1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

Men's collegiate basketball season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1974, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1975 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 31, 1975, at the San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California. The UCLA Bruins won their tenth NCAA national championship with a 92–85 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats.

Preseason AP No. 1NC State Wolfpack[1]
NCAATournament1975
Tournament datesMarch 15 – 31, 1975
National ChampionshipSan Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, California
Quick facts –75 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Preseason AP No. 1 ...
1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1NC State Wolfpack[1]
NCAA Tournament1975
Tournament datesMarch 15 – 31, 1975
National ChampionshipSan Diego Sports Arena
San Diego, California
NCAA ChampionsUCLA Bruins
Helms National ChampionsUCLA Bruins
Other championsPrinceton Tigers (NIT)
Player of the Year
(Naismith, Wooden)		David Thompson, NC State Wolfpack
Player of the Year
(Helms)		David Thompson, NC State Wolfpack
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Season headlines

  • The NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament expanded from 25 to 32 teams.[2]
  • For the first time, teams other than the conference champion could be chosen at large from the same conference for the NCAA tournament. No more than two teams from any one conference could be chosen for the tournament until 1980,[3] but the NCAA's decision to allow even as many as two teams per conference into the annual tournament threatened to greatly reduce or even eliminate the access of Division I independents — most of which were located in the Northeastern United States — to the tournament. This resulted in a steady decline in the number of independents in ensuing seasons as former independents formed conferences to ensure their access to an automatic tournament bid each year.[4]
  • In a 1975 Cleveland Plain Dealer article, sportswriter Ed Chay used the term "final four" to refer to the semifinals of the NCAA tournament, giving rise to a myth that this was the first such use of the term.[3][5] In fact, the term "final four" already was in use in the 1960s.[6][7]
  • In the Pacific 8 Conference, UCLA won its ninth of what would ultimately be 13 consecutive conference titles.
  • The National Commissioners Invitational Tournament (NCIT), a new postseason tournament created by the NCAA in 1974 as the Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament to compete with the National Invitation Tournament, was played for the second and final time in 1975.

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

Main article: 1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.[8]

More information 'Associated Press', Ranking ...
'Associated Press'
Ranking Team
1 NC State
2 UCLA
3 Indiana
4 Maryland
5 Marqette
6 Kansas
7 South Carolina
8 Louisville
9 Alabama
10 USC
11 North Carolina
12 Notre Dame
13 Purdue
14 Providence
15 Memphis State
16 Kentucky
17 Michigan
18 Minnesota
19 Arizona
20 Penn
UPI Coaches
Ranking Team
1 NC State
2 UCLA
3 Indiana
4 Louisville
5 North Carolina
6 USC
7 Marquette
8 Alabama
9 Kansas
10 Maryland
11 Notre Dame
12 South Carolina
13 Penn
14 Arizona State
15 Arizona
16
(tie)		 Oregon State
Purdue
18 Memphis State
19
(tie)		 Michigan
Oregon
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Conference membership changes

