1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1982–83 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1982 and ended with the Final Four in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 4, 1983. The NC State Wolfpack won their second NCAA national championship with a 54–52 victory over the heavily favored #1 ranked Houston Cougars.

Season headlines

 * Jim Valvano led the NC State Wolfpack on an improbable run through the NCAA tournament. The team upset Houston's famed and high flying Phi Slama Jama in the championship game. Were it not for winning the ACC tournament, the Wolfpack likely would not have been in the NCAA Tournament.
 * The Georgia Bulldogs advanced to the Final Four in the men's NCAA tournament and the Georgia Lady Bulldogs reached the Final Four of the NCAA women's tournament. It was the first time the men's and women's teams from the same school reached their respective Final Fours in the same year.
 * Wayman Tisdale of Oklahoma became the first player to be named a consensus all-American during his freshman season.

Major rule changes
Beginning in 1982–83, the following rules changes were implemented:
 * The penalty for a player violating the five-second "closely guarded" count was changed from a jump ball to a turnover, the defense would get the ball at the closest out of bounds spot to where the violation occurred.

Pre-season polls
The top 20 from the AP and UPI (Coaches) Polls during the pre-season.

Major player of the year awards

 * Wooden Award: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * Naismith Award: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * Helms Player of the Year: Akeem Olajuwon, Houston
 * Associated Press Player of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * UPI Player of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * NABC Player of the Year: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * Adolph Rupp Trophy: Ralph Sampson, Virginia
 * Sporting News Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, North Carolina

Major coach of the year awards

 * Associated Press Coach of the Year: Guy Lewis, Houston
 * UPI Coach of the Year: Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV
 * Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
 * NABC Coach of the Year: Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
 * CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Lou Carnesecca, St. John's
 * Sporting News Coach of the Year: Denny Crum, Louisville

Other major awards

 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Ray McCallum, Ball State
 * Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): John Pinone, Villanova
 * NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Chris Mullin, St. John's

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