1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP #1	Georgetown
NCAA Tournament	1985
Tournament dates	March 14, 1985 – April 1, 1985
National Championship	Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky
NCAA Champions	Villanova
Other champions	UCLA (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Chris Mullin, St. John's (Wooden), Patrick Ewing, Georgetown (Naismith)
NCAA Division I basketball seasons «1983–84  1985–86»

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.
• Georgetown was the first defending champion to return to the Final Four since the 1975–76 UCLA Bruins.

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1984–85, the following rules changes were implemented:

• The coaching box was introduced, whereby a coach and all bench personnel had to remain in the 28-foot-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.

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 Georgetown 2 Illinois 3 DePaul 4 Indiana 5 Oklahoma 6 Duke 7 St. John's 8 Memphis State 9 Washington 10 SMU 11 UNLV 12 Syracuse 13 NC State 14 LSU 15 Virginia Tech 16 Arkansas 17 Louisville 18 Kentucky 19 Kansas 20 Georgia Tech Regular season Conference winners and tournaments Conference Regular Season Winner Conference Player of the Year Conference Coach of the Year Conference Tournament Tournament Venue (City) Tournament Winner AMCU–8 Cleveland State Jon Collins, Eastern Illinois Kevin Mackey, Cleveland State 1985 AMCU-8 Men's Basketball Tournament Hammons Student Center (Springfield, Missouri) Eastern Illinois Atlantic 10 Conference West Virginia Granger Hall, Temple John Chaney, Temple 1985 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Tournament Rutgers Athletic Center (Piscataway, New Jersey) Temple Atlantic Coast Conference Georgia Tech, North Carolina & NC State Len Bias, Maryland Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech 1985 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament The Omni (Atlanta, Georgia) Georgia Tech Big East Conference St. John's Patrick Ewing, Georgetown & Chris Mullin, St. John's Lou Carnesecca, St. John's 1985 Big East Men's Basketball Tournament Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York) Georgetown Big Eight Conference Oklahoma Wayman Tisdale, Oklahoma Billy Tubbs, Oklahoma 1985 Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Kemper Arena (Kansas City, Missouri) (Semifinals and Finals) Oklahoma Big Sky Conference Nevada–Reno Larry Krystkowiak, Montana Sonny Allen, Nevada–Reno 1985 Big Sky Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Dee Events Center (Ogden, Utah) Nevada–Reno Big Ten Conference Michigan None Selected Bill Frieder, Michigan No Tournament Colonial Athletic Association Navy & Richmond David Robinson, Navy Paul Evans, Navy 1985 CAA Men's Basketball Tournament William & Mary Hall (Williamsburg, Virginia) Navy East Coast Conference Bucknell Jaye Andrews, Bucknell Charlie Woollum, Bucknell & Ronald Rainey, Delaware 1985 East Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Towson Center (Towson, Maryland) Lehigh ECAC Metro Marist Carey Scurry, Long Island Tom Green, Fairleigh Dickinson 1985 ECAC Metro Men's Basketball Tournament Reitz Arena (Baltimore, Maryland) Fairleigh Dickinson ECAC North Canisius & Northeastern Reggie Lewis, Northeastern John Griffin, Siena 1985 ECAC North Men's Basketball Tournament Matthews Arena (Boston, Massachusetts) Northeastern Ivy League Penn Ken Bantum, Cornell None selected No Tournament Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Iona Randy Cozzens, Army Les Wothke, Army 1985 MAAC Men's Basketball Tournament Meadowlands Arena (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Iona Metro Conference Memphis State Keith Lee, Memphis State Tony Yates, Cincinnati 1985 Metro Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Freedom Hall (Louisville, Kentucky) Memphis State Mid-American Conference Ohio Ron Harper, Miami (OH) Danny Nee, Ohio 1985 MAC Men's Basketball Tournament Centennial Hall (Toledo, Ohio) Ohio Mid-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&T Midwestern City Conference Loyola (IL) Alfredrick Hughes, Loyola (IL) 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 