1958–59 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

Men's university basketball season August 2023 March 2026 1958 None March 7 21, 1959 Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky California Golden Bears California Golden Bears St. John's Redmen Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Bearcats The 1958–59 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in December 1958, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 21, 1959, at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Kentucky. The California Golden Bears won their first NCAA national championship with a 71–70 victory over the West Virginia Mountainneers. Season headlines The Middle Atlantic Conference began NCAA University Division play, with 10 of its members competing as University Division schools. In the 1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament, Eddie Hickey of Marquette became the first head coach to take three different teams to the NCAA tournament. He had done it previously with Creighton in 1941 in his first year as head coach and with Saint Louis in 1952.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2010/Rules.pdf Playing Rules History ncaa.org NCAA June 25, 2024 12 The Pacific Coast Conference disbanded at the end of the season. Season outlook Pre-season polls 1958–59 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings The Top 20 from the AP Poll and the UPI Coaches Poll during the pre-season.ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia 978-0-345-51392-2 Random House 2009 836 Associated PressRankingTeam1Cincinnati2Kentucky3Kansas State4West Virginia5NC State6Tennessee7Kansas8Mississippi State9Saint Louis10Northwestern11Notre Dame12Auburn13North Carolina14Saint Mary's15Michigan State16Xavier17Marquette18SMU19Indiana20(tie)Oklahoma StateSt. John's UPI CoachesRankingTeam1Cincinnati2Kansas State3Notre Dame4Kentucky5Michigan State6Washington7West Virginia8Xavier9Oklahoma State10St. John's11Maryland12NC State13Northwestern14North Carolina15Saint Joseph's16Saint Louis17Mississippi State18Purdue19Louisville20Iowa Conference membership changes SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference La Salle Bucknell Bison NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Canisius Canisius Golden Griffins Western New York Little Three Conference NCAA University Division independent Delaware Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Fresno State Fresno State Bulldogs NCAA University Division independent non-NCAA University Division Gettysburg Gettysburg Bullets non-NCAA University Division Middle Atlantic Conference Idaho State Idaho State Bengals non-NCAA University Division NCAA University Division independent Kentucky Wesleyan Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers NCAA University Division independent non-NCAA University Division La Salle La Salle Explorers NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Lafayette Lafayette Leopards NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Lehigh Lehigh Engineers NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Muhlenberg Muhlenberg Mules NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Niagara Niagara Purple Eagles Western New York Little Three Conference NCAA University Division independentOklahoma State CowboysNCAA University Division independentBig Eight ConferenceMen's Basketball Record Book: Big Eight Conference Annual Standings http://www.big12sports.com//pdf1/134781.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20120905123311/http://www.big12sports.com//pdf1/134781.pdf 2012-09-05 2023-11-07 Big 12 Conference Rutgers Rutgers Scarlet Knights NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Saint Bonaventure St. Bonaventure Brown Indians Western New York Little Three Conference NCAA University Division independent Saint Joseph's Saint Joseph's Hawks NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Temple Temple Owls NCAA University Division independent Middle Atlantic Conference Valparaiso Valparaiso Crusaders NCAA University Division independent non-NCAA University Division Washington and Lee Washington and Lee Generals Southern Conference NCAA University Division independent Regular season Conferences Conference winners and tournaments ConferenceRegular season winnerhttp://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2009/Standings.pdf 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section 2009 NCAA 2009-02-14Conference player of the yearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAtlantic Coast Conference North Carolina & NC State Lou Pucillo, NC State2008–09 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Year by Year section https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192652/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09mbkguide083112.pdf 2016-03-03 , retrieved 2009-02-14 1959 ACC men's basketball tournament Reynolds Coliseum(Raleigh, North Carolina) NC