1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

The 1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1958–59 season. The team played its home games at Fielding H. Yost Field House (renamed Yost Ice Arena in 1973) on the school's campus in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Under the direction of head coach William Perigo, the team finished tied for second in the Big Ten Conference but failed to get an invitation to either the 1959 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament or the 1959 National Invitation Tournament.[1] During the season, the team beat two of the four ranked opponents that it faced (#18 Purdue in the conference season opener on January 3, 1959, at West Lafayette and #18 Illinois on February 2 in Champaign).[2] M.C. Burton, Jr. won the Big Ten Conference statistical championships for both scoring (22.6 points per game) and rebounding (249 in 14 conference games for a 17.8 rebound average).[3][4] The 17.8 rebounds per game was a Big Ten Conference record that lasted one season.[5] Burton was the first player to lead the conference in both scoring and rebounding.[6] Burton and George Lee served as team co-captains, and Burton earned team MVP.[7]

1958–59 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
1958–59 record15–7 (8–6 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
MVPM. C. Burton, Jr.
Captains
Home arenaFielding H. Yost Field House
1958–59 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf  Overall
TeamW L PCT  W L PCT
No. 7 Michigan State12–2 .857  19–4  .826
Northwestern8–6 .571  15–7  .682
Michigan8–6 .571  15–7  .682
Purdue8–6 .571  15–7  .682
Illinois7–7 .500  12–10  .545
Indiana7–7 .500  11–11  .500
Ohio State7–7 .500  11–11  .500
Iowa7–7 .500  10–12  .455
Minnesota5–9 .357  8–14  .364
Wisconsin1–13 .071  3–19  .136
Rankings from AP Poll

Burton set numerous school rebounding records that season. Two that continue to stand are the 17.23 single-season rebounds per game average and the single-season record for 20-rebound games with seven. Bill Buntin surpassed his career total of 831 with 1037 and his career average of 12.59 with 13.13 in 1965. Rudy Tomjanovich surpassed his February 16 total of 27 with 30 on February 1, 1969. Phil Hubbard surpassed his single season total of 379 with 389 in 1977.[8] Burton also fell four points shy of Ron Kramer's 1957 school record career total of 1119.[9] Burton's career free throw percentage of 79.28 stood as the school record (since records have been available in 1955) until Cazzie Russell ended his career with an 82.65%.[10]

Team players drafted into the NBA

Three players from this team were selected in the NBA Draft.[11][12]

YearRoundPickOverallPlayerNBA Club
19594224George LeeDetroit Pistons
195911273M. C. BurtonDetroit Pistons
19614638John TidwellPhiladelphia Warriors

References
  1. 2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 195.
  2. "Through The Years". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. p. 34. Archived from the original on September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  3. "Big Ten Basketball 2009–10 Media Guide". CBS Interactive. p. 33. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  4. "Big Ten Basketball 2009–10 Media Guide". CBS Interactive. p. 34. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  5. "Big Ten Basketball 2009–10 Media Guide". CBS Interactive. p. 30. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  6. Ron Pesch. "Chasing a dream". Muskegon Area Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on July 26, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  7. "All-Time Accolades". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  8. 2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 166.
  9. 2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 162.
  10. 2007–08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 174.
  11. "1959 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  12. "1961 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 26, 2014.


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