2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
| 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Gonzaga |
| Regular season | November 25, 2020 – March 14, 2021 |
| NCAA Tournament | 2021 |
| Tournament dates | March 18 – April 5, 2021 |
| National Championship | Lucas Oil Stadium Indianapolis, Indiana |
| NCAA Champions | Baylor |
| Other champions | Memphis (NIT), Pepperdine (CBI), Not awarded (CIT) |
| Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden) | Luka Garza, Iowa |
The 2020–21 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 25, 2020, and concluded on March 14, 2021. The 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament culminated the season and began on March 18 and concluded on April 5.
Season headlines[edit]
- November 11 – The Associated Press preseason All-American team was released. Iowa center Luka Garza was the lone unanimous selection (64 votes). Joining him on the team were Baylor guard Jared Butler, Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu, Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham, Gonzaga guard Corey Kispert (26), and Arizona State guard Remy Martin (26).[1]
- November 15 – The UT Martin Skyhawks announced that head coach Anthony Stewart, who had been set to start his fifth season with the Skyhawks, had died earlier that day. No cause of death was given at the time.[2]
- January 18 – When the AP Poll's Week 9 top 25 rankings were released, it was the first time since December 18, 1961, that neither Duke, Kentucky, nor North Carolina were included on the list.[3] In 1961, the poll was only composed of the top 10 teams.[3]
- February 7 – The UTRGV Vaqueros announce the death of fifth-year head coach Lew Hill from coronavirus.[4] Longtime assistant Jai Steadman was named interim head coach four days later.[5]
- February 9 – For the first time since an 0–2 start to the 1999–2000 season, the Duke men's basketball team fell below .500 after an 89–93 loss to Notre Dame.[6]
- March 23 – Just three days after playing in the NCAA tournament, Grand Canyon senior Oscar Frayer died in a car crash, along with his sister and one other person.[7]
[edit]
- October 14 – The NCAA announced that all student-athletes in winter sports during the 2020–21 school year, including men's and women's basketball, would receive an extra year of athletic eligibility, whether or not they or their teams play during that school year.[8]
- October 27 – Bethune–Cookman, which had previously canceled its 2020 fall sports due to COVID-19 concerns, announced that none of its other teams, including men's and women's basketball, would play in the 2020–21 school year.[9]
- November 12 – The Ivy League became the first conference to cancel all winter sports for the 2020–21 season, including men's and women's basketball, due to COVID-19 concerns.[10][11]
- November 19 – Maryland Eastern Shore became the second MEAC program to opt out of the 2020–21 men's and women's basketball seasons due to COVID-19 concerns.[12]
- December 23 – Chicago State ended its 2020–21 season after an 0–9 start marked by many COVID-19-related issues. Head coach Lance Irvin opted out before the season started due to concerns over the disease; the Cougars played one game with only six available players and another with only seven; the team's final game before suspending its season was canceled due to a lack of players.[13]
- February 9 – Howard ended its 2020–21 season after a 1–4 start of an abundance of caution due to the health and safety concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14]
- February 11 – Organizers of the CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament announced that the 2021 edition had been canceled.[15]
- February 13 – Maine decided to conclude their 2020–21 season due to challenges related to COVID-19 after not being cleared to practice or play a game since January 17.[16]
- February 23 – Charleston Southern ended its 2020–21 season after a 3–18 start, citing player concerns over COVID-19.[17]
- February 26 – Jacksonville ended its 2020–21 season after an 11–13 start, citing player concerns over COVID-19.
- March 2 – Holy Cross ended its 2020–21 season after a 5–11 start, citing player concerns over COVID-19.[18]
Milestones and records[edit]
- During the season, the following players reached the 2,000 career point milestone – Austin Peay swingman Terry Taylor,[19] Pepperdine guard Colbey Ross,[20] Iowa center Luka Garza,[21] Bowling Green guard Justin Turner,[22] Detroit Mercy guard Antoine Davis,[23] UTSA guard Keaton Wallace,[24] and Davidson guard Kellan Grady.[25]
- November 30 – Kansas took sole possession of the record for most consecutive weeks ranked in the AP Poll. The Jayhawks' 222nd straight appearance surpassed UCLA's 221 from 1966 to 1980.[26] The Jayhawks' streak ended at 231 when they dropped out of the poll released on February 8.[27]
- December 1 – UC Riverside head coach Mike Magpayo became the first head coach of Asian or Filipino descent to coach and won a Division I game in their 57–42 victory over Washington. Magpayo had missed the Highlanders' season opener on November 25 against Pacific due to his child's birth.[28]
- February 21 – Iowa center Luka Garza scored 23 points in a win against Penn State to become the school's all-time leading scorer, breaking a 32-year-old record previously held by Roy Marble (2,116 points).[29]
Conference membership changes[edit]
Ten schools joined a new conference for the 2020–21 season with four schools leaving Division II for Division I.
Arenas[edit]
New arenas[edit]
- James Madison opened the new Atlantic Union Bank Center on November 25, 2020, defeating Division II Limestone 89–55.[30]
- Liberty played its first game at Liberty Arena, winning 78–62 over Saint Francis (PA) on December 3, 2020.[31] The first event at the arena, which had officially opened on November 23,[32] was a women's game on December 1.[33]
Arenas of new D-I teams[edit]
Three of the four new D-I members for this season are using existing on-campus facilities:
- Dixie State plays in Burns Arena.
- Tarleton State plays in Wisdom Gym.
- UC San Diego plays in RIMAC Arena.
