# 1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

The 1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in December 1970, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1971 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 27, 1971, at the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The UCLA Bruins won their seventh NCAA national championship with a 68–62 victory over the Villanova Wildcats.

## Season headlines

* The NCAA introduced a new rule prohibiting any team which turned down an invitation to the NCAA tournament from playing in any other postseason tournament. The effect of the rule is to prevent NCAA Tournament invitees from accepting a National Invitation Tournament instead, diminishing the quality of the pool of teams eligible to play in the NIT.
* UCLA won its fifth NCAA championship in a row, seventh overall, and seventh in eight seasons. In the Pacific 8 Conference, it also won its fifth of what ultimately would be 13 consecutive conference titles.

## Season outlook
### Pre-season polls

The Top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.
Associated Press :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | UCLA |
| 2 | South Carolina |
| 3 | Kentucky |
| 4 | Jacksonville |
| 5 | Notre Dame |
| 6 | Marquette |
| 7 | USC |
| 8 | Villanova |
| 9 | Western Kentucky |
| 10 | Drake |
| 11 | Penn |
| 12 | Utah State |
| 13 | Duke |
| 14 | Kansas |
| 15 | New Mexico State |
| 16 | Indiana |
| 17 | Houston |
| 18 | Long Beach State |
| 19 | NC State |
| 20 | St. Bonaventure |
UPI Coaches :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | UCLA |
| 2 | South Carolina |
| 3 | Jacksonville |
| 4 | Kentucky |
| 5 | Marquette |
| 6 | Notre Dame |
| 7 | Penn |
| 8 | Western Kentucky |
| 9 | Utah State |
| 10 | USC |
| 11 | Kansas |
| 12 | Indiana |
| 13 | Villanova |
| 14 | Florida State |
| 15 | Long Beach State |
| 16 (tie) | Drake |
| 16 (tie) | Utah |
| 18 | Kansas State |
| 19 | Duke |
| 20 | Illinois |

## Conference membership changes

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Cincinnati Bearcats | Missouri Valley Conference | University Division independent |
| George Washington Colonials | Southern Conference | University Division independent |
| New Mexico State Aggies | University Division independent | Missouri Valley Conference |
| West Texas State Buffaloes | University Division independent | Missouri Valley Conference |

## Regular season
### Conferences
#### Conference winners and tournaments

| Conference | Regular season winner | Conference player of the year | Conference tournament | Tournament venue (City) | Tournament winner |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | North Carolina | Charlie Davis, Wake Forest | 1971 ACC men's basketball tournament | Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, North Carolina) | South Carolina |
| Big Eight Conference | Kansas | Cliff Meely, Colorado, & Dave Robisch, Kansas | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Big Sky Conference | Weber State | None selected | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Big Ten Conference | Ohio State | None selected | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Ivy League | Penn | None selected | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Mid-American Conference | Ohio | Ken Kowall, Ohio | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Middle Atlantic Conference | Saint Joseph's (East); Lafayette (West) | | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Missouri Valley Conference | Drake, Louisville, & Saint Louis | Jeff Halliburton, Drake | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Ohio Valley Conference | Western Kentucky | Jim McDaniels, Western Kentucky | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Pacific 8 Conference | UCLA | None selected | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Pacific Coast Athletic Association | Long Beach State | George Trapp, Long Beach State | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Southeastern Conference | Kentucky | Johnny Neumann, Mississippi | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Southern Conference | Davidson | Jim Gregory, East Carolina, & Tom Jasper, William & Mary | 1971 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament | Charlotte Coliseum (Charlotte, North Carolina) | East Carolina |
| Southland Conference | Arkansas State | Luke Adams, Lamar, & Allan Pruett, Arkansas State | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Southwest Conference | TCU | Goo Kennedy, TCU | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| West Coast Athletic Conference | Pacific | John Gianelli, Pacific | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Western Athletic Conference | BYU | None selected | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Yankee Conference | Massachusetts | None selected | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |

