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

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

The Top 20 from the AP Poll and the UPI Coaches Poll during the pre-season.[1][2]

Associated Press
Ranking Team
1 Cincinnati
2 Kentucky
3 Kansas State
4 West Virginia
5 NC State
6 Tennessee
7 Kansas
8 Mississippi State
9 Saint Louis
10 Northwestern
11 Notre Dame
12 Auburn
13 North Carolina
14 Saint Mary's
15 Michigan State
16 Xavier
17 Marquette
18 SMU
19 Indiana
20
(tie)
Oklahoma State
St. John's
UPI Coaches
Ranking Team
1 Cincinnati
2 Kansas State
3 Notre Dame
4 Kentucky
5 Michigan State
6 Washington
7 West Virginia
8 Xavier
9 Oklahoma State
10 St. John's
11 Maryland
12 NC State
13 Northwestern
14 North Carolina
15 Saint Joseph's
16 Saint Louis
17 Mississippi State
18 Purdue
19 Louisville
20 Iowa

Conference membership changes

School Former conference New conference
Canisius Golden Griffins Western New York Little Three Conference NCAA University Division independent
Niagara Purple Eagles Western New York Little Three Conference NCAA University Division independent
Oklahoma State Cowboys NCAA University Division independent Big Eight[3]
St. Bonaventure Brown Indians Western New York Little Three Conference NCAA University Division independent
Washington and Lee Generals Southern Conference NCAA University Division independent

Regular season

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference Regular
season winner[4]
Conference
player of the year
Conference
tournament
Tournament
venue (City)
Tournament
winner
Atlantic Coast ConferenceNorth Carolina & NC StateLou Pucillo, NC State[5]1959 ACC men's basketball tournamentReynolds Coliseum
(Raleigh, North Carolina)
NC State
Big Eight ConferenceKansas StateBob Boozer, Kansas StateNo Tournament
Big Ten ConferenceMichigan StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Border ConferenceArizona State, New Mexico State, & Texas WesternNo Tournament
Ivy LeagueDartmouthNone selectedNo Tournament
Metropolitan New York ConferenceManhattanNo Tournament
Mid-American ConferenceBowling Green StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Middle Atlantic ConferenceSaint Joseph'sNo Tournament
Missouri Valley ConferenceCincinnatiNone selectedNo Tournament
Ohio Valley ConferenceEastern Kentucky StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Pacific Coast ConferenceCaliforniaNo Tournament
Skyline ConferenceUtahNo Tournament
Southeastern ConferenceMississippi StateNone selectedNo Tournament
Southern ConferenceWest VirginiaJerry West, West Virginia[6]1959 Southern Conference men's basketball tournamentRichmond Arena
(Richmond, Virginia)
West Virginia[7]
Southwest ConferenceTCUH. E. Kirchner, TCUNo Tournament
West Coast Athletic ConferenceSaint Mary'sLaRoy Doss, Saint Mary's, & Leroy Wright, PacificNo Tournament
Yankee ConferenceConnecticutNone selectedNo Tournament

Informal championships

Conference Regular
season winner
Conference
tournament
Tournament
venue (City)
Tournament
winner
Philadelphia Big 5St. Joseph'sNo Tournament

Statistical leaders

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Final Four

National semifinals National finals
      
E West Virginia 94
ME Louisville 79
E West Virginia 70
W California 71
MW Cincinnati 58
W California 64
  • Third Place – Cincinnati 98, Louisville 85

National Invitation tournament

Semifinals & finals

Semifinals Finals
      
  Bradley 59
  NYU 57
  Bradley 71
  St. John′s 76
  Providence 55
  St. John's 76
  • Third Place – NYU 71, Providence 57

Awards

Consensus All-American teams

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

Major coach of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

Team Former
Coach
Interim
Coach
New
Coach
Reason
Loyola (LA) Hank Kuzma Bill Gardiner
Minnesota Osborne Cowles John Kundla
West Texas A&M Borden Price Metz LaFollette

References

  1. ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia. Random House. 2009. p. 836. ISBN 978-0-345-51392-2.
  2. "1977 Preseason AP Men's Basketball Poll". College Poll Archive. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
  3. "Men's Basketball Record Book: Big Eight Conference Annual Standings" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2012. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  4. "2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section" (PDF). NCAA. 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2009.
  5. 2008–09 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Year by Year section Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 2009-02-14
  6. 2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section, Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09
  7. 2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section, Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-02-09
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