1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

Basketball season August 2023 March 2026 1984 File:NCAA primary logo 1980.svg Georgetown Hoyas March 14 April 1, 1985 Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky Villanova Wildcats UCLA Bruins Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Hoyas (Naismith) Chris Mullin, St. John's Redmen (Wooden) The 1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1984 and ended with the Final Four in Lexington, Kentucky on April 1, 1985. The Villanova Wildcats won their first NCAA national championship with a 66–64 victory over the defending champion, top-ranked Georgetown Hoyas. It was the second time in three seasons that the national champion had 10 losses. Season headlines The 1985 NCAA Tournament was the first to feature a 64-team field,http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2010/Rules.pdf Playing Rules History ncaa.org NCAA June 25, 2024 12 expanding from 53 teams the year before. Three teams from the Big East Conference (Georgetown, St. John's, and Villanova) advanced to the NCAA tournament's Final Four. It was the first time that three teams from the same conference reached the Final Four. Georgetown was the first defending champion to return to the Final Four since the 1975–76 UCLA Bruins did it in the 1976 NCAA Tournament. Basketball analysts consider Villanova's defeat of Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game to be one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. Villanova made 22 of 28 field goal attempts for a field goal percentage of 78.6 percent, a record for an NCAA championship game.The Final Four National Collegiate Athletic Association 2019 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_final4/2019/FinalFour.pdf 8 January 25, 2019 Villanova won its first national championship and became the first unranked team to win the national championship. Xavier McDaniel of Wichita State became the first player to lead the United States in scoring and rebounding in the same season.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2010/Rules.pdf Playing Rules History ncaa.org NCAA June 25, 2024 13 On March 27, 1985, John "Hot Rod" Williams was among four Tulane players arrested on charges of accepting money and cocaine in an alleged point shaving scheme. The incident prompted Tulane to disband its men's basketball program at the end of the season. The school did not resume men's basketball competition until the 1989–90 season. Major rule changes Beginning in 1984–85, the following rules changes were implemented: 2017–18 NCAA Men's Basketball Records, Page 4 2017–18 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide National Collegiate Athletic Association 2017 http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2018/Rules.pdf February 17, 2018 The coaching box was introduced, whereby a coach and all bench personnel had to remain in the 28 ft mid -long coaching box unless seeking information from the scorers’ table. Season outlook Pre-season polls The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.*ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game Random House 910 2009 978-0-345-51392-2 Associated PressRankingTeam1 Georgetown2 Illinois3 DePaul4 Indiana5 Oklahoma6 Duke7 St. John's8 Memphis State9 Washington10 SMU11 1984 men UNLV Runnin' Rebels UNLV12 Syracuse13 NC State14 1984 men LSU Tigers LSU15 Virginia Tech16 Arkansas17 Louisville18 Kentucky19 Kansas 20 Georgia Tech Conference membership changes SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference American American Eagles East Coast Conference ECAC South Conference Augusta Augusta State Jaguars Division II independent Division I independent Central Florida Central Florida (UCF) Knights Sunshine State Conference (D-II) Division I independent Chicago State Chicago State Cougars NAIA Independent Division I independent Florida A&M Florida A&M Rattlers Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Division I independent Georgia State Georgia State Panthers Division I independent Trans America Athletic Conference Hartford Hartford Hawks Division II independent ECAC North Conference Morgan State Morgan State Bears Division II independent Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Nicholls State Nicholls State Colonels Trans America Athletic Conference (provisional) Gulf Star Conference Northwestern State Northwestern State Demons Trans America