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NCAA Division I Basketball 1981 Championship Tournament

The 1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in Philadelphia. A total of 48 games were played, including a national third place game , for the last in the NCAA Tournament. Indiana, coached by Bob Knight, won the national title with a 63?50 victory over North Carolina, coached by Dean Smith. Isiah Thomas of Indiana was named the Tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

1981 - Final Four - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  Semifinals
 National Championship Game
                 
1   Virginia 65  
2  North Carolina 78  
    3  Indiana 63
  2  North Carolina 50
1   Virginia 65
2   North Carolina 78  

East Regional - Charlotte, North Carolina

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 Virginia25-3Atlantic Coast Holland, TerryAt Large 0
2 Notre Dame22-5Independent Phelps, DiggerAt Large 0
3 UCLA20-6Pacific Ten Brown, LarryAt Large 0
4 Tennessee20-7Southeastern DeVoe, DonAt Large 0
5 Virginia Commonwealth23-4Sun Belt Barnett, J.D.Automatic 0
6 Brigham Young22-6Western Athletic Arnold, FrankAt Large 0
7 Georgetown20-11Big East Thompson, JohnAt Large 0
8 Houston21-8Southwest Lewis, GuyAutomatic 0
9 Villanova19-10Big East Massimino, RollieAt Large 0
10 James Madison20-8ECAC South Campanelli, LouAutomatic 0
11 Princeton18-9Ivy League Carril, PeteAutomatic 0
12 Long Island-Brooklyn18-10ECAC Metro Lizzo, PaulAutomatic 0
  First Round Second Round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Virginia Bye
   
  1   Virginia 54  
  9   Villanova 50  
8   Houston 72
9  Villanova 90  
  1   Virginia 62  
  4   Tennessee 48  
5  Virginia Commonwealth 85  
12  Long Island-Brooklyn 69  
  5   Virginia Commonwealth 56
  4  Tennessee 58  
 
4  Tennessee Bye  
  1  Virginia 74
  6  Brigham Young 60
6  Brigham Young 60  
11  Princeton 51  
  6  Brigham Young 78
  3  UCLA 55  
     
3  UCLA Bye  
  6  Brigham Young 51
  2  Notre Dame 50  
7  Georgetown 55  
10  James Madison 61  
  10  James Madison 45
  2  Notre Dame 54  
     
2  Notre Dame Bye  

East Preliminary Round - ,

East 12 Seed Preliminary
12 Long Island-Brooklyn 69
5 Virginia Commonwealth 85

Mideast Regional - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 DePaul27-1Independent Meyer, RayAt Large 0
2 Kentucky22-5Southeastern Hall, JoeAt Large 0
3 Indiana21-9Big Ten Knight, BobAutomatic 0
4 Wake Forest22-6Atlantic Coast Tacy, CarlAt Large 0
5 Boston College21-6Big East Davis, TomAt Large 0
6 Maryland20-9Atlantic Coast Driesell, LeftyAt Large 0
7 UAB21-8Sun Belt Bartow, GeneAt Large 0
8 Creighton21-8Missouri Valley Apke, TomAutomatic 0
9 St. Joseph's, PA22-7East Coast Lynam, JimAutomatic 0
10 Western Kentucky21-7Ohio Valley Haskins, ClemAutomatic 0
11 Chattanooga21-8Southern Arnold, MurrayAutomatic 0
12 Ball State20-9Mid American Yoder, SteveAutomatic 0
  First Round Second Round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  DePaul Bye
   
  1   DePaul 48  
  9   St. Joseph's, PA 49  
8   Creighton 57
9  St. Joseph's, PA 59  
  9   St. Joseph's, PA 42  
  5   Boston College 41  
5  Boston College 93  
12  Ball State 90  
  5   Boston College 67
  4  Wake Forest 64  
 
4  Wake Forest Bye  
  9  St. Joseph's, PA 46
  3  Indiana 78
6  Maryland 81  
11  Chattanooga 69  
  6  Maryland 64
  3  Indiana 99  
     
