The College Basketball Belt · reign 68
California
Took the belt from West Virginia, 71–70, on March 20, 1959. Lost it to USC, 65–57, on January 1, 1960.
8Defenses
287Days
1stReign for the program
+4Closest call · Dec 28, 1959
15.2Average winning margin
18thLongest of 744 reigns, by days
45thMost defenses of 744 reigns
How it ended
Lost it to USC, 65–57, on January 1, 1960.
Defended against
Colorado ×2San FranciscoSan José StateMichigan StateIllinoisUSCWest Virginia
The seasons
- 1958–59: Kansas State had the best record (23–1–0); Cincinnati won the national title; 1 belt game of this reign; the belt changed hands 5 times that season.
- 1959–60: California finished 23–1–0, 2nd of 167 by record; Cincinnati won the national title; 9 belt games of this reign; the belt changed hands 3 times that season.
Every game of the reign
margins from California’s side| Belt game | Date | Result | Margin | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | Mar 20, 1959 | California beat West Virginia 71–70 Postseason Game → | +1 | Title change |
| 229 | Dec 7, 1959 | California beat San Francisco 65–40 | +25 | Defense |
| 230 | Dec 11, 1959 | California beat San José State 54–43 | +11 | Defense |
| 231 | Dec 17, 1959 | California beat Colorado 51–47 | +4 | Defense |
| 232 | Dec 18, 1959 | California beat Colorado 79–46 | +33 | Defense |
| 233 | Dec 22, 1959 | California beat Michigan State 71–60 | +11 | Defense |
| 234 | Dec 27, 1959 | California beat Illinois 62–48 | +14 | Defense |
| 235 | Dec 28, 1959 | California beat USC 65–61 | +4 | Defense |
| 236 | Dec 30, 1959 | California beat West Virginia 65–45 | +20 | Defense |
| 237 | Jan 1, 1960 | USC beat California 65–57 | −8 | Title change |