Athletic Conference Gulf Star Conference Radford Radford Highlanders Division II independent Division I independent Sam Houston State Sam Houston State Bearkats Lone Star Conference (D-II) Gulf Star Conference Siena Siena Saints ECAC Metro Conference ECAC North Conference Southeastern Louisiana Southeastern Louisiana Lions Division I independent Gulf Star Conference Southwest Texas State Southwest Texas State Bobcats Lone Star Conference (D-II) Gulf Star Conference Stephen F. Austin Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Lone Star Conference (D-II) Gulf Star Conference Wilmington UNC Wilmington Seahawks Division I independent ECAC South Conference NOTE: Prior to the season, Nicholls State left the Trans America Athletic Conference after two seasons as a provisional member, during which it played no conference games. Regular season Conferences Conference winners and tournaments ConferenceRegular season winnerhttp://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2009/Standings.pdf 2009 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section 2009 NCAA 2009-06-27Conference player of the yearConference Coach of the YearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAMCU–8 Cleveland State Jon Collins, Eastern Illinois Kevin Mackey, Cleveland State 1985 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament Hammons Student Center(Springfield, Missouri) Eastern IllinoisAtlantic 10 Conference West Virginia Granger Hall, Temple2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Awards section https://web.archive.org/web/20110523131521/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mg-pt8.pdf 2011-05-23 , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 John Chaney, Temple 1985 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament Rutgers Athletic Center(Piscataway, New Jersey) TempleAtlantic Coast Conference Georgia Tech, North Carolina & NC State Len Bias, Maryland2008–09 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Year by Year section https://web.archive.org/web/20160303192652/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/09mbkguide083112.pdf 2016-03-03 , retrieved 2009-06-27 Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech 1985 ACC men's basketball tournament The Omni(Atlanta, Georgia) Georgia TechBig East Conference St. John's Patrick Ewing, Georgetown &Chris Mullin, St. John's2008–09 Big East Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section https://web.archive.org/web/20090204070728/http://www.bigeast.org/fls/19400/pdfs/mensbball/record-book.pdf?SPSID=92557&SPID=11228&DB_OEM_ID=19400 2009-02-04 , Big East Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Lou Carnesecca, St. John's 1985 Big East men's basketball tournament Madison Square Garden(New York City, New York) GeorgetownBig Eight Conference Oklahoma Wayman Tisdale, Oklahoma2008–09 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section, Big 12 Conference, retrieved 2009-02-04 Billy Tubbs, Oklahoma 1985 Big Eight Conference men's basketball tournament Kemper Arena(Kansas City, Missouri)(Semifinals and Finals) OklahomaBig Sky Conference Nevada–Reno Larry Krystkowiak, Montanahttps://archive.today/20120722162522/http://www.bigskyconf.com/Sports/mbball/2008/MBBAwardWinners060508.asp Men's Basketball Award Winners, Big Sky Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Sonny Allen, Nevada–Reno 1985 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament Dee Events Center(Ogden, Utah) Nevada–RenoBig Ten Conference Michigan None Selected Bill Frieder, Michigan No TournamentEast Coast Conference Bucknell Jaye Andrews, Bucknell Charlie Woollum, Bucknell &Ronald Rainey, Delaware 1985 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournament Towson Center(Towson, Maryland) LehighECAC Metro Marist Carey Scurry, Long Island Tom Green, Fairleigh Dickinson 1985 ECAC Metro men's basketball tournament Reitz Arena(Baltimore, Maryland) Fairleigh DickinsonECAC North Canisius & Northeastern Reggie Lewis, NortheasternAmerica East Men's Basketball Players of the Year, America East Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 John Griffin, Siena 1985 ECAC North men's basketball tournament Matthews Arena(Boston, Massachusetts) NortheasternECAC South Navy & Richmond David Robinson, Navy Paul Evans, Navy 1985 ECAC South men's basketball tournament William & Mary Hall(Williamsburg, Virginia) NavyIvy League Penn Ken