1955–56 San Francisco Dons men's basketball team

{{Infobox college sports team season

|year = 1955–56

|team = San Francisco Dons

|sport = Basketball

|image = 1955–56 San Francisco Dons team photo (1963 NCAA Basketball Championship program).jpg

|image_size = 300

|conference = California Basketball Association

|division =

|short_conf = CBA

|CoachRank = 1

|APRank = 1

|record = 29–0

|conf_record = 14–0

|head_coach = Phil Woolpert

|hc_year = 6th

|asst_coach1 = Ross Giudice

|asst_coach2 =

|asst_coach3 =

|stadium = Kezar Pavilion

|champion = NCAA tournament National champions
CBA regular season champions

|tourney = National Championship Game

|tourney_result =
W 83–71 vs. Iowa

}}

{{1955–56 California Basketball Association men's basketball standings}}

The 1955–56 San Francisco Dons men's basketball team represented the University of San Francisco as a member of the California Basketball Association during the 1955–56 NCAA men's basketball season. The Dons ended the season undefeated, becoming the first NCAA tournament champion to record a perfect season and the first team to go wire-to-wire as No. 1 in the AP and UP polls. San Francisco finished the season with a 29–0 record (14–0 CBA) and had won 55 consecutive games.

Season summary

San Francisco won two straight NCAA titles behind a punishing defense led by Bill Russell, who turned shot blocking into an art form. He was also better scorer than history gives him credit for, averaging more than 20 points in both championship seasons. In 1956, Russell had support from guard K.C. Jones and a balanced lineup; besides Russell, five other players averaged between 7.1 and 9.8 points per game.

Roster

{{CBB roster/Header|year=1955|team=San Francisco Dons|teamcolors=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Hal |last=Payne |num=3 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=K. C. |last=Jones |num=4 |pos=G |ft=6 |in=1 |lbs=195 |class=Sr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=San Francisco, California |link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill |last=Russell |num=6 |pos=C |ft=6 |in=9 |lbs=210 |class=Sr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Oakland, California |link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=John |last=Koljian |num=7 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill |last=Bush |num=8 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Steve |last=Balchios |num=10 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Warren |last=Baxter |num=11 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill |last=Mallen |num=12 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Vince |last=Boyle |num=14 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Gene |last=Brown |dab=basketball |num=15 |pos=G |ft=6 |in=3 |lbs= |class=So |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=San Francisco, California |link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tom |last=Nelson |num=16 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mike |last=Farmer|dab=basketball |num=17 |pos=F |ft=6 |in=7 |lbs=200 |class=So |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Richmond, California |link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mike |last=Preaseau |num=18 |pos=F |ft=6 |in=5 |lbs=180 |class=So |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Redding, California |link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Carl |last=Boldt |num=19 |pos=F |ft=6 |in=4 |lbs=|class=Jr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Tujunga, California |link=y}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jack |last=King |num=21 |pos= |ft= |in= |lbs= |class= |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home= |link=}}

{{CBB roster/Player|first=Hal |last=Perry |num=23 |pos=G |ft=5 |in=10 |lbs= |class=Sr |cur_rs= |rs= |high_school= |home=Ukiah, California |link=y |dab=basketball}}

{{CBB roster/Footer

|head_coach=

Phil Woolpert ({{college|Loyola Marymount}})

|asst_coach=

Ross Giudice ({{college|San Francisco}})

}}

"[http://www.usfdons.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031406aab.html usfdons.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717180653/http://www.usfdons.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/031406aab.html |date=2011-07-17 }}." Retrieved on July 27, 2009.

Schedule and results

{{CBB schedule start

| rank =

| gamehighs = yes

| attend =

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|San Francisco Dons}}| Regular Season

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 2, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Chico State Wildcats|title=Cal State-Chico}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 70–39

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 1–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 3, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Southern California Trojans|title=Southern California}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 58–42

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 2–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 6, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=San Francisco State Gators|title=San Francisco State}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 72–47