More information School, Former conference ...
School Former conference New conference
American Eagles Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Baptist Buccaneers non-Division I Division I independent
Bucknell Bison Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Cal State Fullerton Titans Non-Division I Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles Pacific Coast Athletic Association Division I independent
Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Drexel Dragons Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Eastern Michigan Eagles Division I independent Mid-American Conference
Gettysburg Bullets Middle Atlantic Conference Non-Division I
Hofstra Pride Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
La Salle Explorers Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Lafayette Leopards Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Lehigh Engineers Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Rider Broncs Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
St. Joseph's Hawks Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
Saint Louis Billikens Missouri Valley Conference Division I independent
Temple Owls Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos Pacific Coast Athletic Association Division I independent
West Chester Golden Rams Middle Atlantic Conference East Coast Conference
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Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner[9]		 Conference
player of the year		 Conference
tournament		 Tournament
venue (City)		 Tournament
winner
Atlantic Coast ConferenceMarylandDavid Thompson,
NC State[10]		1975 ACC men's basketball tournamentGreensboro Coliseum
(Greensboro, North Carolina)		North Carolina
Big Eight ConferenceKansasAlvan Adams, Oklahoma[11]No Tournament
Big Sky ConferenceMontanaNone selectedNo Tournament
Big Ten ConferenceIndianaNone SelectedNo Tournament
East Coast ConferenceAmerican & La Salle (East)
Lafayette (West)		Wilbur Thomas, American (East) &
Henry Horne, Lafayette (West)		1975 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournamentKirby Sports Center
(Easton, Pennsylvania)		La Salle
Eastern College Athletic
Conference (ECAC)		 Division I ECAC members
played as independents
during the regular season
(see note)		 1975 ECAC Metro Region tournament Madison Square Garden
(New York, New York)		 Rutgers
1975 ECAC New England Region tournament Springfield Civic Center
(Springfield, Massachusetts)		 Boston College
1975 ECAC Southern Region tournament WVU Coliseum
(Morgantown, West Virginia)		 Georgetown
1975 ECAC Upstate Region tournament Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
(Buffalo, New York)		 Syracuse
Ivy LeaguePennRon Haigler, Penn[12]No Tournament
Mid-American ConferenceCentral MichiganDan Roundfield, Central Michigan[13]No Tournament
Missouri Valley ConferenceLouisvilleJunior Bridgeman, LouisvilleNo Tournament
Ohio Valley ConferenceMiddle TennesseeGeorge Sorrell, Middle Tennessee1975 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournamentMurphy Center
(Murfreesboro, Tennessee)
(Semifinals and Finals)		Middle Tennessee
Pacific-8 ConferenceUCLANone SelectedNo Tournament
Pacific Coast Athletic AssociationLong Beach StateBob Gross, Long Beach StateNo Tournament
Southeastern ConferenceAlabama & KentuckyKevin Grevey, Kentucky, &
Bernard King, Tennessee[14]		No Tournament
Southern ConferenceFurmanClyde Mayes, Furman[15]1975 Southern Conference men's basketball tournamentGreenville Memorial Auditorium
(Greenville, South Carolina)
(Semifinals and Finals)		Furman[16]
Southland ConferenceMcNeese StateHenry Ray,
McNeese State[17]		No Tournament
Southwest ConferenceTexas A&MRick Bullock, Texas TechNo Tournament
West Coast Athletic ConferenceUNLVRicky Sobers, UNLVNo Tournament
Western Athletic ConferenceArizona StateNone SelectedNo Tournament
Yankee ConferenceMassachusettsNone SelectedNo Tournament
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NOTE: From 1975 to 1981, the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC), a loosely organized sports federation of colleges and universities in the Northeastern United States, organized Division I ECAC regional tournaments for those of its members that were independents in basketball. Each 1975 tournament winner received an automatic bid to the 1975 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament in the same way that the tournament champions of conventional athletic conferences did.[18]

