After beating No. 13-seed Montana in the Round of 64, Syracuse moves on to face No. 12-seed California. Though the Golden Bears have fallen from the elite in recent years, they are one of the Pacific-12 Conference’s most storied programs with a history of NCAA Tournament success.

How they got here:

California finished fourth in the Pac-12 this season and earned a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The Golden Bears fell in overtime against Utah in their conference-tournament opener, but earned an at-large berth. Cal then upset No. 5-seed UNLV 64-61 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Home court:

Haas Pavilion

NCAA Tournament appearances (18):

1946, 1957-1960, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001-2003, 2006, 2009- 2013

Best NCAA Tournament finish:

1959, national champions. California knocked off Utah in the Sweet 16, then St. Mary’s in the Elite Eight. The Golden Bears then defeated Cincinnati in the Final Four before beating Jerry West’s West Virginia team in the national championship game to give Cal its first-ever national title. California reached the Final Four the next season, too, for another of its three appearances in the national semifinals.

The Golden Bears have reached the Elite Eight three times and the Sweet 16 four times.

Winningest Coach (1924-1954):

Nibs Price

449-294

Pacific-12 tournament titles (0):

California has never won a Pac-12 tournament, though it won the 2009-10 regular season title.

Highest NBA draft pick:

Jason Kidd, 2nd overall 1994, Dallas Mavericks

Kidd currently is a guard for the New York Knicks. The guard is a 10-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA first teamer. He was the starting point guard for the Mavericks during their 2011 championship run, but is most notable for his time with the New Jersey Nets and Phoenix Suns. He rose to prominence with the Suns before guiding the Nets to a pair of NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003.

Published on March 22, 2013 at 4:47 pm

Contact David: dbwilson@syr.edu | @DBWilson2