? Who will put his name among the legends here?

 
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2020: None

2020: None
Patrick Smith/Getty Images

There was no 2020 men's NCAA Tournament due to COVID-19, marking the first time that the tournament had ever been canceled. 

 
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2019: Kyle Guy, Virginia

2019: Kyle Guy, Virginia
Bob Donnan / USA Today Sports Images

After suffering arguably the biggest upset in Men's NCAA Tournament history the year before, Virginia rebounded to win it all in 2019 with the help of the sharp-shooting Guy. He scored 24 points in the championship game vs. Texas Tech, capping off a great tournament.

 
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2018: Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova

2018: Donte DiVincenzo, Villanova
Shanna Lockwood / USA Today Sports Images

DiVincenzo came up big on the biggest stage for the Wildcats. He scored a season-high 31 points, shooting 5-of-7 from the three-point line, in a finals win over Michigan.

 
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2017: Joel Berry II, North Carolina

2017: Joel Berry II, North Carolina
Robert Deutsch / USA Today Sports Images

Berry capped off an excellent junior season with a national championship in a finals win over Gonzaga. During the game, the point guard scored 22 points and added six assists. It was his second 20-plus point performance in the tournament.

 
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2016: Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova

2016: Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Villanova's national title was quite a team effort, but the senior guard won MOP. Arcidiacono averaged 13.7 points per game during the tournament.

 
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2015: Tyus Jones, Duke

2015: Tyus Jones, Duke
Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Jones' heroics in the NCAA Tournament final helped him win MOP, scoring 23 points vs. Wisconsin. He left for the NBA following his freshman season.

 
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2014: Shabazz Napier, UConn

2014: Shabazz Napier, UConn
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

Similar to Kemba Walker before him, Napier led an inconsistent UConn team to the national championship. He averaged 21.2 points during the tournament.

 
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2013: Luke Hancock, Louisville

2013: Luke Hancock, Louisville
Andy Lyons / Getty Images

While Hancock averaged only 8.1 points during the regular season, he broke out with the Cardinals in the NCAA Tournament. The George Mason transfer had 20 points in the national semifinal and 22 points in the final to help Louisville win the national championship.

 
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2012: Anthony Davis, Kentucky

2012: Anthony Davis, Kentucky
Kansas City Star / Tribune News Service

The intimidating Davis was a dominant defensive player for the Wildcats as a one-and-done. He averaged 13.7 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.8 blocks per game.

 
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2011: Kemba Walker, UConn

2011: Kemba Walker, UConn
Harry How / Getty Images

Walker seemed to single-handedly drive the Huskies through the Big East and the NCAA Tournament, winning an incredible national championship. He averaged 23.5 points per game during the tournament.

 
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2010: Kyle Singler, Duke

2010: Kyle Singler, Duke
Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Singler was MOP in his junior season, averaging 18 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. He came up huge against Butler in the final with 19 points and nine rebounds.

 
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2009: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina

2009: Wayne Ellington, North Carolina
Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

Ellington capped off his Tar Heels career with a great tournament run, averaging 19.2 points per game in the NCAA Tournament to win the title.

 
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2008: Mario Chalmers, Kansas

2008: Mario Chalmers, Kansas
Streeter Lecka / Getty Images

Chalmers was named MOP after the Jayhawks' miraculous win over Memphis in the final. He averaged 14.8 points per game during the tournament.

 
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2007: Corey Brewer, Florida

2007: Corey Brewer, Florida
Orlando Sentinel / Tribune News Service

Florida won back-to-back NCAA Tournaments with Brewer's help. He averaged 15.8 points per game during the tournament.

 
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2006: Joakim Noah, Florida

2006: Joakim Noah, Florida
Rex Brown / WireImage

A defensive wizard for the Gators, Noah averaged 9.5 rebounds and nearly five blocks per game in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. He also had 16.2 points per game to win MOP.

 
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2005: Sean May, North Carolina

2005: Sean May, North Carolina
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images

North Carolina's powerful center absolutely dominated in the 2005 tournament. He averaged 22.3 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game, shooting better than 66 percent from the field.

