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.

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

Final Four

 * Third Place – Western Kentucky 77, Kansas 75

Semifinals & finals

 * Third Place – St. Bonaventure 92, Duke 88

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.