Wilt Chamberlain’s varsity debut season at Kansas University in 1956-57 left the nation in awe, and yet also left much to be desired. “Anybody can win the National Championship with Wilt and four cheerleaders,” said legendary Jayhawks coach, Phog Allen, forced out the year prior due to an odd retirement rule at KU. Allen had already seen what Chamberlain could do on the Freshman squad and fully expected new coach Dick Harp to coast to the title with the dominant 7-footer. In his first game, Chamberlain scored 52 points and grabbed 31 points – both school records. Kansas went 21-2 in the regular season to win the Big Seven conference as their star center averaged 29.6 points and 18.8 rebounds per game.

In the 1957 NCAA Tournament, Kansas opened against SMU in the Midwest Regional Semifinal. Presented here is a full/reattached ticket to this game at SMU Coliseum on March 15, 1957. The Jayhawks prevailed 73-65 in overtime thanks to Wilt’s 36-point, 22-rebound effort in his NCAA tourney debut. Kansas advanced to the NCAA Final against undefeated UNC, losing in heartbreaking fashion by one point, 54-53. In his junior year the following season, Kansas did not even qualify for the ’58 NCAA tournament. Wilt would forego his senior season to join the Harlem Globetrotters.

The rarely seen peach colored ticket has a backdrop of vintage roundball players in action with the game details in fine black print. The complete ticket has been authenticated and slabbed by Beckett. The flip label indicates “Glue, Reattached” as the stub section has apparently been reattached on the back with glue. There are no other full tickets and just one known stub from this game, and that goes for the PSA pop report as well. Moderate toning, rounded corners, and medium surface wear give this ticket an overall VG appearance.