 
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2004: Emeka Okafor, UConn

2004: Emeka Okafor, UConn
M. David Leeds / Getty Images

A dominant center for the Huskies, Okafor averaged 13.5 points and 11.3 rebounds per game during the NCAA Tournament before going second overall in the 2004 NBA Draft.

 
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2003: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse

2003: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
Craig Jones / Getty Images

Anthony finished off an incredible freshman season with a national title and MOP Award, averaging more than 20 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game.

 
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2002: Juan Dixon, Maryland

2002: Juan Dixon, Maryland
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

Averaging 25.8 points per game during the NCAA Tournament, Dixon won MOP by leading the Terrapins to a national championship.

 
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2001: Shane Battier, Duke

2001: Shane Battier, Duke
Brian Bahr / Getty Images

Battier won almost every award a college basketball player can win, in 2001, capping it off with MOP and a national title for the Blue Devils. He averaged 22.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.

 
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2000: Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State

2000: Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

The Spartans' facilitator helped the team win the national championship with 85 points and 27 assists over the six games of the tournament to win MOP.

 
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1999: Richard Hamilton, UConn

1999: Richard Hamilton, UConn
Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Hamilton tore through the NCAA Tournament, averaging 24 points per game and helping the Huskies upset Duke in the national championship game. He shot 55 percent during the tournament.

 
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1998: Jeff Sheppard, Kentucky

1998: Jeff Sheppard, Kentucky
Todd Warshaw / Getty Images

Sheppard came up big in his senior season, being named MOP in his second national championship with Kentucky. The guard averaged 16.5 points per game during the tournament. 

 
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1997: Miles Simon, Arizona

1997: Miles Simon, Arizona
Brian Bahr / Getty Images

Simon had an incredible tournament, averaging 28 points over Arizona's final three games. Arizona was able to power through college basketball powerhouses Kansas, UNC and Kentucky to win the national championship.

 
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1996: Tony Delk, Kentucky

1996: Tony Delk, Kentucky
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

Delk finished his senior season with a national championship, scoring at least 20 points in four of six NCAA Tournament games to win MOP.

 
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1995: Ed O'Bannon, UCLA

1995: Ed O'Bannon, UCLA
Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

O'Bannon won MOP and the Wooden Award in 1995. He helped the Bruins to a national title with a 30-point, 17-rebound performance vs. Arkansas in the final.

 
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1994: Corliss Williamson, Arkansas

1994: Corliss Williamson, Arkansas
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

Williamson led a dominant Arkansas squad in his sophomore season, scoring nearly 22 points per game to win MOP in 1994.

 
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1993: Donald Williams, North Carolina

1993: Donald Williams, North Carolina
Doug Pensinger / Getty Images

Williams led the Tar Heels to a national championship in just his sophomore season, shooting better than 50 percent for the tournament and averaging nearly 20 points per game.

 
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1992: Bobby Hurley, Duke

1992: Bobby Hurley, Duke
Ken Levine / Getty Images

Duke's point guard helped the team to a second straight NCAA Tournament title with two 22-plus point games and at least seven assists in five out of six games. He finished his college career as the NCAA's all-time assists leader.

 
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1991: Christian Laettner, Duke

1991: Christian Laettner, Duke
Collegiate Images

Laettner won his first of two straight national championships at Duke and scored at least 18 points in each game over the Blue Devils' six-game tournament run.

 
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1990: Anderson Hunt, UNLV

1990: Anderson Hunt, UNLV
Collegiate Images

Hunt scored 29 points in the NCAA Tournament final in the first of two straight Final Four appearances for the Runnin' Rebels.

 
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1989: Glen Rice, Michigan

1989: Glen Rice, Michigan
Getty Images

The sharpshooting Rice scored a tournament record 184 points in 1989 and led the Wolverines to the national championship.

