Artwork Available of UW’s 1943 NCAA Basketball Championship

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship.  As part of the 75th Anniversary Celebration of March Madness, the NCAA and the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) have commissioned paintings by renowned sports artist Opie Otterstad of each of the head coaches who have won an NCAA Men’s Basketball title. In 1943, the University of Wyoming captured the NCAA Championship.  That 1943 Cowboy team was led by head coach Everett Shelton.  Coach Shelton not only led Wyoming to the 1943 NCAA Championship, but he won 328 games over his 19 seasons as the Cowboys’ head coach, and he guided Wyoming to eight NCAA Tournaments.

An original painting of Coach Shelton and Wyoming’s All-American Kenny Sailors, painted by Mr. Otterstad, was unveiled at halftime of the Wyoming-Colorado game on Dec. 1, 2012.  That original painting, as well as a limited edition of reproductions are now available for purchase at www. NCAA.com/Art.

      The original is available for fans to bid on through the NCAA.com/Art website, and the limited edition reproductions are available for purchase at a price of $475 each, also through that same website.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to benefit: the NABC Foundation, which supports TTRR (Ticket to Reading Rewards); the College Basketball Experience; and the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

(Information Courtesy of University of Wyoming/Athletics)