3  Indiana Bye  
  3  Indiana 87
  7  UAB 72  
7  UAB 93  
10  Western Kentucky 68  
  7  UAB 69
  2  Kentucky 62  
     
2  Kentucky Bye  

Mideast Preliminary Round - ,

Mideast 12 Seed Preliminary
12 Ball State 90
5 Boston College 93

Midwest Regional - Austin, Texas

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 Louisiana State28-3Southeastern Brown, DaleAt Large 0
2 Arizona State24-3Pacific Ten Wulk, NedAt Large 0
3 Iowa21-6Big Ten Olson, LutherAt Large 0
4 Louisville21-8Metro Crum, DennyAutomatic 0
5 Arkansas22-7Southwest Sutton, EddieAt Large 0
6 Wichita State23-6Missouri Valley Smithson, GeneAt Large 0
7 Kansas22-7Big Eight Owens, TedAutomatic 0
8 Lamar24-4Southland Foster, PatAutomatic 0
9 Missouri22-9Big Eight Stewart, NormAt Large 0
10 Mississippi16-13Southeastern Weltlich, BobAutomatic 0
11 Southern17-10Southwestern Athletic Stewart, CarlAutomatic 0
12 Mercer18-11Atlantic Sun Bibb, BillAutomatic 0
  First Round Second Round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Louisiana State Bye
   
  1   Louisiana State 100  
  8   Lamar 78  
8   Lamar 71
9  Missouri 67  
  1   Louisiana State 72  
  5   Arkansas 56  
5  Arkansas 73  
12  Mercer 67  
  5   Arkansas 74
  4  Louisville 73  
 
4  Louisville Bye  
  1  Louisiana State 96
  6  Wichita State 85
6  Wichita State 95  
11  Southern 70  
  6  Wichita State 60
  3  Iowa 56  
     
3  Iowa Bye  
  6  Wichita State 66
  7  Kansas 65  
7  Kansas 69  
10  Mississippi 66  
  7  Kansas 88
  2  Arizona State 71  
     
2  Arizona State Bye  

Midwest Preliminary Round - ,

Midwest 12 Seed Preliminary
12 Mercer 67
5 Arkansas 73

West Regional - Los Angeles, California

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 Oregon State26-1Pacific Ten Miller, RalphAutomatic 0
2 North Carolina25-7Atlantic Coast Smith, DeanAutomatic 0
3 Utah24-4Western Athletic Pimm, JerryAt Large 0
4 Illinois20-7Big Ten Henson, LouAt Large 0
5 Wyoming23-5Western Athletic Brandenburg, JimAutomatic 0
6 Fresno State25-3Big West Grant, BoydAutomatic 0
7 Idaho25-3Big Sky Monson, DonAutomatic 0
8 Kansas State21-8Big Eight Hartman, JackAt Large 0
9 San Francisco24-6West Coast Barry, PeterAutomatic 0
10 Pittsburgh18-11Atlantic Ten Chipman, RoyAutomatic 0
11 Northeastern23-5America East Calhoun, JimAutomatic 0
12 Howard17-11Mideastern Williamson, A.B.Automatic 0
  First Round Second Round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Oregon State Bye
   
  1   Oregon State 48  
  8   Kansas State 50  
8   Kansas State 64
9  San Francisco 60  
  8   Kansas State 57  
  4   Illinois 52  
5  Wyoming 78  
12  Howard 43  
  5   Wyoming 65
  4  Illinois 67  
 
4  Illinois Bye  
  8  Kansas State 68
  2  North Carolina 82
6  Fresno State 53  
11  Northeastern 55  
  11  Northeastern 69
  3  Utah 94  
     
3  Utah Bye  
  3  Utah 56
  2  North Carolina 61  
7  Idaho 69  
10  Pittsburgh 70  
  10  Pittsburgh 57
  2  North Carolina 74  
     
2  North Carolina Bye  

West Preliminary Round - ,

West 12 Seed Preliminary
12 Howard 43
5 Wyoming 78