1960–61 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

The 1960–61 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in December 1960, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1961 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 25, 1961, at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The Cincinnati Bearcats won their first NCAA national championship with a 70–65 victory in overtime over the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Season headlines

 * A gambling scandal rocked the NCAA University Division and resulted in the arrests of 37 students from 22 different colleges and universities.
 * In the 1961 NCAA University Division basketball tournament national third-place game, Saint Joseph's defeated 127–120 in four overtimes, tying the record for the longest game in NCAA tournament history, set in 1956 in a first-round game between Canisius and North Carolina State. The Saint Joseph's victory later was vacated because of the gambling scandal.
 * On March 25, 1961, two teams from Ohio, Cincinnati and Ohio State, met in the 1961 NCAA University Division basketball championship game, the first time two teams from the same U.S. state had played one another for the NCAA championship. Cincinnati defeated Ohio State 70–65 in overtime.
 * Ed Jucker of Cincinnati became the first head coach to win the NCAA championship his first year at a school.

Pre-season polls
The Top 20 from the AP Poll and the UPI Coaches Poll during the pre-season.

Final Four

 * Third Place – St. Joseph's 127, Utah 120 (4OT)

Semifinals & finals

 * Third Place – Holy Cross 85, Dayton 67

Major player of the year awards

 * Helms Player of the Year: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
 * Associated Press Player of the Year:Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
 * UPI Player of the Year: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
 * Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Jerry Lucas, Ohio State
 * Sporting News Player of the Year: Jerry Lucas, Ohio State

Major coach of the year awards

 * Henry Iba Award: Fred Taylor, Ohio State
 * NABC Coach of the Year: Fred Taylor, Ohio State
 * UPI Coach of the Year: Fred Taylor, Ohio State

Other major awards

 * Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Bruce Drysdale, Temple
 * NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Tony Jackson, St. John's

Coaching changes
A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.