# 1956–57 San Francisco Dons men's basketball team

The 1956–57 San Francisco Dons men's basketball team represented the University of San Francisco as a member of the West Coast Athletic Conference during the 1956–57 NCAA men's basketball season. The Dons carried a 55-game unbeaten streak into the season, extending it to a then NCAA record 60-game winning streak. After falling out of the rankings, San Francisco battled back to finish the season with a 21–7 record (12–2 CBA) and reach their third consecutive Final Four. After losing to Kansas in the national semifinals, USF defeated Michigan State in the third-place game.

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 30, 1956* | | at Cal State-Chico | W 63–34 | 1–0 | Chico, California |
| Dec 1, 1956* | | at California | W 70–56 | 2–0 | Harmon Gym Berkeley, California |
| Dec 7, 1956* | | San Francisco State | W 63–34 | 3–0 | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Dec 8, 1956* | | Seattle | W 57–52 | 4–0 | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Dec 14, 1956* | No. 2 | at Loyola (Chicago) | W 67–48 | 5–0 | Alumni Gym Chicago, Illinois |
| Dec 17, 1956* | No. 2 | at No. 7 Illinois | L 33–62 | 5–1 | Huff Hall (6,912) Champaign, Illinois |
| Dec 19, 1956* | No. 2 | vs. No. 20 Western Kentucky | L 57–61 | 5–2 | Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky |
| Dec 21, 1956* | No. 2 | at Washington (MO) | W 56–53 | 6–2 | Francis Field House St. Louis, Missouri |
| Dec 28, 1956* | No. 19 | at Oregon State | L 40–62 | 6–3 | Oregon State Coliseum Corvallis, Oregon |
| Dec 29, 1956* | No. 19 | vs. USC | L 52–58 | 6–4 | Oregon State Coliseum Corvallis, Oregon |
| Jan 4, 1957 | | San Jose State | W 66–51 | 7–4 (1–0) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Jan 8, 1957 | | at Santa Clara | L 47–51 | 7–5 (1–1) | San Jose Civic Auditorium San Jose, California |
| Jan 12, 1957 | | Fresno State | W 68–56 | 8–5 (2–1) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Feb 1, 1957 | | Pepperdine | W 78–67 | 9–5 (3–1) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Feb 2, 1957 | | Loyola (Los Angeles) | W 66–45 | 10–5 (4–1) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Feb 7, 1957 | | at Pacific | W 67–51 | 11–5 (5–1) | Pacific Pavilion Stockton, California |
| Feb 8, 1957 | | Saint Mary's | W 70–60 | 12–5 (6–1) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Feb 12, 1957* | | Santa Clara | W 58–47 | 13–5 (7–1) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Feb 15, 1957 | | Pacific | W 67–56 | 14–5 (8–1) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| Feb 16, 1957 | | at Fresno State | L 51–56 | 14–6 (8–2) | North Gym Fresno, California |
| Feb 22, 1957 | | at Pepperdine | W 88–66 | 15–6 (9–2) | Campus Gym Malibu, California |
| Feb 23, 1957 | | at Loyola (Los Angeles) | W 75–65 | 16–6 (10–2) | Loyola Memorial Gymnasium Los Angeles, California |
| Mar 1, 1957 | | at San Jose State | W 76–65 | 17–6 (11–2) | Spartan Gym San Jose, California |
| Mar 5, 1957 | | Saint Mary's | W 62–41 | 18–6 (12–2) | Kezar Pavilion San Francisco, California |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 15, 1957* | | vs. No. 16 Idaho State West Regional semifinal | W 66–51 | 19–6 | Oregon State Coliseum Corvallis, Oregon |
| Mar 16, 1957* | | vs. No. 13 California West Regional final | W 50–46 | 20–6 | Oregon State Coliseum Corvallis, Oregon |
| Mar 22, 1957* | | vs. No. 2 Kansas National semifinal – Final Four | L 56–80 | 20–7 | Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri |
| Mar 23, 1957* | | vs. No. 11 Michigan State National consolation – Third Place | W 67–60 | 21–7 | Municipal Auditorium Kansas City, Missouri |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. W=West. All times are in Pacific Time. ||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | Not released | 2 | 2 | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coaches | 8 | 5 | 4 | 17 | — | 19 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Not released |

## Team players drafted into the NBA

| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club |
| 7 | 50 | Carl Boldt | Detroit Pistons |