From the Wonder Five to CCNY, 1931-1934, by Ari Sclar

During the 1931 Carnival, St. John’s played a slow and deliberate style of basketball.  The New York Times reported that St. John’s 17-9 victory over CCNY was “extraordinary” since St. John’s “froze the ball practically the entire second half.”  Likewise, the New York Post explained that St. John’s had “too comfortable a lead to excite the gallery” and they held CCNY to only “a pair of field baskets.”  The following season, the Basketball Rules Committee instituted the mid-court line and the ten-second rule to restrict stalling and encourage a faster pace and higher scores.  Officials believed the rule changes would speed up the game, attract fans, and turn college basketball into commercial entertainment.  To survive and thrive during the Depression, college basketball had to ensure that tactics would not slow down the growth of the sport.
Following the 1931 season, CCNY replaced the Wonder Five as the darling of the New York media.  Holman had retired from professional basketball the previous year, although he occasionally played games in the New York area.  During the 1931 scandal, when the media reported that many college players also played professionally at the same time, the Daily News had accused Holman of using CCNY players in a game against professionals.  This charge, leveled against a coach and not players, received extra attention due to Holman’s prestige and popularity.  CCNY students overwhelmingly supported the coach, who university officials quickly vindicated. CCNY then won the ‘mythical’ eastern championship in 1932 and 1933 and in January 1934, the New York Post’s Stanley Frank ranked CCNY No. 1 among eastern teams.