The other D-I newcomer, Bellarmine, announced a multi-year deal with the Kentucky State Fair Board on November 2, 2020, to play home games at Freedom Hall, located at the Kentucky Exposition Center near Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport. The arena had been home to Louisville for more than 50 years before that team moved to the downtown KFC Yum! Center in 2010. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bellarmine could only seat 300 at its on-campus facility, Knights Hall. With Freedom Hall's basketball capacity of 18,252, the Knights were able to seat 2,700.[34]
Arenas closing[edit]
- High Point had originally planned to open Nido and Mariana Qubein Arena and Conference Center for the 2020–21 season.[35] However, construction delays brought on by COVID-19 led to the university delaying the new arena's opening until 2021–22, meaning that the Millis Center was in use for one more season.[36]
- This was intended to be Idaho's final season at the Kibbie Dome, a facility also home to Idaho football, with its basketball configuration known as Cowan Spectrum. When Idaho moved its 2020 football season to spring 2021, it displaced the men's and women's basketball teams, forcing them to use Memorial Gymnasium. The latter facility had been home to both basketball teams before the Kibbie Dome opened in 1976, and remained a part-time home for both. The school plans to open the new Idaho Central Credit Union Arena for the 2021–22 season. The Dome will remain in use for football and several other sports.
Temporary arenas[edit]
- Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara County, Santa Clara and Stanford played the majority of their home games at Kaiser Permanente Arena in neighboring Santa Cruz County.[37]
Season outlook[edit]
Pre-season polls[edit]
The top 25 from the AP and USA Today Coaches Polls.
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Regular season top 10 matchups[edit]
Rankings reflect the AP poll Top 25.
- November 26
- No. 1 Gonzaga defeated No. 6 Kansas, 102–90 (Fort Myers Tip-Off, Suncoast Credit Union Arena, Fort Myers, FL)
- December 1
- No. 8 Michigan State defeated No. 6 Duke, 75–69 (Champions Classic, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC)
- December 2
- No. 2 Baylor defeated No. 5 Illinois, 82–69 (Jimmy V Classic, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, IN)
- December 8
- No. 5 Kansas defeated No. 8 Creighton, 73–72 (Big East–Big 12 Battle, Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS)
- No. 6 Illinois defeated No. 10 Duke, 83–68 (ACC–Big Ten Challenge, Cameron Indoor Stadium, Durham, NC)
- December 19
- No. 1 Gonzaga defeated No. 3 Iowa, 99–88 (Sanford Pentagon, Sioux Falls, SD)
- December 22
- No. 3 Kansas defeated No. 7 West Virginia, 79–65 (Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS)
- January 2
- No. 8 Texas defeated No. 3 Kansas, 84–59 (Allen Fieldhouse, Lawrence, KS)
- January 12
- No. 7 Michigan defeated No. 9 Wisconsin, 77–54 (Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, MI)
- January 18
- No. 2 Baylor defeated No. 9 Kansas, 77–69 (Ferrell Center, Waco, TX)
- February 2
- No. 2 Baylor defeated No. 6 Texas, 83–69 (Frank Erwin Center, Austin, TX)
- February 4
- No. 7 Ohio State defeated No. 8 Iowa, 89–85 (Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA)
- February 21
- No. 3 Michigan defeated No. 4 Ohio State, 92–87 (Value City Arena, Columbus, OH)
- February 25
- No. 3 Michigan defeated No. 9 Iowa, 79–57 (Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, MI)
- February 28
- No. 9 Iowa defeated No. 4 Ohio State, 73–57 (Value City Arena, Columbus, OH)
- March 2
- No. 3 Baylor defeated No. 6 West Virginia, 94–89 OT (WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV)
- No. 4 Illinois defeated No. 2 Michigan, 76–53 (Crisler Arena, Ann Arbor, MI)
- March 6
- No. 4 Illinois defeated No. 7 Ohio State, 73–68 (Value City Arena, Columbus, OH)
- March 13
- No. 3 Illinois defeated No. 5 Iowa, 82–71 (2021 Big Ten men's basketball tournament, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN)
- No. 9 Ohio State defeated No. 4 Michigan, 68–67 (2021 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)
- March 14
- No. 3 Illinois defeated No. 9 Ohio State, 91–88 OT (2021 Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament, Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis)
Regular season[edit]
Early season tournaments[edit]
The Battle 4 Atlantis tournament in Nassau, Bahamas was cancelled due to logistical issues associated with COVID-19. A new tournament known as the Crossover Classic is scheduled to be held at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and had invited almost all of the teams that had originally planned to compete in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament (although five teams would later drop out).[38][39]
On October 26, 2020, ESPN Events cancelled 10 early-season tournaments that it organizes. It had planned to hold them at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando within a protected "bubble" (the same site had recently hosted the remainder of the 2019–20 NBA season under similar circumstances), but The Athletic reported that there had been disagreements over health and COVID-19 testing protocols that had been mandated by ESPN Events (in accordance with recommendations by the CDC), which were stricter than those being adopted by conferences.[40][41]
Upsets[edit]
Teams listed in bold type won "true road games", defined as games held at an opponent's regular home court (including regularly used alternate homes).
