Frank DeFord On The Historic 1966 Final Four

Texas Western’s Bobby Joe Hill drives to the basket against a Kentucky defender in the 1966 NCAA championship game.In 1966, Duke was the favorite going into the Final Four but Bob Verga was too ill to contribute much and without him, Duke lost a tight game to Kentucky, 83-79.

As it turned out, all-white Kentucky lost to Texas Western (now UTEP) which started five African-Americans and Kentucky, rather than Duke, became the enduring symbol of the end of segregated basketball.

Sports Illustrated sent Frank DeFord, then a young rising star at the magazine, to cover the game.

As you’ll see here, his story on the Final Four was brilliant though not perfect. His editors may have had something to do…