StateBig Eight Conference Kansas State Bob Boozer, Kansas State No TournamentBig Ten Conference Michigan State None selected No TournamentBorder Conference Arizona State, New Mexico State, & Texas Western No TournamentIvy League Dartmouth None selected No TournamentMetropolitan New York Conference Manhattan No TournamentMid-American Conference Bowling Green State None selected No TournamentMiddle Atlantic Conference Saint Joseph's No TournamentMissouri Valley Conference Cincinnati None selected No TournamentMountain States (Skyline) Conference Utah No TournamentOhio Valley Conference Eastern Kentucky State None selected No TournamentPacific Coast Conference California No TournamentSoutheastern Conference Mississippi State None selected No TournamentSouthern Conference West Virginia Jerry West, West Virginia2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110723151437/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/honorsandawards.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 July 23, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09 1959 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Richmond Arena(Richmond, Virginia) West Virginia2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110930163611/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/standingsandresults.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 September 30, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09Southwest Conference TCU H. E. Kirchner, TCU No TournamentWest Coast Athletic Conference Saint Mary's LaRoy Doss, Saint Mary's, & Leroy Wright, Pacific No TournamentYankee Conference Connecticut None selected No Tournament Conference standings University Division independents A total of 42 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, 1958 St. Bonaventure Bonnies St. Bonaventure (20–3) had the best winning percentage (.870) and 1958 Marquette Warriors Marquette (23–6) finished with the most wins.https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/independent/men/1959.html Sports Reference 1958-59 Men's Independent Season Summary August 11, 2024 Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 Saint Joseph's Joe Spratt, Saint Joseph's Saint Joseph's finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5. Post-season tournaments NCAA tournament 1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament 1959 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game Final Four National semifinals National finals Third place E West Virginia 94 ME Louisville 79 MW Cincinnati 58 W California 64 E West Virginia 70 W California 71 ME Louisville 85 MW Cincinnati 98 National Invitation tournament 1959 National Invitation Tournament Semifinals & finals no Semifinals Finals Third place   Bradley 59   NYU 57   Providence 55   St. John's 76   Bradley 71   St. John′s 76   NYU 71   Providence 57 Awards Consensus All-American teams 1959 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans + Consensus First Team Player Position Class Team Bob Boozer F Senior Kansas State Johnny Cox G Senior Kentucky Bailey Howell F Senior Mississippi State Oscar Robertson G Junior Cincinnati Jerry West G Junior West Virginia + Consensus Second Team Player Position Class Team Leo Byrd G Senior Marshall Johnny Green F Senior Michigan State Tom Hawkins F Senior Notre Dame Don Hennon G Senior Pittsburgh Al Seiden G Senior St. John's Major player of the year awards Helms Player of the Year: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati UPI Player of the Year: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Sporting News Player of the Year: Oscar Robertson, Cincinnati Major coach of the year awards Henry Iba Award: Eddie Hickey, Marquette NABC Coach of the Year: Eddie Hickey, Marquette UPI Coach of the Year: Adolph Rupp, Kentucky Other major awards Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Joe Spratt, Saint Joseph's NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Al Seiden, St. John's Coaching changes A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended. TeamFormerCoachInterimCoachNewCoachReasonBoston UniversityMatt ZunicJohn H. Burke Jr. Zunic left to coach Massachusetts.CanisiusJoseph CurranBob MacKinnon CornellRoyner GreeneSam MacNeil DukeHarold BradleyVic Bubas Bradley left to coach Texas.IdahoHarlan HodgesDave Strack Idaho StateJohn GraysonJohn Evans Loyola (LA)Hank KuzmaBill Gardiner MassachusettsRobert T. CurranMatt Zunic MinnesotaOsborne CowlesJohn Kundla North TexasPete ShandsCharles Johnson RutgersWarren HarrisTony Kuolt San FranciscoPhil WoolpertRoss Giudice Assistant Giudice takes over coaching duties.South CarolinaWalt HambrickBob Stevens TennesseeEmmett LoweryJohn Sines Tennessee StateJohn McLendonHarold Hunter TexasMarshall HughesHarold Bradley Texas WesternGeorge McCartyHarold DavisVanderbiltRoy SkinnerBob Polk Polk returns after taking the year off for health related issues.West Texas StateBorden PriceMetz LaFollette References 2