#### Conference standings

1970–71 ACC men's basketball standings :
| 1970–71 ACC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 13 North Carolina11–3 .78626–6  .813 No. 6 South Carolina †10–4 .71423–6  .793 Duke9–5 .64320–10  .667 Wake Forest7–7 .50016–10  .615 Virginia6–8 .42915–11  .577 NC State5–9 .35713–14  .481 Maryland5–9 .35714–12  .538 Clemson3–11 .2149–17  .346 † 1971 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 4 Kansas14–0 1.00027–3  .900 Oklahoma9–5 .64319–8  .704 Missouri9–5 .64317–9  .654 Nebraska8–6 .57118–8  .692 Colorado6–8 .42914–12  .538 Kansas State6–8 .42911–15  .423 Oklahoma State2–12 .1437–19  .269 Iowa State2–12 .1435–21  .192 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Big Sky men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Weber State12–2 .85721–6  .778 Idaho8–6 .57114–11  .560 Montana State8–6 .57110–13  .435 Idaho State7–7 .5009–15  .375 Gonzaga6–8 .42912–13  .480 Montana6–8 .4298–16  .333 Boise State5–9 .35710–16  .385 Northern Arizona4–10 .2866–19  .240 |
| 1970–71 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 10 Ohio State13–1 .92920–6  .769 Michigan12–2 .85719–7  .731 Purdue11–3 .78618–7  .720 Indiana9–5 .64317–7  .708 Illinois5–9 .35711–12  .478 Minnesota5–9 .35711–13  .458 Michigan State4–10 .28610–14  .417 Iowa4–10 .2869–15  .375 Wisconsin4–10 .2869–15  .375 Northwestern3–11 .2147–17  .292 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Ivy League men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 3 Pennsylvania14–0 1.00028–1  .966 Harvard11–3 .78616–10  .615 Columbia9–5 .64315–9  .625 Princeton9–5 .64314–11  .560 Brown5–9 .35710–15  .400 Dartmouth5–9 .35710–16  .385 Yale2–12 .1434–20  .167 Cornell1–13 .0715–21  .192 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Miami (Ohio)9–1 .90020–5  .800 Ohio6–4 .60017–7  .708 Western Michigan5–5 .50014–10  .583 Kent State4–6 .40013–11  .542 Toledo4–6 .40013–11  .542 Bowling Green State2–8 .2007–18  .280 Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1970–71 MAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT University–Eastern Saint Joseph's†6–0 1.00019–9  .679 La Salle5–1 .83320–7  .741 Hofstra4–2 .66716–8  .667 Temple3–3 .50013–12  .520 American2–4 .33313–12  .520 West Chester1–5 .1677–18  .280 Drexel0–6 .0007–17  .292 University–Western Lafayette9–1 .90017–9  .654 Rider8–2 .80020–6  .769 Delaware5–5 .50011–14  .440 Bucknell4–6 .4009–14  .391 Lehigh4–6 .40010–16  .385 Gettysburg0–10 .0004–21  .160 † 1971 MAC men's basketball tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 18 Drake9–5 .64321–8  .724 Louisville9–5 .64320–9  .690 Saint Louis9–5 .64317–12  .586 Memphis State8–6 .57118–8  .692 Tulsa8–6 .57117–9  .654 Bradley6–8 .42913–12  .520 North Texas State4–10 .28610–15  .400 Wichita State3–11 .21410–16  .385 West Texas State– –19–7  .731 New Mexico State– –19–8  .704 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 7 Western Kentucky12–2 .85724–6  .800 Murray State10–4 .71419–5  .792 Eastern Kentucky10–4 .71416–8  .667 East Tennessee State8–6 .57112–12  .500 Austin Peay State5–9 .35710–14  .417 Morehead State4–10 .2868–17  .320 Tennessee Tech4–10 .2867–17  .292 Middle Tennessee3–11 .21411–15  .423 Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1970–71 Pacific-8 Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 1 UCLA14–0 1.00029–1  .967 No. 5 USC12–2 .85724–2  .923 Oregon8–6 .57117–9  .654 California8–6 .57116–9  .640 Washington6–8 .42915–13  .536 Oregon State4–10 .28612–14  .462 Washington State2–12 .14312–14  .462 Stanford2–12 .1436–20  .231 As of 1971 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 16 Long Beach State*10–0 1.00024–5  .828 UC Santa Barbara8–2 .80020–6  .769 Cal State Los Angeles5–5 .50015–11  .577 Fresno State4–6 .40015–11  .577 San Diego State3–7 .30012–14  .462 San Jose State0–10 .0002–24  .077 * – Overall record adjusted to 22–4 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 8 Kentucky16–2 .88922–6  .786 No. 17 Tennessee13–5 .72221–7  .750 LSU10–8 .55614–12  .538 Mississippi State9–9 .50015–10  .600 Vanderbilt9–9 .50013–13  .500 Auburn8–10 .44411–15  .423 Florida8–10 .44411–15  .423 Ole Miss6–12 .33311–15  .423 Alabama6–12 .33310–16  .385 Georgia5–13 .2786–19  .240 Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1970–71 Southern Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Davidson9–1 .90015–11  .577 William & Mary7–3 .70011–16  .407 East Carolina7–4 .63613–12  .520 The Citadel6–5 .54513–12  .520 Furman †5–5 .50015–12  .556 Richmond3–9 .2507–21  .250 VMI1–11 .0831–25  .038 † Southern Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Southland Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Arkansas State6–2 .75015–9  .625 Abilene Christian5–3 .62515–9  .625 Lamar5–3 .62511–13  .458 Texas-Arlington3–5 .3758–18  .308 Trinity (Tex.)1–7 .1255–16  .238 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT TCU11–3 .78615–12  .556 Baylor10–4 .71418–8  .692 Texas Tech9–5 .64316–10  .615 SMU8–6 .57116–10  .615 Rice6–8 .42914–12  .538 Texas6–8 .42912–12  .500 Texas A&M5–9 .3579–17  .346 Arkansas1–13 .0715–21  .192 Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1970-71 WCAC men's basketball standings ConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Pacific12–2 .85722–6  .786 Loyola (Calif.)10–4 .71415–10  .600 UNLV9–5 .64316–10  .615 Santa Clara8–6 .57111–15  .423 San Francisco8–6 .57110–16  .385 Pepperdine4–10 .28612–13  .480 Saint Mary's4–10 .28610–16  .385 Nevada1–13 .0713–23  .115 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970-71 WAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT BYU10–4 .71418–11  .621 UTEP9–5 .64315–10  .600 Utah9–5 .64315–11  .577 Arizona State8–6 .57116–10  .615 Colorado State7–7 .50015–10  .600 Wyoming6–8 .42910–15  .400 New Mexico4–10 .28614–12  .538 Arizona3–11 .21410–16  .385 Rankings from AP Poll | 1970–71 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Massachusetts 10–0 1.00023–4  .852 Rhode Island 8–2 .80010–17  .370 Connecticut 5–5 .50010–14  .417 New Hampshire 3–7 .30011–12  .478 Maine 3–7 .3008–16  .333 Vermont 1–9 .1009–15  .375 |