| Winner | Score | Loser | Date | Tournament/Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego State | 73–58 | No. 22 UCLA | November 25, 2020 | San Diego State MTE |
| San Francisco | 61–60 | No. 4 Virginia | November 27, 2020 | Bubbleville/HomeLight Classic |
| Virginia Tech | 81–73OT | No. 3 Villanova | November 28, 2020 | Bubbleville/Hall of Fame Tip Off |
| Richmond | 76–64 | No. 10 Kentucky | November 29, 2020 | Bluegrass Showcase |
| Missouri | 83–75 | No. 21 Oregon | December 2, 2020 | Game played in Omaha, NE |
| Marquette | 67–65 | No. 4 Wisconsin | December 4, 2020 | Rivalry |
| Georgia Tech | 79–62 | No. 20 Kentucky | December 6, 2020 | Holiday Hoopsgiving |
| Penn State | 75–55 | No. 15 Virginia Tech | December 8, 2020 | ACC–Big Ten Challenge |
| Missouri | 81–78 | No. 6 Illinois | December 12, 2020 | Braggin' Rights |
| Marquette | 89–84 | No. 9 Creighton | December 14, 2020 | |
| Virginia Tech | 66–60 | No. 24 Clemson | December 15, 2020 | |
| Purdue | 67–60 | No. 20 Ohio State | December 16, 2020 | |
| BYU | 72–62 | No. 18 San Diego State | December 18, 2020 | |
| UCF | 86–74 | No. 15 Florida State | December 19, 2020 | |
| Northwestern | 79–65 | No. 4 Michigan State | December 20, 2020 | |
| NC State | 79–76 | No. 17 North Carolina | December 22, 2020 | Rivalry |
| Minnesota | 102–95OT | No. 4 Iowa | December 25, 2020 | |
| Northwestern | 71–70 | No. 23 Ohio State | December 26, 2020 | |
| Maryland | 70–64 | No. 6 Wisconsin | December 28, 2020 | |
| Clemson | 77–67 | No. 18 Florida State | December 29, 2020 | |
| Tulsa | 65–64 | No. 5 Houston | December 29, 2020 | |
| Oklahoma | 75–71 | No. 9 West Virginia | January 2, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma State | 82–77OT | No. 13 Texas Tech | January 2, 2021 | |
| Alabama | 71–63 | No. 7 Tennessee | January 2, 2021 | |
| Mississippi State | 78–63 | No. 13 Missouri | January 5, 2021 | |
| Louisville | 73–71 | No. 19 Virginia Tech | January 6, 2021 | |
| Colorado | 79–72 | No. 17 Oregon | January 7, 2021 | |
| Purdue | 55–54 | No. 23 Michigan State | January 8, 2021 | |
| Ohio State | 79–68 | No. 15 Rutgers | January 9, 2021 | |
| Maryland | 66–63 | No. 12 Illinois | January 10, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma State | 75–70 | No. 6 Kansas | January 12, 2021 | |
| Butler | 70–66OT | No. 8 Creighton | January 16, 2021 | |
| Miami (FL) | 78–72 | No. 16 Louisville | January 16, 2021 | |
| St. John's | 74–70 | No. 23 UConn | January 18, 2021 | |
| Purdue | 67–65 | No. 15 Ohio State | January 19, 2021 | |
| Florida | 75–49 | No. 6 Tennessee | January 19, 2021 | |
| Georgia Tech | 83–65 | No. 20 Clemson | January 20, 2021 | |
| Providence | 74–70 | No. 11 Creighton | January 20, 2021 | |
| Indiana | 81–69 | No. 4 Iowa | January 21, 2021 | |
| Syracuse | 78–60 | No. 16 Virginia Tech | January 23, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma | 75–68 | No. 9 Kansas | January 23, 2021 | |
| Maryland | 63–49 | No. 17 Minnesota | January 23, 2021 | |
| Florida State | 80–61 | No. 20 Clemson | January 23, 2021 | |
| Stanford | 73–72OT | No. 24 UCLA | January 23, 2021 | |
| Oregon State | 75–64 | No. 21 Oregon | January 23, 2021 | Rivalry |
| Dayton | 76–71 | No. 22 Saint Louis | January 26, 2021 | |
| Auburn | 88–82 | No. 12 Missouri | January 26, 2021 | |
| Clemson | 54–50 | No. 25 Louisville | January 27, 2021 | |
| Florida | 85–80 | No. 11 West Virginia | January 30, 2021 | SEC/Big 12 Challenge |
| Penn State | 81–71 | No. 14 Wisconsin | January 30, 2021 | |
| Georgia Tech | 76–65 | No. 16 Florida State | January 30, 2021 | |
| Purdue | 81–62 | No. 21 Minnesota | January 30, 2021 | |
| Maryland | 61–60 | No. 24 Purdue | February 2, 2021 | |
| Ole Miss | 52–50 | No. 11 Tennessee | February 2, 2021 | |
| East Carolina | 82–73 | No. 5 Houston | February 3, 2021 | |
| South Carolina | 72–66 | No. 22 Florida | February 3, 2021 | |
| Pittsburgh | 83–72 | No. 16 Virginia Tech | February 3, 2021 | |
| St. John's | 70–59 | No. 3 Villanova | February 3, 2021 | |
| Georgetown | 86–79 | No. 15 Creighton | February 3, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma State | 75–672OT | No. 6 Texas | February 6, 2021 | |
| USC | 66–48 | No. 21 UCLA | February 6, 2021 | Rivalry |
| Indiana | 67–65 | No. 8 Iowa | February 7, 2021 | |
| Valparaiso | 74–57 | No. 25 Drake | February 7, 2021 | |
| Kansas | 78–66 | No. 23 Oklahoma State | February 8, 2021 | |
| Ole Miss | 80–59 | No. 10 Missouri | February 10, 2021 | |
| Minnesota | 71–68 | No. 24 Purdue | February 11, 2021 | |
| LSU | 78–65 | No. 16 Tennessee | February 13, 2021 | |
| Arkansas | 86–81OT | No. 10 Missouri | February 13, 2021 | |
| Drake | 51–50OT | No. 22 Loyola–Chicago | February 14, 2021 | |
| Georgia | 80–70 | No. 20 Missouri | February 16, 2021 | |
| Wichita State | 68–63 | No. 6 Houston | February 18, 2021 | |
| Kentucky | 70–55 | No. 19 Tennessee | February 20, 2021 | Rivalry |
| Arizona | 81–72 | No. 17 USC | February 20, 2021 | |
| Duke | 66–65 | No. 7 Virginia | February 20, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma State | 74–69OT | No. 18 Texas Tech | February 22, 2021 | |
| Georgia Tech | 69–53 | No. 16 Virginia Tech | February 23, 2021 | |
| Michigan State | 81–72 | No. 5 Illinois | February 23, 2021 | |
| Ole Miss | 60–53 | No. 24 Missouri | February 23, 2021 | |
| Kansas State | 62–57 | No. 7 Oklahoma | February 23, 2021 | |
| NC State | 68–61 | No. 15 Virginia | February 24, 2021 | |
| Colorado | 80–62 | No. 19 USC | February 25, 2021 | |
| Michigan State | 71–67 | No. 4 Ohio State | February 25, 2021 | |
| Auburn | 77–72 | No. 25 Tennessee | February 27, 2021 | |
| Oklahoma State | 94–90OT | No. 7 Oklahoma | February 27, 2021 | Bedlam Series |
| North Carolina | 78–70 | No. 11 Florida State | February 27, 2021 | |
| Xavier | 77–69 | No. 13 Creighton | February 27, 2021 | |
| Utah | 71–61 | No. 19 USC | February 27, 2021 | |
| Butler | 73–61 | No. 8 Villanova | February 28, 2021 | |
| Notre Dame | 83–73 | No. 11 Florida State | March 6, 2021 | |
| Providence | 54–52 | No. 10 Villanova | March 6, 2021 | |
| Michigan State | 70–64 | No. 2 Michigan | March 7, 2021 | Rivalry |
| Georgetown | 72–71 | No. 14 Villanova | March 11, 2021 | Big East tournament |
| North Carolina | 81–73 | No. 22 Virginia Tech | March 11, 2021 | ACC tournament |
| LSU | 78–71 | No. 8 Arkansas | March 13, 2021 | SEC tournament |
| Georgetown | 73–48 | No. 17 Creighton | March 13, 2021 | Big East tournament |
| Georgia Tech | 80–75 | No. 15 Florida State | March 13, 2021 | ACC tournament |
| Oregon State | 80–78 | No. 23 Colorado | March 13, 2021 | Pac-12 tournament |
In addition to the above listed upsets in which an unranked team defeated a ranked team, there were eleven non-Division I teams to defeat a Division I team this season. Bold type indicates winning teams in "true road games"—i.e., those played on an opponent's home court (including secondary homes).
