In January 1958, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of Cincinnati named Oscar Robertson forever imprinted himself – and the UC basketball program – on the consciousness of the national media and New York sports fans with an unforgettable debut performance at Madison Square Garden. With 56 points, The Big O set a new Madison Square Garden scoring record and outscored the entire Seton Hall team (final score UC 118, Seton Hall 54). He went on to win the first of three consecutive NCAA scoring a titles and the first of three College Player of the Year awards, a first in both categories.

Read his first-person article in the New York Times: "When the Big O First Played the Garden: 56 in '58"

Mike Thomas, University of Cincinnati athletic director, and Dr. Nancy Zimpher, president of the University of Cincinnati, commemorate the 50th anniversary of The Big O’s Madison Square Garden debut during the opening round of the 2008 Big East conference tournament at the Garden. (Photo courtesy of the Big East conference.)

By Peter Vecsey: Robertson was MJ… before MJ    Following is still O so big

Photos from the University of Cincinnati's commemorative dinner