### University Division independents

A total of 62 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, Marquette (28–1) had both the best winning percentage (.966) and the most wins.
1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball independents standings :
* 1970–71 NCAA University Division men's basketball independents standings
* vteConfOverall
* TeamW L PCTW L PCT
* No. 2 Marquette– –28–1
* .966
* No. 9 Fordham– –26–3
* .897
* No. 11 Jacksonville– –22–4
* .846
* No. 15 Duquesne– –21–4
* .840
* Hawaii– –23–5
* .821
* No. 19 Villanova– –27–7
* .794
* St. Bonaventure– –21–6
* .778
* No. 14 Houston– –22–7
* .759
* Utah State– –20–7
* .741
* Syracuse– –19–7
* .731
* Georgia Tech– –23–9
* .719
* Providence– –20–8
* .714
* Fairleigh Dickinson– –16–7
* .696
* Rutgers– –16–7
* .696
* Holy Cross– –18–8
* .692
* No. 12 Notre Dame– –20–9
* .690
* Dayton– –18–9
* .667
* St. John's (NY)– –18–9
* .667
* Denver– –17–9
* .654
* Florida State– –17–9
* .654
* Loyola (LA)– –16–10
* .615
* Marshall– –16–10
* .615
* Colgate– –15–10
* .600
* Saint Francis (PA)– –15–10
* .600
* Pittsburgh– –14–10
* .583
* Boston College– –15–11
* .577
* Northern Illinois– –13–10
* .565
* Southern Illinois– –13–10
* .565
* Creighton– –14–11
* .560
* Virginia Tech– –14–11
* .560
* Manhattan– –13–11
* .542
* Cincinnati– –14–12
* .538
* Detroit– –14–12
* .538
* Niagara– –14–12
* .538
* West Virginia– –13–12
* .520
* Centenary– –13–13
* .500
* Pan American– –13–13
* .500
* Navy– –12–12
* .500
* Air Force– –12–14
* .462
* Georgetown– –12–14
* .462
* Seattle– –12–14
* .462
* Army– –11–13
* .458
* Saint Peter's– –11–13
* .458
* Iona– –10–12
* .455
* Penn State– –10–12
* .455
* George Washington– –11–14
* .440
* Seton Hall– –11–15
* .423
* Long Island– –10–15
* .400
* Butler– –10–16
* .385
* Canisius– –8–13
* .381
* Fairfield– –9–15
* .375
* Hardin–Simmons– –9–16
* .360
* Oklahoma City– –9–16
* .360
* Xavier– –9–17
* .346
* DePaul– –8–17
* .320
* St. Francis (NY)– –8–17
* .320
* Tulane– –8–18
* .308
* Boston University– –7–18
* .280
* Miami (FL)– –7–19
* .269
* NYU– –5–20
* .200
* Portland– –5–21
* .192
* Loyola (IL)– –4–20
* .167
* Rankings from AP Poll