 
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1988: Danny Manning, Kansas

1988: Danny Manning, Kansas
NCAA Photos

The 11-loss Jayhawks went on an incredible NCAA Tournament run, led by Manning. The team's final win included 31 points, 18 rebounds and five steals from Manning to help him win MOP.

 
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1987: Keith Smart, Indiana

1987: Keith Smart, Indiana
Rich Clarkson / Sports Illustrated

Smart made the game-winning shot in the NCAA Tournament final, helping him win MOP for the Hoosiers.

 
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1986: Pervis Ellison, Louisville

1986: Pervis Ellison, Louisville
The Sporting News / Sporting News

Ellison was named MOP in just his freshman year in 1986 and was later named a First-Team All-American in 1989.

 
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1985: Ed Pinckney, Villanova

1985: Ed Pinckney, Villanova
Collegiate Images

Villanova upset Georgetown in the 1985 tournament final with the help of Pinckney's 16 points as he went head-to-head with defending MOP Patrick Ewing.

 
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1984: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown

1984: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown
D. Raphael / National Basketball Association

Ewing led the Hoyas to win over Houston in the final and also won MOP in 1984. He won National Player of the Year the following season.

 
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1983: Akeem Olajuwon, Houston

1983: Akeem Olajuwon, Houston
Collegiate Images

The last player to win the MOP Award without winning the NCAA Tournament, Olajuwon dominated throughout the tournament but lost to N.C. State in arguably the biggest upset in tournament history.

 
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1982: James Worthy, North Carolina

1982: James Worthy, North Carolina
Focus on Sport

Worthy scored 28 points in the tournament final vs. Georgetown, helping the Tar Heels win the game, and he also won MOP. The forward was the first overall pick in the 1982 NBA Draft by the Lakers.

 
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1981: Isiah Thomas, Indiana

1981: Isiah Thomas, Indiana
Focus on Sport

Thomas led Indiana to a national championship in his sophomore season before declaring for the NBA Draft following the 1981 season.

 
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1980: Darrell Griffith, Louisville

1980: Darrell Griffith, Louisville
NCAA Photos

Griffith won both the MOP of the NCAA Tournament and the Wooden Award in 1980, ending his senior season as Louisville's all-time leading scorer.

 
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1979: Magic Johnson, Michigan State

1979: Magic Johnson, Michigan State
Collegiate Images

Magic's epic final vs. Larry Bird and Indiana State vaulted a historic basketball rivalry. The Spartans won the NCAA Tournament, with Johnson being named MOP before going on to a spectacular NBA career with the Lakers.

 
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1978: Jack Givens, Kentucky

1978: Jack Givens, Kentucky
James Drake / Sports Illustrated

Givens had a dominant game in the final vs. Duke, scoring 41 points to help the Wildcats win the national championship in 1978. He was also named the Helms Foundation Player of the Year that season.

 
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1977: Butch Lee, Marquette

1977: Butch Lee, Marquette
James Drake / Sports Illustrated

Lee helped Marquette win the national championship in head coach Al McGuire's final season, scoring 18 points in the final. He followed up that campaign by winning the Naismith Award in 1978.

 
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1976: Kent Benson, Indiana

1976: Kent Benson, Indiana
James Drake / Sports Illustrated

Benson was the MOP and Helms Player of the Year in 1976, leading the Hoosiers to a national championship and undefeated season as the team's 6-10 center.

 
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1975: Richard Washington, UCLA

1975: Richard Washington, UCLA
Rich Clarkson / Sports Illustrated

UCLA was back atop college basketball in 1975, and Washington led the team in coach John Wooden's final season. He became a First-Team All-American the following season.

 
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1974: David Thompson, N.C. State

1974: David Thompson, N.C. State
Collegiate Images

Thompson led N.C. State to a national championship, winning MOP after averaging 26 points per game during the regular season.

 
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1973: Bill Walton, UCLA

1973: Bill Walton, UCLA
NCAA Photos

The Bruins had another undefeated season in 1973, with Walton winning back-to-back MOP and Naismith Awards. He also won the James E. Sullivan Award, which honors the top amateur athlete in the country.

