1898–99 collegiate men's basketball season in the United States

The 1898–99 collegiate men's basketball season in the United States began in December 1898, progressed through the regular season, and concluded in April 1899.

1898–99 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

Season headlines

• In 1995, the Premo-Porretta Power Poll retroactively selected Yale as its national champion for the 1898–99 season.

Regular season

During the season, college teams played against non-collegiate opponents such as athletic clubs, high schools, and Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) teams as well as against other colleges and universities.

Western Conference

The Western Conference (the future Big Ten Conference) was the only college basketball conference. It did not sponsor an official conference season or recognize a regular-season champion, and no intermural games between conference members took place during the 1898–99 season. In non-conference play, only Minnesota (5–4) won games.

1898–99 Western Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Minnesota† –   – 5 – 4   .556 Wisconsin –   – 0 – 3   .000 † Intramural play only, the conference did not have an official championship winner

Independents

A total of 27 college teams played as major independents. Most played fewer than 10 games. Those that won 10 or more games were Bloomsburg (10–0), West Chester (11–1), Ohio State (12–4), and Temple (18–6).

1898–99 collegiate men's basketball independents standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Bloomsburg –   – 10 – 0   1.000 Illinois State –   – 2 – 0   1.000 Nebraska –   – 4 – 0   1.000 Notre Dame –   – 2 – 0   1.000 Syracuse –   – 1 – 0   1.000 Wabash –   – 2 – 0   1.000 Widener –   – 1 – 0   1.000 West Chester –   – 11 – 1   .917 Allegheny –   – 8 – 1   .889 Yale –   – 9 – 2   .818 Hiram –   – 4 – 1   .800 Ohio State –   – 12 – 4   .750 Temple –   – 18 – 6   .750 Wisconsin–Stevens Point –   – 6 – 2   .750 Macalester –   – 7 – 3   .700 Kansas –   – 7 – 4   .636 North Dakota State –   – 2 – 2   .500 Washington –   – 1 – 1   .500 Mount Union –   – 2 – 3   .400 Penn State –   – 2 – 3   .400 Bucknell –   – 3 – 5   .375 Geneva –   – 3 – 6   .333 Westminster College –   – 2 – 4   .333 Cornell –   – 1 – 3   .250 Butler –   – 0 – 2   .000 Grove City –   – 0 – 2   .000 Michigan State –   – 0 – 2   .000