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1959 NCAA University Division basketball tournament
Edition of USA college basketball tournament
Edition of USA college basketball tournament
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Year | 1959 |
| Teams | 23 |
| FinalFourArena | Freedom Hall |
| FinalFourCity | Louisville, Kentucky |
| Champions | [California Golden Bears](1958-59-california-golden-bears-men-s-basketball-team) |
| TitleCount | 1st |
| ChampGameCount | 1st |
| ChampFFCount | 2nd |
| RunnerUp | [West Virginia Mountaineers](1958-59-west-virginia-mountaineers-men-s-basketball-team) |
| GameCount | 1st |
| RunnerFFCount | 1st |
| Semifinal1 | [Cincinnati Bearcats](1958-59-cincinnati-bearcats-men-s-basketball-team) |
| FinalFourCount | 1st |
| Semifinal2 | [Louisville Cardinals](1958-59-louisville-cardinals-men-s-basketball-team) |
| FinalFourCount2 | 1st |
| Coach | Pete Newell |
| CoachCount | 1st |
| MOP | Jerry West |
| MOPTeam | West Virginia |
| Attendance | 161,809 |
| TopScorer | Jerry West |
| TopScorerTeam | West Virginia |
| Points | 160 |
| ThirdPlace | [Cincinnati Bearcats](1958-59-cincinnati-bearcats-men-s-basketball-team) |
| FourthPlace | [Louisville Cardinals](1958-59-louisville-cardinals-men-s-basketball-team) |
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 Round | Regionals | Final Four |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | New York, New York | Madison Square Garden | ||||
| Mideast | Lexington, Kentucky | Memorial Coliseum | ||||
| Midwest | Portland, Oregon | Pacific International Livestock Exposition | ||||
| West | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Las Cruces High School Gym | ||||
| East | Charlotte, North Carolina | Charlotte Coliseum | ||||
| Mideast | Evanston, Illinois | McGaw Memorial Hall | ||||
| Midwest | Lawrence, Kansas | Allen Fieldhouse | ||||
| West | San Francisco, California | Cow Palace | ||||
| Louisville, Kentucky | Freedom Hall |
Teams
| Region | Team | Coach | Conference | Finished | Final Opponent | Score | East | Mideast | Midwest | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | Boston University | Matt Zunic | Independent | Regional Runner-up | [West Virginia](1958-59-west-virginia-mountaineers-men-s-basketball-team) | L 86–82 | ||||
| East | [Connecticut](1958-59-connecticut-huskies-men-s-basketball-team) | Hugh Greer | Yankee | First round | Boston University | L 60–58 | ||||
| East | Dartmouth | Doggie Julian | Ivy League | First round | [West Virginia](1958-59-west-virginia-mountaineers-men-s-basketball-team) | L 82–68 | ||||
| East | Navy | Ben Carnevale | Independent | Regional third place | Saint Joseph's | W 70–56 | ||||
| East | North Carolina | Frank McGuire | Atlantic Coast | First round | Navy | L 76–63 | ||||
| East | Saint Joseph's | Jack Ramsay | Middle Atlantic | Regional Fourth Place | Navy | L 70–56 | ||||
| East | [West Virginia](1958-59-west-virginia-mountaineers-men-s-basketball-team) | Fred Schaus | Southern | Runner Up | [California](1958-59-california-golden-bears-men-s-basketball-team) | L 71–70 | ||||
| Mideast | Bowling Green | Harold Anderson | Mid-American | First round | Marquette | L 89–71 | ||||
| Mideast | Eastern Kentucky | Paul McBrayer | Ohio Valley | First round | [Louisville](1958-59-louisville-cardinals-men-s-basketball-team) | L 77–63 | ||||
| Mideast | Kentucky | Adolph Rupp | Southeastern | Regional third place | Marquette | W 98–69 | ||||
| Mideast | [Louisville](1958-59-louisville-cardinals-men-s-basketball-team) | Peck Hickman | Independent | Fourth Place | [Cincinnati](1958-59-cincinnati-bearcats-men-s-basketball-team) | L 98–85 | ||||
| Mideast | Marquette | Eddie Hickey | Independent | Regional Fourth Place | Kentucky | L 98–69 | ||||
| Mideast | Michigan State | Forddy Anderson | Big Ten | Regional Runner-up | [Louisville](1958-59-louisville-cardinals-men-s-basketball-team) | L 88–81 | ||||
| Midwest | [Cincinnati](1958-59-cincinnati-bearcats-men-s-basketball-team) | George Smith | Missouri Valley | Third Place | [Louisville](1958-59-louisville-cardinals-men-s-basketball-team) | W 98–85 | ||||
| Midwest | DePaul | Ray Meyer | Independent | Regional Fourth Place | TCU | L 71–65 | ||||
| Midwest | [Kansas State](1958-59-kansas-state-wildcats-men-s-basketball-team) | Tex Winter | Big 8 | Regional Runner-up | [Cincinnati](1958-59-cincinnati-bearcats-men-s-basketball-team) | L 85–75 | ||||
| Midwest | Portland | Al Negratti | Independent | First round | DePaul | L 57–56 | ||||
| Midwest | TCU | Buster Brannon | Southwest | Regional third place | DePaul | W 71–65 | ||||
| West | [California](1958-59-california-golden-bears-men-s-basketball-team) | Pete Newell | Pacific Coast | **Champion** | [West Virginia](1958-59-west-virginia-mountaineers-men-s-basketball-team) | W 71–70 | ||||
