Cutting down the nets

In college basketball in the United States, it is usually done after winning a conference tournament, regional title, or national championship game.

[1] Sports historians believe the tradition of cutting the nets first started in Indiana high school basketball in the 1920s and 1930s.

[2] The tradition first came to men's college basketball in 1947, when the NC State Wolfpack won the Southern Conference Championship.

[1] Following the tournament win, Wolfpack coach Everett Case had his players hoist him up so he could cut down the net to keep as a souvenir.

[4] In the 1980s, NC State coach Jim Valvano was said to have his players practice cutting down the nets in order to mentally condition them to be winners.