State Nolan Richardson, Tulsa 1985 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Tulsa Convention Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma) Wichita State Ohio Valley Conference Tennessee Tech Stephen Kite, Tennessee Tech Tom Deaton, Tennessee Tech 1985 Ohio Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Murphy Center (Murfreesboro, Tennessee) Middle Tennessee State Pacific-10 Conference USC & Washington Wayne Carlander, USC Stan Morrison, USC No Tournament Pacific Coast Athletic Association UNLV Richie Adams, UNLV Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV 1985 Pacific Coast Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament The Forum (Inglewood, California) UNLV Southeastern Conference LSU Kenny Walker, Kentucky Bob Boyd, Mississippi State & Hugh Durham, Georgia 1985 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament Birmingham–Jefferson Convention Complex (Birmingham, Alabama) Auburn Southern Conference Tennessee–Chattanooga Regan Truesdale, The Citadel Marty Fletcher, VMI 1985 Southern Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Asheville Civic Center (Asheville, North Carolina) Marshall Southland Conference Louisiana Tech Joe Dumars, McNeese State Andy Russo, Louisiana Tech 1985 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, Louisiana) Louisiana Tech Southwest Conference Texas Tech Bubba Jennings, Texas Tech Gerald Myers, Texas Tech 1985 Southwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Reunion Arena (Dallas, Texas) Texas Tech Southwestern Athletic Conference Alcorn State Mike Phelps, Alcorn State Davey Whitney, Alcorn State 1985 SWAC Men's Basketball Tournament Mississippi Coliseum (Jackson, Mississippi) Southern Sun Belt Conference VCU Terry Catledge, South Alabama Gene Bartow, UAB 1985 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Hampton Coliseum (Hampton, Virginia) VCU Trans America Athletic Conference Georgia Southern Sam Mitchell, Mercer Bill Bibb, Mercer 1985 TAAC Men's Basketball Tournament Hanner Fieldhouse (Statesboro, Georgia) Mercer West Coast Athletic Conference Pepperdine Dwayne Polee, Pepperdine Jim Harrick, Pepperdine No Tournament Western Athletic Conference UTEP Timo Saarelainen, BYU Smokey Gaines, San Diego State 1985 WAC Men's Basketball Tournament Special Events Center (El Paso, Texas) San Diego State 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 Conference standings Template:1984–85 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings 1984–85 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT West Virginia 16 – 2   .889     20 – 9   .690 Temple † 15 – 3   .833     25 – 6   .806 Saint Joseph's 13 – 5   .722     19 – 12   .613 Rutgers 9 – 9   .500     16 – 14   .533 George Washington 9 – 9   .500     14 – 14   .500 UMass 9 – 9   .500     13 – 15   .464 St. Bonaventure 7 – 11   .389     14 – 15   .483 Duquesne 6 – 12   .333     12 – 18   .400 Penn State 4 – 14   .222     8 – 19   .296 Rhode Island 2 – 16   .111     8 – 20   .286 † 1985 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll Template:1984–85 ACC men's basketball standings 1984–85 Big East men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT #3 St. John's 15 – 1   .938     31 – 4   .886 #1 Georgetown† 14 – 2   .875     35 – 3   .921 #15 Syracuse 9 – 7   .563     22 – 9   .710 Villanova 9 – 7   .563     25 – 10   .714 Pittsburgh 8 – 8   .500     17 – 12   .586 Boston College 7 – 9   .438     20 – 11   .645 Connecticut 6 – 10   .375     13 – 15   .464 Providence 3 – 13   .188     11 – 20   .355 Seton Hall 1 – 15   .063     10 – 18   .357 † 1985 Big East Tournament winner As of April 1, 1985; Rankings from AP Poll Template:1984–85 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Big Sky men's basketball standings 1984–85 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT #2 Michigan 16 – 2   .889     26 – 4   .867 #12 Illinois 12 – 6   .667     26 – 9   .743 Purdue 11 – 7   .611     20 – 9   .690 Ohio State 11 – 7   .611     20 – 10   .667 Iowa 10 – 8   .556     21 – 11   .656 Michigan State 10 – 8   .556     19 – 10   .655 Indiana 7 – 11   .389     19 – 14   .576 Minnesota 6 – 12   .333     13 – 15   .464 Wisconsin 5 – 13   .278     