| Winner | Score | Loser | Date | Tournament/event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Wesleyan (Division II) | 82–72[42] | USC Upstate | November 25, 2020 | |
| Queens (NC) (Division II) | 85–71[43] | Howard | November 27, 2020 | Paradise Jam |
| Emmanuel (GA) (Division II) | 64–61[44] | Stetson | November 30, 2020 | |
| Flagler (Division II) | 92–73[45] | Central Michigan | December 2, 2020 | |
| Greensboro (Division III) | 67–64[46] | Longwood | December 6, 2020 | |
| Fort Hays State (Division II) | 81–68[47] | Kansas State | December 8, 2020 | |
| Our Lady of the Lake (NAIA) | 61–58[48] | Texas State | December 12, 2020 | |
| West Virginia Tech (NAIA) | 73–67[49] | Morgan State | December 19, 2020 | |
| Flagler (Division II) | 73–66[50] | North Florida | December 19, 2020 | |
| Northwest Nazarene (Division II) | 75–72[51] | Portland State | January 9, 2021 | |
| Belmont Abbey (Division II) | 75–72OT[52] | Charlotte | January 9, 2021 |
Conference winners and tournaments[edit]
Each of the 31 Division I athletic conferences that played in 2020–21 ended its regular season with a single-elimination tournament. The team with the best regular-season record in each conference was given the number one seed in each tournament, with tiebreakers used as needed in the case of ties for the top seeding. The winners of these tournaments received automatic invitations to the 2021 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
Statistical leaders[edit]
Source for additional stats categories
| Player | School | PPG | Player | School | RPG | Player | School | APG | Player | School | SPG | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max Abmas | Oral Roberts | 24.5 | Fardaws Aimaq | Utah Valley | 15.0 | Jalen Moore | Oakland | 8.4 | Jacob Gilyard | Richmond | 3.57 | |||
| Luka Garza | Iowa | 24.1 | Jayveous McKinnis | Jackson St. | 13.2 | Colbey Ross | Pepperdine | 7.7 | Jose Alvarado | Georgia Tech | 2.85 | |||
| Antoine Davis | Detroit Mercy | 24.0 | Norchad Omier | Arkansas St. | 12.3 | Cam Mack | Prairie View A&M | 7.7 | DeVante' Jones | Coastal Carolina | 2.81 | |||
| Cameron Thomas | LSU | 23.0 | Elyjah Goss | IUPUI | 11.6 | Kendric Davis | SMU | 7.6 | Kameron Langley | NC A&T | 2.68 | |||
| Loren Cristian Jackson | Akron | 22.3 | Charles Bassey | W. Kentucky | 11.6 | Sahvir Wheeler | Georgia | 7.4 | Cam Mack | Prairie View A&M | 2.67 | |||
| Field goal percentage | Three-point field goal percentage | Free throw percentage | ||||||||||||
| Player | School | BPG | Player | School | FG% | Player | School | 3FG% | Player | School | FT% | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KC Ndefo | St. Peter's | 3.64 | Asbjorn Midtgaard | Grand Canyon | .707 | Chris Shelton | Hampton | .486 | Ty Gadsden | UNC Wilmington | .944 | |||
| Dajour Dickens | Hampton | 3.38 | Dwight Wilson | Ohio | .655 | Spencer Littleson | Toledo | .473 | C. J. Walker | Ohio St. | .941 | |||
| Neemias Queta | Utah St. | 3.34 | Drew Timme | Gonzaga | .655 | Jordan Schakel | San Diego St. | .461 | Robby Beasley | Montana | .929 | |||
| Charles Bassey | W. Kentucky | 3.11 | Kofi Cockburn | Illinois | .654 | Nate Johnson | Xavier | .452 | Antoine Davis | Detroit Mercy | .917 | |||
| Mouhamadou Gueye | Stony Brook | 3.10 | Xavier Cork | W. Carolina | .641 | Jon Williams | Robert Morris | .445 | Justin Jaworski | Lafayette | .913 | |||
Postseason[edit]
NCAA tournament[edit]
Tournament upsets[edit]
For this list, an "upset" is defined as a win by a team seeded 7 or more spots below its defeated opponent. This is more restrictive than the NCAA's official definition, in which a difference of 5 seed lines is sufficient to declare an "upset".[89]
| Date | Winner | Score | Loser | Region | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 19 | Oregon State (#12) | 70–56 | Tennessee (#5) | Midwest | First Round |
| March 19 | North Texas (#13) | 78–69OT | Purdue (#4) | South | First Round |
| March 19 | Oral Roberts (#15) | 75–72OT | Ohio State (#2) | South | First Round |
| March 20 | Ohio (#13) | 62–58 | Virginia (#4) | West | First Round |
| March 20 | Abilene Christian (#14) | 53–52 | Texas (#3) | East | First Round |
| March 21 | Loyola–Chicago (#8) | 71–58 | Illinois (#1) | Midwest | Second Round |
| March 21 | Syracuse (#11) | 75–72 | West Virginia (#3) | Midwest | Second Round |
| March 21 | Oregon State (#12) | 80–70 | Oklahoma State (#4) | Midwest | Second Round |
| March 21 | Oral Roberts (#15) | 81–78 | Florida (#7) | South | Second Round |
| March 28 | UCLA (#11) | 88–78OT | Alabama (#2) | East | Sweet Sixteen |
| March 30 | UCLA (#11) | 51–49 | Michigan (#1) | East | Elite Eight |
Teams eliminated from postseason participation due to COVID-19[edit]
- March 5 – Northern Iowa[90]
- March 9 – FIU[91]
- March 11 – Duke[92]
- March 12 – North Carolina A&T[93]
Conference standings[edit]
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Award winners[edit]
2021 Consensus All-America team[edit]
The time allocated for running scripts has expired.
