1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament

Edition of USA college basketball tournament August 2023 March 2026 January 2022 1959 23 Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky California Golden Bears 1st 1st 2nd West Virginia Mountaineers 1st 1st Cincinnati Bearcats 1st Louisville Cardinals 1st Pete Newell 1st Jerry West West Virginia 161,809 Jerry West West Virginia 160 Cincinnati Bearcats Louisville Cardinals The 1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament involved 23 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball in the United States. The 21st annual edition of the tournament began on March 7, 1959, and ended with the championship game on March 21, at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. A total of 27 games were played, including a third place game in each region and a national third place game. California, coached by Pete Newell, won the national title with a 71–70 victory in the final game over West Virginia, coached by Fred Schaus. Jerry West of West Virginia was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Locations Round Region Site Venue First RoundEastNew York, New YorkMadison Square Garden MideastLexington, KentuckyMemorial Coliseum MidwestPortland, OregonPacific International Livestock Exposition WestLas Cruces, New MexicoLas Cruces High School Gym Regionals EastCharlotte, North CarolinaCharlotte Coliseum MideastEvanston, IllinoisMcGaw Memorial HallMidwestLawrence, KansasAllen Fieldhouse WestSan Francisco, CaliforniaCow Palace Final FourLouisville, KentuckyFreedom Hall Teams Region Team Coach Conference Finished Final Opponent Score East East Boston University Matt Zunic Independent Regional Runner-upWest VirginiaL 86–82 East Connecticut Hugh Greer Yankee First roundBoston UniversityL 60–58 East Dartmouth Doggie Julian Ivy League First roundWest VirginiaL 82–68 East Navy Ben Carnevale Independent Regional third placeSaint Joseph'sW 70–56 East North Carolina Frank McGuire Atlantic Coast First roundNavyL 76–63 East Saint Joseph's Jack Ramsay Middle Atlantic Regional Fourth PlaceNavyL 70–56 East West Virginia Fred Schaus Southern Runner UpCaliforniaL 71–70 Mideast Mideast Bowling Green Harold Anderson Mid-American First roundMarquetteL 89–71 Mideast Eastern Kentucky Paul McBrayer Ohio Valley First roundLouisvilleL 77–63 Mideast Kentucky Adolph Rupp Southeastern Regional third placeMarquetteW 98–69 Mideast Louisville Peck Hickman Independent Fourth PlaceCincinnatiL 98–85 Mideast Marquette Eddie Hickey Independent Regional Fourth PlaceKentuckyL 98–69 Mideast Michigan State Forddy Anderson Big Ten Regional Runner-upLouisvilleL 88–81 Midwest Midwest Cincinnati George Smith Missouri Valley Third PlaceLouisvilleW 98–85 Midwest DePaul Ray Meyer Independent Regional Fourth PlaceTCUL 71–65 Midwest Kansas State Tex Winter Big 8 Regional Runner-upCincinnatiL 85–75 Midwest Portland Al Negratti Independent First roundDePaulL 57–56 Midwest TCU Buster Brannon Southwest Regional third placeDePaulW 71–65 West West California Pete Newell Pacific Coast ChampionWest VirginiaW 71–70 West Idaho State John Grayson Independent Regional third placeUtahW 71–65 West New Mexico State Presley Askew Border First roundIdaho StateL 62–61 West Saint Mary's James Weaver West Coast Athletic Regional Runner-upCaliforniaL 66–46 West Utah Jack Gardner Mountain States Regional Fourth PlaceIdaho StateL 71–65 Bracket East region 1 y   West Virginia 82   Dartmouth 68   Boston University 60   Connecticut 58   Navy 76   North Carolina 63   Saint Joseph's 92   West Virginia 95   Boston University 62   Navy 55   West Virginia 86   Boston University 82 Mideast region 1 y   Louisville 77   Eastern Kentucky 63   Marquette 89   Bowling Green 71   Kentucky 61   Louisville 76   Michigan State 74   Marquette 69   Louisville 88   Michigan State 81 Midwest region 1 y   DePaul 57   Portland 56   Kansas State 102   DePaul 70   Cincinnati 77   TCU 73   Kansas State 75   Cincinnati 85 West region 1 y   Idaho State 62   New Mexico State 61   Saint Mary's 80   Idaho State 71   California 71   Utah 53   Saint Mary's 46   California 66 Final Four National Semifinals National Finals E West Virginia 94 ME Louisville 79 MW Cincinnati 58 W California 64 E West Virginia 70 W California 71 National Third Place Game National Third Place Gamehttp://www.databasesports.com/ncaab/tourney.htm?yr=1954 1954 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket October 14, 2011 MW Cincinnati 98 ME Louisville 85 Regional third place games auto East Regional third place Navy 70 Saint Joseph's 56 Mideast Regional third place Kentucky 98 Marquette 69 auto Midwest Regional third place TCU 71 DePaul 65 West Regional third place Idaho State 71 Utah 65 See also 1959 NCAA College Division basketball tournament 1959 National Invitation Tournament 1959 NAIA basketball tournament Notes Mississippi State qualified for the tournament but university president Benjamin F. Hilbun supported the social degradation of African-American citizens and would not permit the team to participate in the tournament where they would face African-American players.March 1, 1959 Mississippi State Can't Go To Tourney Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sarasota, Florida 13 Five teams - Boston University, Bowling Green, Portland, Saint Joseph's, and Saint Mary's - made their tournament debut. This would be the most recent tournament appearance, as of 2024, for Dartmouth College. Their 65-year drought is the longest active drought in the NCAA among active Division I schools, and the second longest overall after Harvard's 66-year drought from 1946 to 2012. This was the last year an all-white starting lineup won the championship game.2017-08-04 Top Comments: last all-white championship teams edition https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/3/1685386/community/Top-Comments-last-all-white-championship-teams-edition/ 2026-07-31 www.dailykos.com en-US References Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Ncaa Category:Basketball competitions in Louisville, Kentucky NCAA University Division basketball tournament NCAA University Division basketball tournament Category:1959 in Louisville, Kentucky