The Varsity Game

The Varsity Game is an annual basketball fixture played between the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge which dates back to 1921.[1][2] The first post-war Varsity Game was played on 11 June 1949 at RAF Halton and resulted in a 47-11 Oxford win. It has remained an annual event ever since.[1]

The Varsity Game
Contested by
Oxford University Cambridge University
First Varsity Game 1921
Current champion Cambridge
Biggest Victory Oxford, 2010 (117-64)
Trophy The Varsity Cup
Number of wins (since 1970)
Oxford University Cambridge University
40 10
Official website
thevarsitygame.org

In the 1950s, The Varsity Game between Oxford and Cambridge was one of the highlights of the British basketball calendar. The game was of national interest and was held at the Empire Pool and Indoor Arena, Wembley. Uncommon for basketball in the United Kingdom, the Oxford-Cambridge rivalry basketball game received coverage from the national press.[3][4]

The Varsity Game holds a special reverence for the basketball teams at Oxford and Cambridge and is one of the highlights of the basketball calendar.[2] In the 14 March 1966 edition of Sports Illustrated, NBA Hall-of-famer Bill Bradley said in reference to The Varsity Game: "'This game,' remarked Bradley, who flew back from playing with the Italian Simmenthal team in Milan the morning of the event, 'is the only one I care about.'"[5]

References
  1. "West Point Association of Graduates". www.westpointaog.org. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  2. "Men's". OXFORD UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL CLUB. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
  3. "Basketball At Wembley". The Times. 31 May 1952.
  4. "Basketball". The Times. 1 June 1953.
  5. Lovesey, John (14 March 1966). "A Bit Too Much For Blighty". Sports Illustrated.
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