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 3–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 16, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Marquette Warriors|title=Marquette}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = University Auditorium

| site_cityst = Chicago, Illinois

| gamename = DePaul Tournament

| score = 65–58

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 4–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 17, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=DePaul Blue Demons|title=DePaul}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = University Auditorium

| site_cityst = Chicago, Illinois

| gamename = DePaul Tournament

| score = 82–59

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 5–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 20, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Wichita State Shockers|title=Wichita State}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = University of Wichita Field House

| site_cityst = Wichita, Kansas

| gamename =

| score = 75–65

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 6–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 23, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Loyola Wolf Pack |title=Loyola (LA)}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Loyola Field House

| site_cityst = New Orleans, Louisiana

| gamename =

| score = 61–43

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 7–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 26, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=La Salle Explorers|title=La Salle}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, New York

| gamename = ECAC Holiday Festival

| score = 79–62

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 8–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 28, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Holy Cross Crusaders|title=Holy Cross}}

| opprank = 14

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, New York

| gamename = ECAC Holiday Festival

| score = 67–51

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 9–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Dec 30, 1955

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| opponent = UCLA

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden

| site_cityst = New York, New York

| gamename = ECAC Holiday Festival

| score = 70–53

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 10–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 6, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Pepperdine Waves|title=Pepperdine}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 62–51

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 11–0

| conference = 1–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 10, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Santa Clara Broncos|title=Santa Clara}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 74–56

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 12–0

| conference = 2–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 13, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Fresno State Bulldogs|title=Fresno State}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = College Gym

| site_cityst = Fresno, California

| gamename =

| score = 69–50

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 13–0

| conference = 3–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 28, 1956

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=California Golden Bears|title=California}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Cow Palace

| site_cityst = Daly City, California

| gamename =

| score = 33–24

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 14–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Jan 31, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=San Jose State Spartans|title=San Jose State}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Cow Palace

| site_cityst = Daly City, California

| gamename =

| score = 67–40

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 15–0

| conference = 4–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 3, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Loyola Marymount Lions|title=Loyola (Los Angeles)}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 68–46

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 16–0

| conference = 5–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 7, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Pacific Tigers|title=Pacific}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Pacific Pavilion

| site_cityst = Stockton, California

| gamename =

| score = 77–60

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 17–0

| conference = 6–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 10, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Fresno State

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 79–46

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 18–0

| conference = 7–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 14, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = San Jose State

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Spartan Gym

| site_cityst = San Jose, California

| gamename =

| score = 76–52

| overtime =

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 19–0

| conference = 8–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 17, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Saint Mary's Gaels |title=Saint Mary's}}

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Madigan Gymnasium

| site_cityst = Moraga, California

| gamename =

| score = 74–63

| overtime =

| highscorer = Russell

| points = 28

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 20–0

| conference = 9–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 24, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Santa Clara

| opprank =

| site_stadium = San Jose Civic Auditorium

| site_cityst = San Jose, California

| gamename =

| score = 80–44

| highscorer = Russell

| points = 29

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 21–0

| conference = 10–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Feb 28, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Pacific

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Kezar Pavilion

| site_cityst = San Francisco, California

| gamename =

| score = 87–49

| highscorer = Russell

| points = 28

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 22–0

| conference = 11–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 2, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Pepperdine

| opprank =

| site_stadium = LBCC Main Gym

| site_cityst = Long Beach, California

| gamename =

| score = 68–40

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 23–0

| conference = 12–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 3, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away = yes

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Loyola (Los Angeles)

| opprank =

| site_stadium = LBCC Main Gym

| site_cityst = Long Beach, California

| gamename =

| score = 65–48

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 24–0

| conference = 13–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 6, 1956

| time =

| nonconf =

| away =

| neutral =

| rank = 1

| opponent = Saint Mary's

| opprank =

| site_stadium = Cow Palace

| site_cityst = Daly City, California

| gamename =

| score = 82–49

| highscorer =

| points =

| highrebounder =

| rebounds =

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 25–0

| conference = 14–0

}}

|-

!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|San Francisco Dons}}| NCAA Tournament

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 16, 1956

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| seed =

| opponent = UCLA

| opprank = 8

| oppseed =

| site_stadium = Oregon State Coliseum

| site_cityst = Corvallis, Oregon

| gamename = Far West Regional semifinal

| score = 72–61

| highscorer = Brown

| points = 23

| highrebounder = Russell

| rebounds = 23

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 26–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 17, 1956