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jared Butler | PG | Junior | Baylor |
| Cade Cunningham | PG/SG | Freshman | Oklahoma State |
| Ayo Dosunmu | PG | Junior | Illinois |
| Luka Garza | C | Senior | Iowa |
| Corey Kispert | SF | Senior | Gonzaga |
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kofi Cockburn | C | Sophomore | Illinois |
| Hunter Dickinson | C | Freshman | Michigan |
| Evan Mobley | PF/C | Freshman | USC |
| Jalen Suggs | PG/SG | Freshman | Gonzaga |
| Drew Timme | PF | Sophomore | Gonzaga |
Major player of the year awards[edit]
- Wooden Award: Luka Garza, Iowa[96]
- Naismith Award: Luka Garza, Iowa[97]
- Associated Press Player of the Year: Luka Garza, Iowa[98]
- NABC Player of the Year: Luka Garza, Iowa[99]
- Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Luka Garza, Iowa[100]
- Sporting News Player of the Year: Luka Garza, Iowa[101]
Major freshman of the year awards[edit]
- Wayman Tisdale Award (USBWA): Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State[102]
- NABC Freshman of the Year: Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State[99]
- Sporting News Freshman of the Year: Cade Cunningham, Oklahoma State[103]
Major coach of the year awards[edit]
- Associated Press Coach of the Year: Juwan Howard, Michigan[104]
- Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Juwan Howard, Michigan[105]
- NABC Coach of the Year: Mark Few, Gonzaga[99]
- Naismith College Coach of the Year: Mark Few, Gonzaga[106]
- Sporting News Coach of the Year: Juwan Howard, Michigan[107]
Other major awards[edit]
- Naismith Starting Five:[108]
- Bob Cousy Award (best point guard): Ayo Dosunmu, Illinois
- Jerry West Award (best shooting guard): Chris Duarte, Oregon
- Julius Erving Award (best small forward): Corey Kispert, Gonzaga
- Karl Malone Award (best power forward): Drew Timme, Gonzaga
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award (best center): Luka Garza, Iowa
- Pete Newell Big Man Award (best big man): Luka Garza, Iowa[99]
- NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Davion Mitchell, Baylor[99]
- Naismith Defensive Player of the Year: Davion Mitchell, Baylor[109]
- Senior CLASS Award (top senior on and off the court): Luka Garza, Iowa[110]
- Robert V. Geasey Trophy (top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Collin Gillespie, Villanova[111]
- Haggerty Award (top player in NYC metro area): Sandro Mamukelashvili, Seton Hall[112]
- Ben Jobe Award (top minority coach): Leonard Hamilton, Florida State
- Hugh Durham Award (top mid-major coach): Byron Smith, Prairie View A&M
- Jim Phelan Award (top head coach): Todd Simon, Southern Utah
- Lefty Driesell Award (top defensive player): Davion Mitchell, Baylor
- Lou Henson Award (top mid-major player): Max Abmas, Oral Roberts
- Lute Olson Award (top non-freshman or transfer player): Luka Garza, Iowa
- Skip Prosser Man of the Year Award (coach with moral character): Lew Hill, UTRGV
- Academic All-American of the Year (top scholar-athlete): Corey Kispert, Gonzaga[113]
- Elite 90 Award (top GPA among upperclass players at Final Four): Russell Stong, UCLA
- Perry Wallace Most Courageous Award: This award was not presented to a Division I basketball figure. The award went to the men's basketball team of NAIA Bluefield College, which decided to kneel during the pregame playing of the national anthem on February 8, 2021, in defiance of orders from the college's president.[114]
Coaching changes[edit]
56 teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended. Two schools changed coaches between their first practice and first game of the season. One coach resigned and one died.
