1960 College Basketball Recap

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

For the second straight year, Oscar Robertson and Cincinnati ran into California in the Final Four semifinals and lost. This time, they were both No.1 when they met—Cincy in the AP poll, Cal according to UPI. The Golden Bears beat the Bearcats, 77–69, and the Big O ended his college career with three scoring titles, three Player of the Year awards, and no NCAA title.

Cal, now in position to join Oklahoma A&M, Kentucky and San Francisco as the NCAA's only repeat champions, advanced to the championship game against No.3 Ohio State. It shaped up as a classic final: OSU's No.1 offense (90.5 ppg) vs Cal's No.1 defense (49.5 ppg). All-America sophomore Jerry Lucas of the Buckeyes vs. All-America senior Darrall Imhoff of the Bears in the pivot.

Ohio State shot 68.4 from the field and won basketball's version of the Rose Bowl (Big 10 vs AAWU) by 20 points. The Buckeyes' sophomore center Jerry Lucas was named the outstanding player in the tournament, the first time since 1956 that the MVP award went to a member of the championship team.

In New York, No.4 Bradley won its second NIT title, beating 14th-ranked Providence, 88–72 in the final. The losing Friars did have the tourney MVP, however, in guard Lenny Wilkens.

And for the second year in a row, Mississippi State won the SEC championship and declined to play in the integrated NCAA tournament.