### Informal championships

| Conference | Regular season winner | Most Valuable Player |
| Philadelphia Big 5 | Penn | Ken Durrett, La Salle |
Penn finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

### Statistical leaders
## Postseason tournaments
### NCAA tournament
#### Final Four

| National semifinals | National semifinals | National semifinals | National finals | National finals | National finals |
| E | Villanova | 92 | | | |
| ME | Western Kentucky | 89 | | | |
| ME | Western Kentucky | 89 | E | Villanova | 62 |
| | | | W | UCLA | 68 |
| MW | Kansas | 60 | W | UCLA | 68 |
| W | UCLA | 68 | Third place | Third place | Third place |
| | | | ME | Western Kentucky | 77 |
| | | | MW | Kansas | 75 |

### National Invitation tournament
#### Semifinals & finals

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals |
| North Carolina | 73 | | |
| Duke | 69 | | |
| Duke | 69 | North Carolina | 84 |
| | | Georgia Tech | 66 |
| Georgia Tech | 76 | Georgia Tech | 66 |
| St. Bonaventure | 71 | Third place | Third place |
| | | Duke | 88 |
| | | St. Bonaventure | 92 |

## Awards
### Consensus All-American teams

Consensus First Team :
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
| Austin Carr | G | Senior | Notre Dame |
| Artis Gilmore | C | Senior | Jacksonville |
| Jim McDaniels | C | Senior | Western Kentucky |
| Dean Meminger | G | Senior | Marquette |
| Sidney Wicks | F | Senior | UCLA |
Consensus Second Team :
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
| Ken Durrett | F | Senior | La Salle |
| Johnny Neumann | F | Sophomore | Mississippi |
| Howard Porter | F | Senior | Villanova |
| John Roche | G | Senior | South Carolina |
| Curtis Rowe | F | Senior | UCLA |

### Major player of the year awards

* Naismith Award: Austin Carr, Notre Dame
* Helms Player of the Year: Austin Carr, Notre Dame, & Sidney Wicks, UCLA
* Associated Press Player of the Year: Austin Carr, Notre Dame
* UPI Player of the Year: Austin Carr, Notre Dame
* Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Sidney Wicks, UCLA
* Sporting News Player of the Year: Sidney Wicks, UCLA

### Major coach of the year awards

* Associated Press Coach of the Year: Al McGuire, Marquette
* Henry Iba Award (USBWA): John Wooden, UCLA
* NABC Coach of the Year: Jack Kraft, Villanova
* UPI Coach of the Year: Al McGuire, Marquette
* Sporting News Coach of the Year: Al McGuire, Marquette

### Other major awards

* Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Charles Johnson, California
* Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Ken Durrett, La Salle
* NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Charlie Yelverton, Fordham

## Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.
| Team | Former Coach | Interim Coach | New Coach |
| Army | Bob Knight | | Dan Dougherty |
| Boston College | Chuck Daly | | Bob Zuffelato |
| Indiana | Lou Watson | | Bob Knight |
| Louisville | John Dromo | Howard Stacey | Denny Crum |
| Marshall | Stewart Way | | Carl Tacy |
| Oregon | Steve Belko | | Dick Harter |
| Penn | Dick Harter | | Chuck Daly |
| Rutgers | Bill Foster | | Dick Lloyd |
| Utah | Jack Gardner | | Bill Foster |
| Washington | Tex Winter | | Marv Harshman |
| Washington State | Marv Harshman | | Bob Greenwood |