BROOKLYN, N.Y.— The LIU Brooklyn men's basketball team was featured on NCAA.com on the list of "The Best College Basketball Team From Every Decade." The Blackbirds were named the team of the decade from 1930-39.
LIU Brooklyn compiled a 200-39 (.837) as the national powerhouse of the 30s under head coach Clair Bee. Bee holds the best win-loss percentage for any college coach with more than 500 games, at .824. The Blackbirds recorded two undefeated seasons during the decade; the first was the 1935-36 team, with a 25-0 mark. The 1938-39 team went 23-0 on the season, and captured the school's first of two NIT Championships.
In the first year of the NCAA tournament in 1939, LIU elected to participate in the NIT. The Blackbirds would cruise past Loyola Chicago 44-32 for the NIT crown at Madison Square Garden.