 
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1972: Bill Walton, UCLA

1972: Bill Walton, UCLA
Collegiate Images

UCLA went undefeated in 1972, as Walton won MOP and won his first of three straight National College Player of the Year Awards.

 
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1971: Howard Porter, Villanova (vacated)

1971: Howard Porter, Villanova (vacated)
Rich Clarkson / Sports Illustrated

Porter won the MOP despite losing to UCLA in the final. However, Porter was later ruled ineligible due to signing a contract in the ABA.

 
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1970: Sidney Wicks, UCLA

1970: Sidney Wicks, UCLA
NCAA Photos

A Bruin claimed MOP for the fourth straight year, as Wicks won the award and the Helms National Co-Player of the Year as UCLA won yet another national championship.

 
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1969: Lew Alcindor, UCLA

1969: Lew Alcindor, UCLA
NCAA Photos

Alcindor became the first and only player to win three MOPs for the NCAA Tournament, and he also won the first Naismith College Player of the Year Award for his performance during the 1969 season.

 
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1968: Lew Alcindor, UCLA

1968: Lew Alcindor, UCLA
Barton Silverman / Archive Photos

Leading the Bruins to yet another NCAA championship, Alcindor also won his second consecutive MOP for the tournament.

 
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1967: Lew Alcindor, UCLA

1967: Lew Alcindor, UCLA
NCAA Photos

Now known as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Alcindor won his first of three consecutive MOPs and was also College Player of the Year.

 
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1966: Jerry Chambers, Utah

1966: Jerry Chambers, Utah
Wikipedia.org

Utah finished in only fourth place in the NCAA Tournament, but Chambers still won MOP, scoring a record 143 points in four games.

 
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1965: Bill Bradley, Princeton

1965: Bill Bradley, Princeton
NCAA Photos

Princeton won the consolation game of the NCAA Tournament, with Bradley scoring 58 points. That performance helped him win MOP.

 
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1964: Walt Hazzard, UCLA

1964: Walt Hazzard, UCLA
Rich Clarkson / Sports Illustrated Classic

Hazzard led the Bruins to their first NCAA championship, being named MOP for the tournament and Player of the Year.

 
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1963: Art Heyman, Duke

1963: Art Heyman, Duke
James Drake / Sports Illustrated Classic

Duke lost to Loyola of Chicago in the Final Four, but Heyman was honored with MOP of the tournament in his senior season.

 
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1962: Paul Hogue, Cincinnati

1962: Paul Hogue, Cincinnati
John Brenneis / Sports Illustrated

After winning the NCAA Tournament in 1961, the Bearcats repeated in 1962. Hogue was named MOP for the tournament and also Helms College Player of the Year.

 
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1961: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State

1961: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
Neil Leifer / Neil Leifer Collection

Despite the Buckeyes failing to win a second straight NCAA Tournament, Lucas won another MOP but lost in the final vs. Cincinnati.

 
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1960: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State

1960: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
Neil Leifer / Neil Leifer Collection

Ohio State easily won the 1960 NCAA Tournament, led by Lucas' 26 points and 16 rebounds per game.

 
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1959: Jerry West, West Virginia

1959: Jerry West, West Virginia
Hulton Archives / Getty Images

West averaged 32 points in five games during the NCAA Tournament, though the Mountaineers still fell to California in the final.

 
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1958: Elgin Baylor, Seattle

1958: Elgin Baylor, Seattle
Bettmann

Baylor averaged more than 31 points for his college career and was named MOP of the 1958 NCAA Tournament despite losing to Kentucky.

 
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1957: Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas

1957: Wilt Chamberlain, Kansas
Bettmann

Chamberlain's Jayhawks lost to North Carolina in the 1957 NCAA Tournament, but the dominant center was named MOP.

 
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1956: Hal Lear, Temple

1956: Hal Lear, Temple
Bettmann

Temple only made it to the Final Four in 1956 before losing to Iowa, but Lear was named MOP for the tournament.