| West | Idaho State | John Grayson | Independent | Regional third place | Utah | W 71–65 | ||||
| West | New Mexico State | Presley Askew | Border | First round | Idaho State | L 62–61 | ||||
| West | Saint Mary's | James Weaver | West Coast Athletic | Regional Runner-up | [California](1958-59-california-golden-bears-men-s-basketball-team) | L 66–46 | ||||
| West | Utah | Jack Gardner | Mountain States | Regional Fourth Place | Idaho State | L 71–65 |
Bracket
East region
| RD1-team3=West Virginia | RD1-score3=82 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4=Dartmouth | RD1-score4=68 | RD1-seed5= | RD1-team5=Boston University | RD1-score5=60 | RD1-seed6= | RD1-team6=Connecticut | RD1-score6=58 | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=Navy | RD1-score7=76 | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8=North Carolina | RD1-score8=63 | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1=Saint Joseph's | RD2-score1=92 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2=West Virginia | RD2-score2=95 | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3=Boston University | RD2-score3=62 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4=Navy | RD2-score4=55 | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1=West Virginia | RD3-score1=86 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2=Boston University | RD3-score2=82
Mideast region
| RD1-team3=Louisville | RD1-score3=77 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4=Eastern Kentucky | RD1-score4=63 | RD1-seed7= | RD1-team7=Marquette | RD1-score7=89 | RD1-seed8= | RD1-team8=Bowling Green | RD1-score8=71 | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1=Kentucky | RD2-score1=61 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2=Louisville | RD2-score2=76 | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3=Michigan State | RD2-score3=74 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4=Marquette | RD2-score4=69 | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1=Louisville | RD3-score1=88 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2=Michigan State | RD3-score2=81
Midwest region
| RD1-team3=DePaul | RD1-score3=57 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4=Portland | RD1-score4=56 | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1=Kansas State | RD2-score1=102 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2=DePaul | RD2-score2=70 | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3=Cincinnati | RD2-score3=77 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4=TCU | RD2-score4=73 | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1=Kansas State | RD3-score1=75 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2=Cincinnati | RD3-score2=85
West region
| RD1-team3=Idaho State | RD1-score3=62 | RD1-seed4= | RD1-team4=New Mexico State | RD1-score4=61 | RD2-seed1= | RD2-team1=Saint Mary's | RD2-score1=80 | RD2-seed2= | RD2-team2=Idaho State | RD2-score2=71 | RD2-seed3= | RD2-team3=California | RD2-score3=71 | RD2-seed4= | RD2-team4=Utah | RD2-score4=53 | RD3-seed1= | RD3-team1=Saint Mary's | RD3-score1=46 | RD3-seed2= | RD3-team2=California | RD3-score2=66
Final Four
| RD1-team1=West Virginia | RD1-score1=94 | RD1-seed2=ME | RD1-team2=Louisville | RD1-score2=79 | RD1-seed3=MW | RD1-team3=Cincinnati | RD1-score3=58 | RD1-seed4=W | RD1-team4=California | RD1-score4=64 | RD2-seed1=E | RD2-team1=West Virginia | RD2-score1=70 | RD2-seed2=W | RD2-team2=California | RD2-score2=71
National Third Place Game
| RD1-seed1=MW | RD1-team1=Cincinnati | RD1-score1=98 | RD1-seed2=ME | RD1-team2=Louisville | RD1-score2=85
Regional third place games
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1=Navy | RD1-score1=70 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=Saint Joseph's | RD1-score2=56 | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1=Kentucky | RD1-score1=98 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=Marquette | RD1-score2=69
| RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1=TCU | RD1-score1=71 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=DePaul | RD1-score2=65 | RD1-seed1= | RD1-team1=Idaho State | RD1-score1=71 | RD1-seed2= | RD1-team2=Utah | RD1-score2=65
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.
- 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.
References
References
- "1954 NCAA basketball tournament Bracket".
- (March 1, 1959). "Mississippi State Can't Go To Tourney". Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
- https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/3/1685386/-Top-Comments-last-all-white-championship-teams-edition
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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