U of L To Recognize `59 NCAA Final Four Team
January 29, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 29, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Louisville will recognize the Cardinals' 1959 NCAA Final Four team -- U of L's first of eight Final Four teams, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year -- on Jan. 31 at halftime of the Cards' game against West Virginia.
The 1958-59 Cardinals posted a 19-12 record while facing 10 teams ranked among the nation's Top 20 that season. The Cardinals won seven of their last eight regular season games before a 77-63 victory over Eastern Kentucky in the NCAA first round sent them to the NCAA Mideast Regional in Evanston, Ill. It was there that U of L defeated then No. 2 ranked Kentucky 76-61 (3-13-59) and No. 7 ranked Michigan State 88-81 in the regional championship game to reach Louisville's first Final Four.
U of L fell to West Virginia 94-79 in the national semifinals played in Louisville's Freedom Hall (3/20/59). Jerry West poured in 38 points to lead the Mountaineers in that game while Don Goldstein led the Cardinals with 21 points and nine rebounds.
Seven members of the team are expected to attended the event, including All-America forward Don Goldstein, who scored 1,019 points in three seasons at U of L (1956-59). Also scheduled to participate are George Burnette, Bryan Hall, Buddy Leathers, Howard Stacey, Roger Tieman and Jerry Watkins.
U of L honored its 1983 NCAA Final Four team at halftime of the Cardinals' Jan. 17 game against Pittsburgh.