Conference standings

More information Conf., Overall ...
1974–75 ACC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 5 Maryland10–2 .83324–5  .828
No. 9 North Carolina †8–4 .66723–8  .742
Clemson8–4 .66717–11  .607
No. 7 NC State8–4 .66722–6  .786
Virginia4–8 .33312–13  .480
Duke2–10 .16713–13  .500
Wake Forest2–10 .16713–13  .500
† 1975 ACC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Kansas11–3 .78619–8  .704
No. 15 Kansas State10–4 .71420–9  .690
Missouri9–5 .64318–9  .667
Nebraska7–7 .50014–12  .538
Oklahoma6–8 .42913–13  .500
Oklahoma State5–9 .35710–16  .385
Iowa State4–10 .28610–16  .385
Colorado4–10 .2867–19  .269
Rankings from AP Poll[19]
1974–75 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Montana13–1 .92921–8  .724
Idaho State9–5 .64316–10  .615
Boise State7–7 .50013–13  .500
Gonzaga7–7 .50013–13  .500
Weber State6–8 .42911–15  .423
Montana State5–9 .35711–15  .423
Northern Arizona5–9 .3579–17  .346
Idaho4–10 .28610–16  .385
1974–75 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 3 Indiana18–0 1.00031–1  .969
No. 19 Michigan12–6 .66719–8  .704
Minnesota11–7 .61118–8  .692
Purdue11–7 .61117–11  .607
Michigan State10–8 .55617–9  .654
Ohio State8–10 .44414–14  .500
Iowa7–11 .38910–16  .385
Wisconsin5–13 .2788–18  .308
Illinois4–14 .2228–18  .308
Northwestern4–14 .2226–20  .231
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 ECC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
East
American5–1 .83316–10  .615
La Salle †5–1 .83322–7  .759
Temple4–2 .6677–19  .269
Hofstra3–3 .50011–13  .458
Saint Joseph's3–3 .5008–17  .320
West Chester1–5 .1678–17  .320
Drexel0–6 .00012–11  .522
West
Lafayette7–1 .87522–6  .786
Rider5–3 .62516–11  .593
Bucknell4–4 .50014–12  .538
Delaware4–4 .50012–13  .480
Lehigh0–8 .0001–23  .042
† 1975 ECC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Ivy League men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Pennsylvania13–1 .92923–5  .821
No. 12 Princeton12–2 .85722–8  .733
Brown9–5 .64314–12  .538
Harvard9–5 .64312–13  .480
Dartmouth5–9 .3578–18  .308
Cornell4–10 .2867–18  .280
Columbia2–12 .1434–22  .154
Yale2–12 .1433–20  .130
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Central Michigan10–4 .71422–6  .786
Toledo9–5 .64317–9  .654
Bowling Green State9–5 .64318–10  .643
Miami (Ohio)8–5 .61519–7  .731
Western Michigan8–6 .57116–10  .615
Eastern Michigan4–9 .30812–14  .462
Ohio4–10 .28612–14  .462
Kent State3–11 .2146–20  .231
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 4 Louisville12–2 .85728–3  .903
New Mexico State11–3 .78620–7  .741
No. 16 Drake9–5 .64319–10  .655
Bradley7–7 .50015–11  .577
Wichita State6–8 .42911–15  .423
Tulsa5–9 .35715–14  .517
West Texas State3–11 .2149–17  .346
North Texas State3–11 .2146–20  .231
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Middle Tennessee†12–2 .85723–5  .821
Western Kentucky11–3 .78616–8  .667
Austin Peay State10–4 .71417–10  .630
Tennessee Tech7–7 .50013–12  .520
Morehead State5–9 .35713–13  .500
East Tennessee State5–9 .3579–14  .391
