2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 2001–02 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 9, 2001, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2002 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 1, 2002 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Maryland Terrapins won their first NCAA national championship with a 64–52 victory over the Indiana Hoosiers.

Season headlines

 * The Atlantic Sun Conference competed under that name for the first time. Previously it had been known as the Trans America Athletic Conference.
 * The preseason Associated Press All-American team was named on November 6, 2001. Jason Williams of Duke was the unanimous leading vote-getter (72 of 72 votes). The rest of the team included Kareem Rush of Missouri (47 votes), Tayshaun Prince of Kentucky (46), Casey Jacobsen of Stanford (45) and Frank Williams of Illinois (31).
 * Jason Conley of Virginia Military Institute became the first freshman ever to win the season scoring title, averaging 29.3 points per game in 28 games.
 * Senior John Linehan of Providence became the all-time Division I steals leader with 385 for his career, while fellow senior Desmond Cambridge of Alabama A&M coincidentally finishes his career with the second highest steals total of 377.
 * On March 1, 2002, sophomore Ronald Blackshear of Marshall tied an NCAA record by making 11 consecutive three-point shots in a game against Akron, but also makes 14 total in the second-highest single game output in NCAA history.
 * Two teams whose head caoches were people of color met in an NCAA tournament Final Four game for the first time, when Indiana, coached by Mike Davis, defeated Oklahoma, coached by Kelvin Sampson, 73–64 in a national semifinal game on March 30, 2002.

Major rule changes
Beginning in 2001–02, the following rules changes were implemented:
 * Both direct and indirect technical fouls penalized by two shots and returned to point of interruption.
 * Officials could check an official courtside monitor to determine if a try was a three- or two-point attempt, regardless of whether the try was successful.

Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 5, 2001.

Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 2001–02 season.

Statistical leaders
Source for additional stats categories

Semifinals & finals

 * Third Place – Temple 65, Syracuse 64

Major player of the year awards

 * Wooden Award: Jason Williams, Duke
 * Naismith Award: Jason Williams, Duke
 * Associated Press Player of the Year: Jason Williams, Duke
 * NABC Player of the Year: Drew Gooden, Kansas & Jason Williams, Duke
 * Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Jason Williams, Duke
 * Adolph Rupp Trophy: Jason Williams, Duke
 * Sporting News Player of the Year: Jason Williams, Duke

Major freshman of the year awards

 * USBWA Freshman of the Year: T. J. Ford, Texas
 * Sporting News Freshman of the Year: Maurice Williams, Alabama

Major coach of the year awards

 * Associated Press Coach of the Year: Ben Howland, Pittsburgh
 * Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Ben Howland, Pittsburgh
 * NABC Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Oklahoma
 * Naismith College Coach of the Year: Ben Howland, Pittsburgh
 * CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Kelvin Sampson, Oklahoma
 * Sporting News Coach of the Year: Ben Howland, Pittsburgh

Other major awards

 * Pete Newell Big Man Award (Best big man): Drew Gooden, Kansas
 * NABC Defensive Player of the Year: John Linehan, Providence
 * Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Steve Logan, Cincinnati
 * Lowe's Senior CLASS Award (top senior): Juan Dixon, Maryland
 * Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Lynn Greer, Temple
 * NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Marcus Hatten, St. John's
 * Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award (Strong personal character): Juan Dixon, Maryland