 
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1955: Bill Russell, San Francisco

1955: Bill Russell, San Francisco
Bettmann

Perhaps the biggest winner in the history of basketball, Russell led USF to its first of two consecutive national championships, in 1955.

 
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1954: Tom Gola, La Salle

1954: Tom Gola, La Salle
Bettmann

Gola had an incredible college career, leading La Salle to the NIT title in 1952 and an NCAA championship in 1954 as the MOP. He was also the National Player of the Year in that year, his junior season.

 
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1953: B.H. Born, Kansas

1953: B.H. Born, Kansas
NCAA Photos

Emerging after Clyde Lovellette, Born was the MOP of the NCAA Tournament in 1953 despite losing in the title game. He had 26 points, 15 rebounds and 13 blocks in the final.

 
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1952: Clyde Lovellette, Kansas

1952: Clyde Lovellette, Kansas
Bettmann

Lovelette averaged more than 28 points per game in his senior season in 1952 and was MOP as the Jayhawks won the NCAA Tournament.

 
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1951: Bill Spivey, Kentucky

1951: Bill Spivey, Kentucky
Bettmann

A 7-foot center, Spivey led the Wildcats to a 28-2 regular-season record and won the NCAA Tournament. Spivey had 22 points and 21 rebounds in the final.

 
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1950: Irwin Dambrot, CCNY

1950: Irwin Dambrot, CCNY
Bettmann

Dambrot was a senior All-American in 1950, leading CCNY to titles in both the NCAA Tournament and NIT in the same season.

 
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1949: Alex Groza, Kentucky

1949: Alex Groza, Kentucky
Collegiate Images

Groza was a First-Team All-American for the second time in three years, helping Kentucky to back-to-back NCAA Tournament championships.

 
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1948: Alex Groza, Kentucky

1948: Alex Groza, Kentucky
Collegiate Images

A Second-Team All-American in 1948, Groza helped lead the Wildcats to the first of two consecutive national championships.

 
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1947: George Kaftan, Holy Cross

1947: George Kaftan, Holy Cross
NCAA.com

Kaftan averaged 21 points per game during the NCAA Tournament, winning MOP for Holy Cross. He later had a brief pro basketball career.

 
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1946: Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M

1946: Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M
Bettmann

Kurland won his second consecutive MOP Award in 1946 and scored a record 643 points for the season.

 
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1945: Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M

1945: Bob Kurland, Oklahoma A&M
Myron Davis / The LIFE Picture Collection

A 7-0 center, Kurland won the first of two straight MOPs in 1945.

 
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1944: Arnie Ferrin, Utah

1944: Arnie Ferrin, Utah
The Salt Lake Tribune

A four-time All-American for the Utes, Ferrin won MOP in 1944 and also helped the school to an NIT title in 1947.

 
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1943: Ken Sailors, Wyoming

1943: Ken Sailors, Wyoming
Eric Schaal / The LIFE Images Collection

Sailors was both the MOP and College Basketball Player of the Year in 1943 for Wyoming. He also won College Basketball Player of the Year in 1946.

 
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1942: Howie Dallmar, Stanford

1942: Howie Dallmar, Stanford
Stanford Athletics

Dallmar helped Stanford to a national championship in 1942 before transferring to Penn. He had a head coaching career from 1948-75 at both Standford and Penn.

 
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1941: John Kotz, Wisconsin

1941: John Kotz, Wisconsin
UW Archives

Kotz won the MOP in his sophomore season for the Badgers. He was the school's all-time leading scorer at the end of his college career.

 
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1940: Marvin Huffman, Indiana

1940: Marvin Huffman, Indiana
Hoopshall.com

Huffman scored 12 points in the NCAA Tournament final, as Indiana defeated Kansas. He was a four-year starter for the Hoosiers.

 
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1939: Jimmy Hull, Ohio State

1939: Jimmy Hull, Ohio State
Bettmann

An All-American senior in 1939 for the Buckeyes, Hull was voted the MOP despite losing to Oregon in the final.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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