1958–59 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team explained

Mode:Basketball
Year:1958–59
Team:Illinois Fighting Illini
Conference:Big Ten Conference
Short Conf:Big Ten
Record:12–10
Conf Record:7-7
Hc Year:12th
Ac1 Year:22nd
Ac2 Year:1st
Captain:Roger Taylor
Mvp:Roger Taylor

The 1958–59 Illinois Fighting Illini men’s basketball team represented the University of Illinois.

Regular season

University of Illinois' head coach, Harry Combes and his Fighting Illini basketball team once again led the Big Ten in wins for a decade with a 165-64 record in the 1950s. The Illini’s winning percentage, .721, ranked 11thnationally. Additionally, the Associated Press began its basketball poll in 1949 with United Press International adding its poll in 1951 and from 1951-56 the Illini finished the season ranked in the Top 20 nationally every year. Illinois’highest final ranking in the 1950s was second in both polls in 1952.

The 1958-59 team utilized several returning lettermen including the leading scorer, team "captain" and team "MVP" Roger Taylor. It also saw the return of Mannie Jackson, Govoner Vaughn, Bruce Bunkenberg, Al Gosnell, Lou Landt and Ed Perry. The Illini finished the season with a conference record of 7 wins and 7 losses, finishing tied for 5th place in the Big Ten. They would finish with an overall record of 12 wins and 10 losses. During the season, the Illini would play Kentucky, the No. 1 ranked team in the nation, at a Freedom Hall in Louisville. The outcome of this game would be a 75-76 loss. The starting lineup included John Wessels at the center position, Roger Taylor and Mannie Jackson at guard and Govoner Vaughn, Ed Perry and Al Gosnell at the forward slots.[1]

Roster

Schedule

Source[2] [3] |-!colspan=12 style="background:#DF4E38; color:white;"| Non-Conference regular season

|-!colspan=9 style="background:#DF4E38; color:#FFFFFF;"|Big Ten regular season

|-

Player stats

PlayerGames PlayedField GoalsFree ThrowsReboundsPoints
Roger Taylor 211586068376
John Wessels2212675205327
Mannie Jackson 221372589299
Govoner Vaughn 2111043170263
Al Gosnell225949108167
Ed Perry 22462293114
Vern Altemeyer2134258093
Lou Landt 1936113483
Bruce Bunkenburg 1317124146
Lee Frandsen 151221426
John Easterbrook 1245313
Tom Adams 62024
Jim Dorris 51264
Bob Schmidt 30020
Bill Mohlenbrock 40000
John Homeier 20010
[4]

Awards and honors

Team players drafted into the NBA

[6]

Rankings

See main article: 1958–59 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings.

Notes and References

  1. Fighting Illini Basketball: A Hardwood History By News-Gazette, Sports Publishing LLC
  2. https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1958-59 University of Illinois Fighting Illini Statistics Summary for 1958-59
  3. https://fightingillini.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1958-59 Schedule
  4. http://www.fightingillini.com/sports/m-baskbl/records/year-1958.html Season Stats
  5. Web site: List of MVPs . 2013-01-28 . 2014-10-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141030004049/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/ill/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/05_mbb_guide_06.pdf . dead .
  6. http://www.databasebasketball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1959&lg=N 1959 NBA Draft