1958 - The Jacksonville University men’s basketball team makes it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time

In 1958, the Jacksonville University men’s basketball team, led by head coach Joe Williams, made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. The team finished the regular season with a record of 19-7 and won the Sun Belt Conference championship to earn an automatic bid to the tournament. In the first round of the tournament, Jacksonville faced off against the Miami Hurricanes and pulled off an upset victory, winning 89-85 in overtime. In the second round, Jacksonville was defeated by the Kentucky Wildcats by a score of 76-69, ending their tournament run. The team’s success in 1958 helped put Jacksonville University on the map in the world of college basketball.