Murray State3–11 .21410–15  .400
Eastern Kentucky3–11 .2147–18  .280
† Ohio Valley Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Pacific-8 Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 1 UCLA12–2 .85728–3  .903
No. 18 Oregon State10–4 .71419–12  .613
USC8–6 .57118–8  .692
California7–7 .50017–9  .654
Oregon6–8 .42921–9  .700
Washington6–8 .42916–10  .615
Stanford6–8 .42912–14  .462
Washington State1–13 .07110–16  .385
Rankings from AP Poll[20]
1974–75 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Long Beach State8–2 .80019–7  .731
San Diego State6–4 .60014–13  .519
Fresno State5–5 .50016–10  .615
San Jose State4–6 .40016–13  .552
Cal State Fullerton4–6 .40013–11  .542
Pacific3–7 .30012–14  .462
Rankings from AP Poll[21]
1974–75 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 2 Kentucky15–3 .83326–5  .839
No. 10 Alabama15–3 .83322–5  .815
Auburn12–6 .66718–8  .692
Tennessee12–6 .66718–8  .692
Vanderbilt10–8 .55615–11  .577
Florida8–10 .44412–16  .429
LSU6–12 .33310–16  .385
Mississippi State5–13 .2789–17  .346
Ole Miss4–14 .2228–18  .308
Georgia3–15 .1678–17  .320
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Furman†12–0 1.00022–7  .759
East Carolina11–3 .78619–9  .679
William & Mary6–5 .54516–12  .571
Richmond7–7 .50010–16  .385
VMI6–6 .50013–13  .500
Davidson4–6 .4007–19  .269
The Citadel2–11 .1545–15  .250
Appalachian State1–11 .0833–23  .115
† Southern Conference Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
McNeese State6–2 .75016–8  .667
Louisiana Tech5–3 .62512–13  .480
Lamar4–4 .5007–16  .304
Arkansas State3–5 .37513–12  .520
Texas-Arlington2–6 .2506–20  .231
Southwestern Louisiana*0–0 –0–0  –
* – Served second season of NCAA two-season ban on competing.
Rankings from AP Poll[22]
1974–75 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Texas A&M12–2 .85720–7  .741
Texas Tech11–3 .78618–8  .692
Arkansas11–3 .78617–9  .654
Texas6–8 .42910–15  .400
Baylor6–8 .42910–16  .385
TCU4–10 .2869–16  .360
SMU4–10 .2868–18  .308
Rice2–12 .1435–21  .192
Rankings from AP Poll
1974–75 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 17 UNLV13–1 .92924–5  .828
San Francisco9–5 .64319–7  .731
Pepperdine8–6 .57117–8  .680
Loyola Marymount7–7 .50014–12  .538
Saint Mary's7–7 .50014–12  .538
Seattle6–8 .4298–18  .308
Santa Clara4–10 .28610–16  .385
Nevada2–12 .14310–16  .385
Rankings from AP Poll[23]
1974–75 WAC men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 8 Arizona State12–2 .85725–4  .862
UTEP10–4 .71420–6  .769
Arizona9–5 .64322–7  .759
Utah7–7 .50017–9  .654
Colorado State6–8 .42914–12  .538
BYU5–9 .35712–14  .462
New Mexico4–10 .28613–13  .500
Wyoming3–11 .21410–16  .385
Rankings from AP Poll[24]
1974–75 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Massachusetts 10–2 .83318–8  .692
Connecticut 9–3 .75018–10  .643
Vermont 8–4 .66716–10  .615
Boston University 7–4 .63612–13  .480
Rhode Island 3–7 .3005–20  .200
New Hampshire 2–10 .1676–18  .250
Maine 1–10 .09111–14  .440
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Division I independents

