+5Closest call · Dec 7, 1956
18.7Average winning margin
2ndLongest of 744 reigns, by days
4thMost defenses of 744 reigns
How it ended
Lost it to Illinois, 62–33, on December 16, 1956.
Defended against
UCLA ×2Pepperdine ×2Santa Clara ×2Fresno State ×2California ×2San José State ×2Loyola Marymount ×2Pacific ×2Saint Mary's ×2USCDePaulMarquetteWichita StateLoyola New OrleansLa SalleHoly CrossUtahSMUIowaSeattle ULoyola Chicago
The seasons
- 1954–55: they had the best record (21–1–0); they won the national title while holding the belt; 1 belt game of this reign; the belt changed hands 12 times that season.
- 1955–56: San Francisco finished 23–0–0, 1st of 150 by record; Temple won the national title; 27 belt games of this reign.
- 1956–57: North Carolina had the best record (26–0–0); they won the national title; 4 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 6 times that season.
Every game of the reign
margins from San Francisco’s side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 138 | Mar 18, 1955 | San Francisco beat La Salle 77–63 Postseason Game → | +14 | Title change |
| 139 | Dec 2, 1955 | San Francisco beat USC 58–42 | +16 | Defense |
| 140 | Dec 16, 1955 | San Francisco beat DePaul 82–59 | +23 | Defense |
| 141 | Dec 16, 1955 | San Francisco beat Marquette 65–58 | +7 | Defense |
| 142 | Dec 19, 1955 | San Francisco beat Wichita State 75–65 | +10 | Defense |
| 143 | Dec 22, 1955 | San Francisco beat Loyola New Orleans 61–43 | +18 | Defense |
| 144 | Dec 26, 1955 | San Francisco beat La Salle 79–62 | +17 | Defense |
| 145 | Dec 28, 1955 | San Francisco beat Holy Cross 67–51 | +16 | Defense |
| 146 | Dec 30, 1955 | San Francisco beat UCLA 70–53 | +17 | Defense |
| 147 | Jan 5, 1956 | San Francisco beat Pepperdine 62–51 | +11 | Defense |
| 148 | Jan 9, 1956 | San Francisco beat Santa Clara 74–56 | +18 | Defense |
| 149 | Jan 12, 1956 | San Francisco beat Fresno State 69–50 | +19 | Defense |
| 150 | Jan 27, 1956 | San Francisco beat California 33–24 | +9 | Defense |
| 151 | Jan 30, 1956 | San Francisco beat San José State 67–40 | +27 | Defense |
| 152 | Feb 2, 1956 | San Francisco beat Loyola Marymount 68–46 | +22 | Defense |
| 153 | Feb 6, 1956 | San Francisco beat Pacific 77–60 | +17 | Defense |
| 154 | Feb 9, 1956 | San Francisco beat Fresno State 79–46 | +33 | Defense |
| 155 | Feb 13, 1956 | San Francisco beat San José State 76–52 | +24 | Defense |
| 156 | Feb 16, 1956 | San Francisco beat Saint Mary's 74–63 | +11 | Defense |
| 157 | Feb 23, 1956 | San Francisco beat Santa Clara 80–44 | +36 | Defense |
| 158 | Feb 27, 1956 | San Francisco beat Pacific 87–49 | +38 | Defense |
| 159 | Mar 1, 1956 | San Francisco beat Pepperdine 68–40 | +28 | Defense |
| 160 | Mar 2, 1956 | San Francisco beat Loyola Marymount 65–48 | +17 | Defense |
| 161 | Mar 5, 1956 | San Francisco beat Saint Mary's 82–49 | +33 | Defense |
| 162 | Mar 15, 1956 | San Francisco beat UCLA 72–61 Postseason | +11 | Defense |
| 163 | Mar 16, 1956 | San Francisco beat Utah 92–77 Postseason | +15 | Defense |
| 164 | Mar 21, 1956 | San Francisco beat SMU 86–68 Postseason | +18 | Defense |
| 165 | Mar 22, 1956 | San Francisco beat Iowa 83–71 Postseason | +12 | Defense |
| 166 | Nov 30, 1956 | San Francisco beat California 70–56 | +14 | Defense |
| 167 | Dec 7, 1956 | San Francisco beat Seattle U 57–52 | +5 | Defense |
| 168 | Dec 13, 1956 | San Francisco beat Loyola Chicago 67–48 | +19 | Defense |
| 169 | Dec 16, 1956 | Illinois beat San Francisco 62–33 | −29 | Title change |