| Team | Former coach |
Interim coach |
New coach |
Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Christian | Joe Golding | Brette Tanner | Golding left Abilene Christian on April 13, 2021, after 10 seasons for the head coaching position at UTEP.[115] In his ten seasons as head coach, Golding led his alma mater to their first two Division I NCAA tournament appearances in school history. Associate head coach Tanner was promoted by the Wildcats to fill the vacancy the next day.[116] | |
| Albany | Will Brown | Dwayne Killings | Brown and Albany mutually agreed to part ways on March 1, 2021, after 20 seasons. Brown led the Great Danes to a 315–295 overall record and 5 America East tournament championships in his tenure.[117] Dwayne Killings, previously an assistant coach at Marquette, was hired to replace Brown on March 15.[118] | |
| Arizona | Sean Miller | Tommy Lloyd | Arizona parted ways with Miller on April 7, 2021, after 12 seasons. Despite his 302–109 record at UA, Miller was linked to alleged violations of NCAA rules stemming from a 2017 federal investigation into corruption in college basketball.[119] Gonzaga associate head coach Tommy Lloyd, who had previously been the designated successor to Gonzaga head coach Mark Few, was hired as the Wildcats next head coach on April 14.[120] | |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff | George Ivory | Solomon Bozeman | Ivory resigned from UAPB on April 6, 2021, after 13 seasons and a 140–269 overall record.[121] The Golden Lions hired Oral Roberts assistant Bozeman on June 11.[122] | |
| Austin Peay | Matt Figger | Nate James | Figger left Austin Peay on March 29, 2021, after 4 seasons for the UTRGV head coaching job.[123] On April 2, the Governors named Duke associate head coach Nate James as their new head coach.[124] | |
| Bethune-Cookman | Ryan Ridder | Reggie Theus | Ridder left BCU on March 30, 2021, after 3 seasons for the head coaching job at UT Martin.[125] On July 3, ESPN reported that BCU had hired former NBA star Theus, also with head coaching experience with the Sacramento Kings, New Mexico State, and Cal State Northridge, in the dual role of head coach and athletic director; BCU's official announcement came on July 7.[126][127] | |
| Binghamton | Tommy Dempsey | Levell Sanders | Binghamton fired Dempsey on March 1, 2021, after 9 seasons, in which the Bearcats went 72–194 overall and never finished higher than 6th place in the America East. Assistant coach Sanders was named the interim head coach of the team for the 2021–22 season.[128] On February 17, 2022, Sanders had the interim tag removed and was named permanent head coach of the team.[129] | |
| Boston College | Jim Christian | Scott Spinelli | Earl Grant | Christian was fired on February 15, 2021, after 6½ seasons at Boston College, in which the Eagles were 78–132 overall, including a 3–13 overall record and a 1–9 record in ACC play this season at the time of Christian's dismissal. Assistant coach Spinelli was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.[130] On March 15, Charleston head coach Earl Grant was hired as BC's new coach.[131] |
| Cal State Northridge | Mark Gottfried | Trent Johnson | Gottfried, who had completed his 3rd season at CSUN, was placed on paid administrative leave by the university, along with his coaching staff, on April 29, 2021, pending an investigation of rule violations within the program.[132] Johnson, who had been serving as the Deputy Analyst and Player Development Director at UC Berkeley for the past 2 years, was named interim head coach of the Matadors for the 2021–22 season on July 22.[133] On March 17, CSUN removed the interim tag from Johnson and named him head coach.[134] | |
| Central Connecticut | Donyell Marshall | Patrick Sellers | Marshall announced his resignation on March 5, 2021, after 5 seasons and a 43–103 overall record at Central Connecticut.[135] Fairfield assistant coach and CCSU alum Sellers was hired by the Blue Devils on May 10.[136] | |
| Central Michigan | Keno Davis | Tony Barbee | Central Michigan parted ways with Davis on April 5, 2021, after 9 seasons and a 142–143 overall record.[137] Kentucky assistant Tony Barbee, formerly the head coach at UTEP and Auburn, was hired by the Chippewas on April 23.[138] | |
| Chicago State | Lance Irvin | Gerald Gillion | Irvin and Chicago State mutually agreed to part ways on July 1, 2021, after 3 seasons and a 7–63 overall record.[139] Samford assistant Gillion was hired by the Cougars on July 19.[140] | |
| Cincinnati | John Brannen | Wes Miller | Cincinnati fired Brannen after 2 seasons on April 9, 2021, following an internal review of unspecified allegations related to Brannen and the program. The investigation was triggered after six players entered the NCAA transfer portal within three days of the Bearcats' final game of the season.[141] The Bearcats hired UNC Greensboro head coach Wes Miller as his replacement on April 14.[142] | |
| College of Charleston | Earl Grant | Pat Kelsey | Grant left Charleston on March 15, 2021, after 7 seasons for the Boston College head coaching job.[131] The Cougars stayed in-state for their next hire, naming Winthrop head coach Kelsey for the position on March 25.[143] | |
| Delaware State | Eric Skeeters | Stan Waterman | Delaware State parted ways with Skeeters on April 1, 2021, after 3 seasons and a 15–67 overall record.[144] Stan Waterman, head coach of Sanford School for the past 30 years, was hired by the Hornets on June 3.[145] | |
| Denver | Rodney Billups | Jeff Wulbrun | Denver parted ways with Billups on March 1, 2021, after 5 seasons and a 48–94 overall record.[146] Stanford associate head coach Wulbrun was hired by the Pioneers as their new coach on March 29.[147] | |
| DePaul | Dave Leitao | Tony Stubblefield | DePaul fired Leitao on March 15, 2021, after 6 seasons of his second stint as Blue Demons head coach (he had previously held that position from 2002 to 2005), following five straight seasons in which the Blue Demons finished last in the Big East.[148] On April 6, the Blue Demons hired Oregon assistant Stubblefield as their next head coach.[149] | |
| East Tennessee State | Jason Shay | Desmond Oliver | Shay resigned from ETSU on March 30, 2021, almost 11 months after he was promoted to head coach of the team.[150] On April 5, the Buccaneers hired Tennessee assistant coach Desmond Oliver as their next head coach.[151] | |