Bantum, CornellMen's Ivy League Outstanding performers https://web.archive.org/web/20080429080237/http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/alltime.asp?intSID=6 2008-04-29 , Ivy League, retrieved 2009-06-27 None selected No TournamentMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference Iona Randy Cozzens, ArmyMen's Basketball All-MAAC Awards https://web.archive.org/web/20090312044952/http://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=940275 2009-03-12 , Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Les Wothke, Army 1985 MAAC men's basketball tournament Meadowlands Arena(East Rutherford, New Jersey) IonaMetro Conference Memphis State Keith Lee, Memphis State Tony Yates, Cincinnati 1985 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament Freedom Hall(Louisville, Kentucky) Memphis StateMid-American Conference Ohio Ron Harper, Miami (OH)2008–09 MAC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Records Section, Mid-American Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Danny Nee, Ohio 1985 MAC men's basketball tournament Centennial Hall(Toledo, Ohio) OhioMid-Eastern Athletic Conference North Carolina A&T Eric Boyd, North Carolina A&T Don Corbett, North Carolina A&T 1985 MEAC men's basketball tournament Palestra(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) North Carolina A&TMidwestern City Conference Loyola (IL) Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola (IL)2008–09 Horizon League Men's Basketball Record Book https://web.archive.org/web/20110523142907/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hori/genrel/auto_pdf/Records-MBB.pdf 2011-05-23 , Horizon League, retrieved 2009-06-27 Gene Sullivan, Loyola (IL) 1985 Midwestern City Conference men's basketball tournament Mabee Center(Tulsa, Oklahoma) Loyola (IL)Missouri Valley Conference Tulsa Xavier McDaniel, Wichita State2008–09 MVC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section, Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Nolan Richardson, Tulsa 1985 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Tulsa Convention Center(Tulsa, Oklahoma) Wichita StateOhio Valley Conference Tennessee Tech Stephen Kite, Tennessee Tech2008–09 OVC men's basketball media guide, Ohio Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Tom Deaton, Tennessee Tech 1985 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Murphy Center(Murfreesboro, Tennessee) Middle Tennessee StatePacific-10 Conference USC & Washington Wayne Carlander, USC2008–09 Pacific-10 Men's Basketball Media Guide- Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110523143103/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/pac10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/Honors.pdf 2011-05-23 , Pacific-10 Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Stan Morrison, USC No TournamentPacific Coast Athletic Association UNLV Richie Adams, UNLV2008–09 Big West Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110716232233/http://www.bigwest.org/sports/mbball/0708_MB_Media_Guide.pdf 2011-07-16 , Big West Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV 1985 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball tournament The Forum(Inglewood, California) UNLVSoutheastern Conference LSU Kenny Walker, Kentucky2008–09 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book https://web.archive.org/web/20090320004255/http://www.secsports.com/doc_lib/bkc_record_book.pdf March 20, 2009 , Southeastern Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Bob Boyd, Mississippi State & Hugh Durham, Georgia 1985 SEC men's basketball tournament Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex(Birmingham, Alabama) AuburnSouthern Conference Tennessee–Chattanooga Regan Truesdale, The Citadel2008–09 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110723151437/http://www.soconsports.com/fls/4000/socon/files/0809mbkguide/honorsandawards.pdf?SPSID=35819&SPID=1798&DB_OEM_ID=4000 July 23, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Marty Fletcher, VMI 1985 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Asheville Civic Center(Asheville, North Carolina) MarshallSouthland Conference Louisiana Tech Joe Dumars, McNeese State2008–09 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Media Guide, Southland Conference, retrieved 2009-02-07 Andy Russo, Louisiana Tech 1985 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament