The Maroons were led by captain Paul Hinkle, who would go on to coach Butler University in basketball as well as football for nearly 50 years.

Complementing Hinkle at guard, the Maroons also started Herbert "Fritz" Crisler who also would create a legacy for himself as a coach and athletic director.

At the end of the regular season, Chicago sat at the top of the Big Ten and was considered the champion of the Western Intercollegiate Conference.

To decide the 1920 national collegiate basketball championship a series of three games was arranged between the two champions.

In the game both Vollmer and Birkhoff each scored 12 points, while Curtiss and Halladay each added a basket.