| Eastern Illinois | Jay Spoonhour | Marty Simmons | Eastern Illinois did not renew Spoonhour's contract on March 4, 2021, ending his 9-year tenure at the school with a 119–157 record.[152] On March 31, the Panthers hired Clemson assistant coach and former Evansville head coach Marty Simmons as Spoonhour's replacement.[153] | |
| Eastern Michigan | Rob Murphy | Stan Heath | Eastern Michigan parted ways with Murphy on March 17, 2021, after 10 seasons and a 166–155 record.[154] On April 12, the Eagles announced the hire of former Arkansas and South Florida coach and EMU alumnus Stan Heath as their next head coach.[155] | |
| Eastern Washington | Shantay Legans | David Riley | On March 22, 2021, it was confirmed that Legans would leave Eastern Washington after 4 seasons for the head coaching job at Portland.[156] On March 25, the Eagles announced that associate head coach Riley would be elevated to the head position.[157] | |
| Fordham | Jeff Neubauer | Mike DePaoli | Kyle Neptune | Neubauer was fired on January 26, 2021, after 5½ seasons at Fordham, in which the Rams went 61–104 overall, including a 1–7 start to the season. Assistant coach DePaoli was named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[158] On March 30, the school named Villanova assistant coach Kyle Neptune its new head coach.[159] |
| George Mason | Dave Paulsen | Kim English | George Mason dismissed Paulsen after 6 seasons on March 16, 2021. He finished with an overall record of 95–91 (46–54 in A-10 play) at the school.[160] On March 23, the Patriots hired former Tennessee assistant Kim English as their next head coach.[161] | |
| Hofstra | Joe Mihalich | Speedy Claxton | On March 19, 2021, Hofstra announced that Mihalich will transition into a new role as special advisor to the director of athletics. Mihalich spent 7 seasons with a 141–92 overall record with the program, but missed the entire 2020–21 season due to an unspecified medical issue.[162] Assistant coach and former Pride star player Claxton was promoted to the head coaching position on April 7.[163] | |
| Indiana | Archie Miller | Mike Woodson | Indiana fired Miller on March 15, 2021, after 4 seasons with a 67–56 record and no NCAA tournament appearances.[164] On March 28, New York Knicks assistant and former NBA head coach Mike Woodson, an Indiana alum, was hired as the Hoosiers next head coach, signing a six-year deal.[165] | |
| Indiana State | Greg Lansing | Josh Schertz | Lansing's 11-year tenure at Indiana State ended on March 8, 2021, after his contract was not renewed, leaving with a 181–164 overall record.[166] On March 17, the Sycamores went to Division II for their new coach, hiring Lincoln Memorial head coach Josh Schertz.[167] | |
| Iowa State | Steve Prohm | T. J. Otzelberger | Iowa State and Prohm mutually agreed to part ways on March 15, 2021, after 6 seasons and a 97–95 overall record, including a 2–22 overall record and winless record in conference play this season.[168] Iowa State hired Otzelberger, a former Cyclone assistant coach, from UNLV on March 18, 2021.[169] | |
| Jacksonville | Tony Jasick | Jordan Mincy | Jacksonville fired Jasick on March 8, 2021, after 7 seasons and a 95–123 overall record.[170] Florida assistant coach Mincy was hired as the Dolphins' new head coach on March 25.[171] | |
| Lamar | Tic Price | Alvin Brooks | Lamar parted ways with Price on March 21, 2021, after 7 seasons and a 112–113 record.[172] On April 1, Lamar announced the hiring of former Cardinal player and current Houston associate head coach Brooks as head coach.[173] | |
| Loyola–Chicago | Porter Moser | Drew Valentine | On April 3, 2021, Moser left Loyola–Chicago after 10 seasons to accept the head coaching job at Oklahoma.[174] The Ramblers promoted assistant coach Valentine to head coach that same day.[175] | |
| Marquette | Steve Wojciechowski | Shaka Smart | Marquette fired Wojciehowski on March 19, 2021, after 7 seasons and a 128–95 overall record.[176] The Golden Eagles hired Texas head coach Shaka Smart to the same position on March 26.[177] | |
| McNeese State | Heath Schroyer | John Aiken | Schroyer stepped down from his head coaching position on March 11, 2021, after 3 seasons to become the full-time athletic director of McNeese State, having initially served as the interim AD since June 2020. Associate head coach Aiken was promoted to head coach of the Cowboys effective immediately.[178] | |
| Minnesota | Richard Pitino | Ben Johnson | Minnesota fired Pitino on March 15, 2021, after 8 seasons. Despite 2 NCAA tournament appearances, along with an NIT championship, the Golden Gophers were 141–123 overall and 54–96 in conference play during his tenure.[179] On March 22, the school hired Xavier assistant coach and Minnesota alum Ben Johnson as its new head coach.[180] | |
| New Mexico | Paul Weir | Richard Pitino | New Mexico announced on February 26, 2021, that Weir and the school had mutually agreed to part ways at the end of the season. At the time of the announcement, the Lobos were 6–14 overall and 2–14 in conference play this season, and were 58–61 during Weir's 4-year tenure.[181] On March 16, the school hired Richard Pitino, who had been fired from Minnesota less than 24 hours earlier, as its new head coach.[182] | |
| North Carolina | Roy Williams | Hubert Davis | On April 1, 2021, Williams announced his retirement after 33 seasons as head coach, the last 18 seasons spent at North Carolina, where the Tar Heels went 485–163 with a trip to five Final Fours and three national championships in 2005, 2009, and 2017.[183] On April 5, UNC assistant coach and former star player Hubert Davis was promoted to head coach, making him the first African-American head coach of the program.[184] | |
| Northern Illinois | Mark Montgomery | Lamar Chapman | Rashon Burno | Montgomery was fired on January 3, 2021, after 9½ years at Northern Illinois, in which the Huskies went 124–170 overall, including a 1–7 start to the season. Assistant coach Chapman was named interim head coach for the rest of the season.[185] Arizona State assistant coach Burno was hired as NIU's new head coach on March 6.[186] |
| Oklahoma | Lon Kruger | Porter Moser | On March 25, 2021, Kruger announced his retirement after 36 seasons as head coach, the last 10 seasons spent at Oklahoma, where the Sooners went 195–128 with a trip to the Final Four in 2016.[187] On April 3, the Sooners hired Loyola–Chicago coach Moser as their next head coach.[174] | |
| Pacific | Damon Stoudamire | Leonard Perry | Stoudemire left Pacific after 5 seasons to join the coaching staff of the Boston Celtics and was replaced by top assistant Perry on July 7.[188] | |