14 – 14   .500 Northwestern 2 – 16   .111     6 – 22   .214 Rankings from AP Poll) 1984–85 ECC men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Bucknell 10 – 4   .714     19 – 10   .655 Lafayette 8 – 6   .571     15 – 13   .536 Drexel 8 – 6   .571     10 – 18   .357 Rider 7 – 7   .500     14 – 15   .483 Delaware 7 – 7   .500     12 – 16   .429 Lehigh † 6 – 8   .429     12 – 19   .387 Hofstra 5 – 9   .357     14 – 15   .483 Towson 5 – 9   .357     7 – 21   .250 † 1985 ECC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll Template:1984–85 ECAC Metro men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 ECAC North men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 ECAC South men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Ivy League men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Metro Conference men's basketball standings 1984–85 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Ohio† 14 – 4   .778     22 – 8   .733 Miami 13 – 5   .722     20 – 11   .645 Toledo 11 – 7   .611     16 – 12   .571 Kent State 11 – 7   .611     17 – 13   .567 Eastern Michigan 9 – 9   .500     15 – 13   .536 Ball State 8 – 10   .444     13 – 16   .448 Western Michigan 7 – 11   .389     12 – 16   .429 Northern Illinois 7 – 11   .389     11 – 16   .407 Bowling Green 6 – 12   .333     12 – 15   .444 Central Michigan 4 – 14   .222     9 – 18   .333 † Mid-American Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll Template:1984–85 Midwestern City Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings 1984–85 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT UNLV† 17 – 1   .944     28 – 4   .875 Fresno State 15 – 3   .833     23 – 9   .719 Cal State Fullerton 11 – 7   .611     17 – 13   .567 Utah State 10 – 8   .556     17 – 11   .607 San Jose State 10 – 8   .556     16 – 13   .552 UC Irvine 8 – 10   .444     12 – 16   .429 UC Santa Barbara 8 – 10   .444     12 – 16   .429 Pacific 5 – 13   .278     9 – 19   .321 New Mexico State 4 – 14   .222     7 – 20   .259 Long Beach State 2 – 16   .111     4 – 23   .148 † 1985 PCAA Tournament winner 1984–85 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Washington 13 – 5   .722     22 – 10   .688 USC 13 – 5   .722     19 – 10   .655 Oregon State 12 – 6   .667     22 – 9   .710 Arizona 12 – 6   .667     21 – 10   .677 UCLA 12 – 6   .667     21 – 12   .636 Oregon 8 – 10   .444     15 – 16   .484 Arizona State 7 – 11   .389     12 – 16   .429 [[{{{school}}}|Washington State]] 5 – 13   .278     13 – 15   .464 [[{{{school}}}|California]] 5 – 13   .278     13 – 15   .464 [[{{{school}}}|Stanford]] 3 – 15   .167     11 – 17   .393 As of November 25, 2011; Rankings from AP Poll Template:1984–85 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Southland Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Template:1984–85 WAC men's basketball standings Postseason tournaments NCAA Tournament Final Four - Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky National Semifinals National Championship Game             E1 Georgetown 77 W1 St John's 59 E1 Georgetown 64 S8 Villanova 66 S8 Villanova 52 M2 Memphis State 45 National Invitation Tournament NIT Semifinals and Final Semifinals (March 27) Finals (March 29)             Tennessee 67 Indiana 74 Indiana 62 UCLA 65 UCLA 75 Louisville 66 Third place game       Tennessee 100 Louisville 84 Award winners Consensus All-American teams 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. Team Former Coach Interim Coach New Coach Reason Arkansas Eddie Sutton Nolan Richardson Baylor Jim Haller Gene Iba California Dick Kuchen Lou Campanelli Central Michigan Dick Parfitt Charlie Coles Creighton Willis Reed Tony Barone East Tennessee State Barry Dowd Les Robinson Houston Baptist Gene Iba Tommy Jones James Madison Lou Campanelli John Thurston Kentucky Joe B. Hall Eddie Sutton Louisiana Tech Andy Russo Tommy Joe Eagles Oral Roberts Dick Acres Ted Owens Providence Joe Mullaney Rick Pitino Tulsa Nolan Richardson J. D. Barnett UNC Charlotte Hal Wissel Jeff Mullins US International Freddie Goss Gary Zarecky VCU J. D. Barnett Mike Pollio Wake Forest Carl Tacy Bob Staak Washington Marv Harshman Andy Russo Xavier Bob Staak Pete Gillen References