Thomas Assembly Center(Ruston, Louisiana) Louisiana TechSouthwest Conference Texas Tech Bubba Jennings, Texas Tech Gerald Myers, Texas Tech 1985 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament Reunion Arena(Dallas, Texas) Texas TechSouthwestern Athletic Conference Alcorn State Mike Phelps, Alcorn State2006–07 SWAC Men's Basketball Media Guide Davey Whitney, Alcorn State 1985 SWAC men's basketball tournament Mississippi Coliseum(Jackson, Mississippi) SouthernSun Belt Conference VCU Terry Catledge, South Alabama2007–08 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Media Guide, Sun Belt Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Gene Bartow, UAB 1985 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament Hampton Coliseum(Hampton, Virginia) VCUTrans America Athletic Conference Georgia Southern Sam Mitchell, MercerAtlantic Sun men's basketball record book, Atlantic Sun Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Bill Bibb, Mercer 1985 TAAC men's basketball tournament Hanner Fieldhouse(Statesboro, Georgia) MercerWest Coast Athletic Conference Pepperdine Dwayne Polee, Pepperdine2008–09 WCC Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110523143240/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/west/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2008-09mbbrecordbook.pdf 2011-05-23 , West Coast Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Jim Harrick, Pepperdine No TournamentWestern Athletic Conference UTEP Timo Saarelainen, BYU2008–09 WAC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Records Section https://web.archive.org/web/20090716163044/https://www.nmnathletics.com/ July 16, 2009 , Western Athletic Conference, retrieved 2009-06-27 Smokey Gaines, San Diego State 1985 WAC men's basketball tournament Special Events Center(El Paso, Texas) San Diego State Conference standings Division I independents A total of 22 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Notre Dame (21–9) had both the best winning percentage (.700) and the most wins.https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/conferences/independent/men/1985.html Sports Reference 1984-85 Men's Independent Season Summary August 25, 2024 Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 Villanova Ed Pinckney, Villanova Villanova finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5. Statistical leaders Points per game Rebounds per game Assists per game Field goal percentage Player School PPG Player School RPG Player School APG Player School FG% Xavier McDaniel Wichita St. 27.2 Xavier McDaniel Wichita St. 14.8 Robbie Weingard Hofstra 9.5 Keith Walker Utica 71.3 Alfredrick Hughes Loyola (IL) 26.3 Benoit Benjamin Creighton 14.1 Carl Golston Loyola (IL) 9.2 Vernon Moore Creighton 67.4 Dan Palombizio Ball St. 26.3 Carey Scurry Long Island 14.1 Jim Les Bradley 8.8 Dave Hoppen Nebraska 64.6 Joe Dumars McNeese St. 25.8 Karl Towns Monmouth 12.3 Taurence Chisholm Delaware 8.0 David Robinson Navy 64.4 Terry Catledge S. Alabama 25.6 Robert Sanders Miss. Valley St. 11.9 Brian Carr Nebraska 7.9 John Staves Southern 63.8 Derrick Gervin UTSA 25.6 Free throw percentage Player School FT% Craig Collins Penn St. 95.9 Steve Alford Indiana 92.1 Steve Eggink Marist 92.0 Dennis Nutt TCU 91.7 Bruce Timko Youngstown St. 90.7 1986 NCAA Basketball Record Book, pages 105–107 National Collegiate Athletic Association Fall 1986 Postseason tournaments NCAA tournament 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four - Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky National semifinals National championship game E1 Georgetown 77 W1 St John's 59 S8 Villanova 52 M2 Memphis State 45 E1 Georgetown 64 S8 Villanova 66 National Invitation tournament 1985 National Invitation Tournament NIT Semifinals and Final Semifinals (March 27) Finals (March 29) Tennessee 67 Indiana 74 UCLA 75 Louisville 66 Indiana 62 UCLA 65 Third place game Tennessee 100 Louisville 84 Award winners Consensus All-American teams 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans + Consensus First Team Player Position Class Team Johnny Dawkins G Junior Duke Patrick Ewing C Senior Georgetown Keith Lee F/C Senior Memphis State Xavier McDaniel F Senior Wichita State Chris Mullin F Senior St. John's Wayman Tisdale F Senior Oklahoma + Consensus Second Team Player Position Class Team Len Bias F Junior Maryland Jon Koncak C Senior Southern Methodist Mark Price G Junior