| Portland | Terry Porter | Ben Johnson | Shantay Legans | After a 43–103 overall record in 4½ seasons, including a 6–11 overall record and 0–8 conference record to start the season, Portland fired Porter on February 5, 2021. Assistant coach Johnson served as the Pilots' interim head coach for the rest of the season.[189] On March 22, it was confirmed that Portland would hire Eastern Washington head coach Legans to the head coaching position.[156] |
| Portland State | Barret Peery | Jase Coburn | Peery left Portland State on April 6, 2021, after 4 seasons to become associate head coach at Texas Tech.[190] The Vikings promoted associate head coach Coburn to the head coaching position on April 16.[191] | |
| Radford | Mike Jones | Darris Nichols | Jones left Radford on April 19, 2021, after 10 seasons for the head coaching job at UNC Greensboro.[192] Florida assistant coach Nichols was hired by the Highlanders on April 21.[193] | |
| San Jose State | Jean Prioleau | Tim Miles | San Jose State fired Prioleau on March 12, 2021, after 4 seasons and a 20–93 overall record.[194] The Spartans announced the hire of former North Dakota State, Colorado State, and Nebraska head coach Miles as their next head coach on April 6.[195] | |
| South Carolina State | Murray Garvin | Tony Madlock | SC State parted ways with Garvin on March 15, 2021, after 9 seasons and an 82–168 overall record.[196] The Bulldogs named Memphis assistant coach Madlock as their new head coach on March 25.[197] | |
| Texas | Shaka Smart | Chris Beard | Smart left Texas on March 26, 2021, after 6 seasons to accept the head coaching job at Marquette.[177] The Longhorns announced on April 1 that Texas Tech head coach and Texas alumnus Beard had accepted the head coaching position.[198] | |
| Texas A&M–CC | Willis Wilson | Steve Lutz | The 61-year-old Wilson announced his retirement from coaching on March 24, 2021, after 28 seasons overall as head coach, with the last 11 at A&M–CC.[199] Purdue assistant coach Lutz was hired by the Islanders' as his replacement on April 6.[200] | |
| Texas Tech | Chris Beard | Mark Adams | Beard left Texas Tech on April 1, 2021, after 5 seasons to accept the head coaching job at Texas.[198] The Red Raiders elevated top assistant Adams to head coach on April 5.[201] | |
| UMBC | Ryan Odom | Jim Ferry | Odom left UMBC on April 5, 2021, after 5 seasons for the Utah State head coaching position.[202] On April 12, UMBC announced the hire of former Penn State interim coach Ferry as its next head coach.[203] | |
| UNC Greensboro | Wes Miller | Mike Jones | Miller left UNCG after 10 seasons to accept the head coaching position at Cincinnati on April 14, 2021.[142] The Spartans hired Radford head coach Mike Jones on April 19.[192] | |
| UNLV | T. J. Otzelberger | Kevin Kruger | Otzelberger left UNLV on March 18, 2021, after 2 seasons for the Iowa State head coaching job.[169] On March 21, the Runnin' Rebels announced that current assistant coach Kruger will be promoted to the head coaching position.[204] | |
| UT Arlington | Chris Ogden | Greg Young | Ogden left UT Arlington on April 1, 2021, after 3 seasons to accept an assistant coaching position on Chris Beard's staff at his alma mater Texas.[205] The Mavericks promoted longtime assistant coach Greg Young to the head coaching position on April 6.[206] | |
| UTEP | Rodney Terry | Joe Golding | Terry left UTEP on April 6, 2021, after 3 seasons to accept an assistant coaching position on Chris Beard's staff at Texas.[207] The Miners announced the hiring of Abilene Christian head coach Golding as its next head coach on April 13.[115] | |
| UT Martin | Anthony Stewart | Montez Robinson | Ryan Ridder | UT Martin announced Stewart's sudden death on November 15, 2020. The 50-year-old was set to start his fifth season as head coach of the Skyhawks, having amassed a 51–73 record during his tenure at the school.[2] Two days later, assistant coach Robinson, who was hired by the team in September, was named interim head coach for the 2020–21 season.[208] After Robinson was not retained at the end of the season, the school hired Bethune–Cookman head coach Ryan Ridder as its new coach on March 30.[125] |
| UTRGV | Lew Hill | Jai Steadman | Matt Figger | Hill died on February 7, 2021.[209] The 55-year-old was in his fifth season as head coach at Texas–Rio Grande Valley, amassing a record of 67–75 during his tenure at the school and had been preparing to step down after the season due to ongoing medical issues, including a bout with COVID. Four days after Hill's death, assistant coach Steadman was named interim head coach of the Vaqueros for the rest of the season.[210] After the season ended, the school hired Austin Peay head coach Figger on March 29.[123] |
| Utah | Larry Krystkowiak | Craig Smith | Utah fired Krystowiak on March 16, 2021, after 10 seasons with an overall record of 183–139.[211] The Utes hired Craig Smith from cross-state rival Utah State as their next head coach on March 27.[212] | |
| Utah State | Craig Smith | Ryan Odom | Smith left Utah State after 3 seasons to take the head coaching position at cross-state rival Utah on March 27, 2021.[212] The Aggies announced the hire of UMBC head coach Odom as their next head coach on April 5.[202] | |
| Western Carolina | Mark Prosser | Justin Gray | Prosser left Western Carolina on April 2, 2021, after 3 seasons for the head coaching position at Winthrop.[213] Ironically enough, the Catamounts hired Justin Gray, a former Winthrop assistant coach who had followed Pat Kelsey to the College of Charleston, on April 13.[214] | |
| Wichita State | Gregg Marshall | Isaac Brown | Marshall, the program's winningest head coach with 331 wins, resigned from Wichita State on November 17, 2020, after 13 seasons following an investigation into reports of physical and verbal abuse of players. Assistant coach Brown was initially named the interim head coach of the Shockers for the 2020–21 season,[215] and had the interim tag removed and was officially named the new head coach on February 26, 2021.[216] | |
| Winthrop | Pat Kelsey | Mark Prosser | Kelsey left Winthrop on March 25, 2021, after 9 seasons for the head coaching position at Charleston.[143] On April 2, Winthrop announced the hiring of former Eagle assistant coach Prosser from Western Carolina as their next head coach.[213] | |
See also[edit]
References[edit]
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