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| seed =

| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1955|sex=men|team=Utah Utes|title=Utah}}

| opprank = 18

| oppseed =

| site_stadium = Oregon State Coliseum

| site_cityst = Corvallis, Oregon

| gamename = Far West Regional Final

| score = 92–77

| highscorer = Russell

| points = 27

| highrebounder = Russell

| rebounds = 22

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 27–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 22, 1956

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| seed =

| opponent = SMU

| opprank = 7

| oppseed =

| site_stadium = McGaw Hall

| site_cityst = Evanston, Illinois

| gamename = National semifinal – Final Four

| score = 86–68{{cite news |title=54TH IN ROW WON BY SAN FRANCISCO; Dons Beat S.M.U., 86 to 68 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1956/03/23/archives/54th-in-row-won-by-san-francisco-dons-beat-smu-86-to-68-to-gain.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 23, 1956 |access-date=December 30, 2021}}

| highscorer = Farmer

| points = 26

| highrebounder = Russell

| rebounds = 23

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 28–0

}}

{{CBB schedule entry

| date = Mar 23, 1956

| time =

| nonconf = yes

| away =

| neutral = yes

| rank = 1

| seed =

| opponent = Iowa

| opprank = 4

| oppseed =

| site_stadium = McGaw Hall

| site_cityst = Evanston, Illinois

| gamename = National Championship Game

| score = 83–71{{cite news| newspaper=The Southern Illinoisan via newspapers.com| title=San Francisco Wins 55th Straight, Second NCAA Championship, 83-71 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/79536246/ | date=March 25, 1956 | access-date=June 20, 2020}}

| highscorer = Russell

| points = 26

| highrebounder = Russell

| rebounds = 27

| highassister =

| assists =

| attend =

| record = 29–0

}}

{{CBB schedule end

| rank = 1

| poll = AP Poll

| timezone = Pacific Time

| region = FW

| regionname = Far West

| notes =

}}

{{cite web |title=Men's Basketball Yearly Results (1950-60) - University of San Francisco Athletics |url=https://usfdons.com/sports/2014/8/7/MBB_0807145833.aspx#1955-56 |publisher=University of San Francisco Athletics |access-date=June 20, 2020}}

Rankings

{{Ranking movements

| poll1title = AP

| poll1firstweek = 1

| poll1lastweek = 15

| poll1_0=

| poll1_1=1

| poll1_2=1

| poll1_3=1

| poll1_4=1

| poll1_5=1

| poll1_6=1

| poll1_7=1

| poll1_8=1

| poll1_9=1

| poll1_10=1

| poll1_11=1

| poll1_12=1

| poll1_13=1

| poll1_14=1

| poll1_15=1

| poll1_16=

| poll1_17=

| poll1_18=

| poll1_19=

| poll1_20=

| poll2title = Coaches

| poll2firstweek = 0

| poll2lastweek = 14

| poll2_0=1

| poll2_1=1

| poll2_2=1

| poll2_3=1

| poll2_4=1

| poll2_5=1

| poll2_6=1

| poll2_7=1

| poll2_8=1

| poll2_9=1

| poll2_10=1

| poll2_11=1

| poll2_12=1

| poll2_13=1

| poll2_14=1

| poll2_15=

| poll2_16=

| poll2_17=

| poll2_18=

| poll2_19=

| poll2_20=

}}

*{{cite book|title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|publisher=Random House|pages=643–644|year=2009|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}{{cite web |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/seasons/1956-polls.html |title=1955-56 College Basketball Polls | publisher=Sports Reference | access-date=June 20, 2020 }}

Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NBA

class="wikitable" width="80%" {{CollegePrimaryHeader\|team=San Francisco Dons\| Round \| Pick \| Player \| NBA Club }}
align="center" bgcolor="" \| 1	2	Bill Russell	Boston Celtics
align="center" bgcolor="" \| 2	1	KC Jones	Boston Celtics
align="center" bgcolor="" \| 7	50	Carl Boldt	Detroit Pistons
align="center" bgcolor=""

{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1956.html|title=1956 NBA Draft|publisher=basketball-reference.com|accessdate=June 20, 2020}}

References

San Francisco

Category:San Francisco Dons men's basketball seasons

Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship seasons

Category:NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four seasons

San Francisco

San Francisco Dons