Georgia Tech Kenny Walker F Junior Kentucky Dwayne Washington G Sophomore Syracuse Major player of the year awards Wooden Award: Chris Mullin, St. John's Naismith Award: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Associated Press Player of the Year: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown UPI Player of the Year: Chris Mullin, St. John's NABC Player of the Year: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Chris Mullin, St. John's Adolph Rupp Trophy: Chris Mullin, St. John's Sporting News Player of the Year: Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Major coach of the year awards Associated Press Coach of the Year: Bill Frieder, Michigan UPI Coach of the Year: Lou Carnesecca, St. John's Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Lou Carnesecca, St. John's NABC Coach of the Year: John Thompson, Georgetown CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Dale Brown, LSU Sporting News Coach of the Year: Lou Carnesecca, St. John's Other major awards Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Bubba Jennings, Texas Tech Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Ed Pinckney, Villanova NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Chris Mullin, St. John's (3-time recipient) Coaching changes A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended. TeamFormerCoachInterimCoachNewCoachReasonArizona StateBob WeinhauerSteve PattersonArkansasEddie SuttonNolan Richardson Sutton left to coach Kentucky.Austin PeayHoward JacksonLake KellyBaylorJim HallerGene Iba Boston UniversityJohn KuesterMike JarisKuester left to coch George Washington.CaliforniaDick KuchenLou CampanelliCampbellJerry SmithBilly Lee Central FloridaChuck MachockPhil CarterCentral MichiganDick ParfittCharlie Coles The CitadelLes RobinsonRandy Nesbit Robinson left to coach East Tennessee State.CreightonWillis ReedTony Barone DelawareRonald RaineySteve SteinwedelSteinwedel was hired from the South Carolina coaching staff.Delaware StateJoe Dean DavidsonMarshall EmeryEast Tennessee StateBarry DowdLes Robinson Eastern MichiganJim BoyceBen BraunEastern WashingtonJerry KrauseJoe FoldaEvansvilleDick WaltersJim Crews Crews was hired from the Indiana coaching staff.FairfieldTerry O'ConnorMitch BuonaguroFurmanJene DavisButch EstesGeorge WashingtonGerry GimelstobJohn KuesterGeorgia StateTom PuglieseMark SlonakerBob Reinhart Reinhart was hired from the Atlanta Hawks coaching staff.GonzagaJay HillockDan FitzgeraldHarvardFrank McLaughlinPeter RobyHawaiiLarry LittleFrank ArnoldHouston BaptistGene IbaTommy Jones Iba left to coach Baylor.Idaho StateWayne BallardJim BoutinIndiana StateDave SchellhaseRon Greene Greene was hired from Murray State.James MadisonLou CampanelliJohn Thurston KentuckyJoe B. HallEddie SuttonLehighTom SchneiderFran McCaffery Schneider left to coach Penn. McCaffery was promoted from assistant to head coach.Louisiana TechAndy RussoTommy Joe EaglesLoyola MarymountEd GoorjianPaul WestheadManhattanGordon ChiesaTom SullivanMorgan StateNathaniel McMillanTom DeanNat FrazierMurray StateRon GreeneSteve Newton Greene left to coach Indiana State. Newton was promoted from assistant to head coach.New Mexico StateWeldon DrewNeil McCarthy Drew left to join the coaching staff of Oklahoma State.New OrleansDon SmithBenny DeesNiagaraPte LonerganAndy WalkerNorthwestern StateWayne YatesDon BeasleyOld DominionPaul WebbTom YoungOral RobertsDick AcresTed Owens PennCraig LittlepageTom SchneiderLittlepage left to coach Rutgers. Schneider hired from Lehigh.ProvidenceJoe MullaneyRick Pitino RutgersTom YoungCraig LittlepageYoung left to coach Old Dominion.SeattleLen NardoneBob Johnson John was hired from the Washington coaching staff.Southern IllinoisAllen Van WinkleRich HerrinTennessee–ChattanoogaMurray ArnoldMack McCarthyArnold left to join the Chicago Bulls coaching staff. McCarthy was hired from the Auburn coaching staff.Tennessee StateEdward MartinEd MyersLarry ReidMartin was relieved of his duties after 9 games. Myers took over the remainder of the season.TulsaNolan RichardsonJ. D. Barnett Richardson left to coach Arkansas.UNC CharlotteHal WisselJeff Mullins US InternationalFreddie GossGary ZareckyVCUJ. D. BarnettMike Pollio Wake ForestCarl TacyBob Staak WashingtonMarv HarshmanAndy Russo Weber StateNeil McCarthyLarry Farmer McCarthy left to coach New Mexico State.Wisconsin–Green BayDick LienDick BennettXavierBob StaakPete Gillen References 2 NCAA