A total of 84 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Texas–Pan American (22–2) had the best winning percentage (.917) and Centenary (25–4) finished with the most wins.[25]

More information Conf., Overall ...
1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings
Conf.Overall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
Texas–Pan American– –22–2  .917
UNC Charlotte– –23–3  .885
Centenary (LA)– –25–4  .862
No. 11 Marquette– –23–4  .852
Stetson– –22–4  .846
No. 13 Cincinnati– –23–6  .793
Utah State– –21–6  .778
Rutgers– –22–7  .759
Creighton– –20–7  .741
Memphis State– –20–7  .741
South Alabama– –19–7  .731
No. 6 Syracuse– –23–9  .719
Holy Cross– –20–8  .714
Oral Roberts– –20–8  .714
Boston College– –21–9  .700
Florida State– –18–8  .692
Portland State– –18–8  .692
UC Santa Barbara– –18–8  .692
VCU– –17–8  .680
South Carolina– –19–9  .679
St. John's– –21–10  .677
Southern Illinois– –18–9  .667
No. 14 Notre Dame– –19–10  .655
Detroit– –17–9  .654
No. 20 Providence– –20–11  .645
Georgetown– –18–10  .643
George Washington– –17–10  .630
Pittsburgh– –18–11  .621
Houston– –16–10  .615
Illinois State– –16–10  .615
Tulane– –16–10  .615
Virginia Tech– –16–10  .615
Canisius– –15–10  .600
DePaul– –15–10  .600
Northeast Louisiana– –15–10  .600
South Florida– –15–10  .600
Seton Hall– –16–11  .593
Jacksonville– –15–11  .577
Duquesne– –14–11  .560
Hawaii– –14–11  .560
Saint Peter's– –15–12  .556
Cleveland State– –13–11  .542
Manhattan– –14–12  .538
Air Force– –13–12  .520
LIU– –13–12  .520
St. Bonaventure– –14–13  .519
West Virginia– –14–13  .519
Cal State Los Angeles– –13–13  .500
Marshall– –13–13  .500
Navy– –12–12  .500
Northeastern– –12–12  .500
Fairfield– –13–14  .481
Niagara– –13–14  .481
Fordham– –12–13  .480
Penn State– –11–12  .478
Indiana State– –12–14  .462
Oklahoma City– –12–14  .462
Saint Louis– –12–14  .462
Fairleigh Dickinson– –11–13  .458
Portland– –13–16  .448
Saint Francis (PA)– –11–14  .440
Georgia Tech– –11–15  .423
Southern Miss– –11–15  .423
Xavier– –11–15  .423
Ball State– –10–15  .400
Loyola-Chicago– –10–15  .400
Butler– –10–16  .385
Dayton– –10–16  .385
Denver– –9–16  .360
Northern Illinois– –8–15  .348
Houston Baptist– –9–17  .346
Mercer– –9–17  .346
Samford– –9–17  .346
Colgate– –8–16  .333
Villanova– –9–18  .333
Buffalo– –8–17  .320
Georgia Southern– –8–18  .308
Georgia State– –8–18  .308
Wisconsin-Milwaukee– –8–18  .308
St. Francis (NY)– –7–19  .269
Baptist– –4–16  .200
Hardin-Simmons– –5–20  .200
Iona– –4–19  .174
Army– –3–22  .120
Rankings from AP Poll[26]
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Informal championships

More information Conference, Regular season winner ...
Conference Regular
season winner		 Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5La SalleRon Haigler, Penn
Close

La Salle finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main articles: 1975 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament and 1975 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game

Final Four

National semifinals National finals
      
E Syracuse 79
ME Kentucky 95
ME Kentucky 85
W UCLA 92
MW Louisville 74
W UCLA 75 Third place
E Syracuse 88
MW Louisville 96

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1975 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

Semifinals Finals
    
Providence 85
St. John's 72
Providence 69
Princeton 80
Oregon 79
Princeton 58 Third place
St. John's 76
Oregon 80

National Commissioners Invitational Tournament

Main article: 1975 National Commissioners Invitational Tournament

The Collegiate Commissioners Association Tournament debuted the previous season as a new postseason tournament created by the NCAA to compete with the NIT. Renamed the National Commissioners Invitational Tournament, it was played for the second and last time in 1975.

Semifinals & final

Semifinals Final
    
Drake 78
Bowling Green State 65
Drake 83
Arizona 76
Arizona 102
Purdue 96

Awards

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1975 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
More information Player, Position ...
Consensus First Team
Player Position Class Team
Adrian Dantley F Sophomore Notre Dame
John Lucas G Junior Maryland
Scott May F Junior Indiana
Dave Meyers F Senior UCLA
David Thompson G/F Senior North Carolina State
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More information Player, Position ...
Consensus Second Team
Player Position Class Team
Luther Burden G Junior Utah
Leon Douglas F/C Junior Alabama
Kevin Grevey G Senior Kentucky
Ron Lee G Junior Oregon
Gus Williams G Senior Southern California
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Major player of the year awards

Major coach of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

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

More information Team, Former Coach ...
Team Former
Coach		 Interim
Coach		 New
Coach		 Reason
Army Dan Dougherty Mike Krzyzewski
Hardin–Simmons Russell Berry Preston Vice
Illinois Gene Bartow Lou Henson Bartow left for UCLA and was replaced by New Mexico State coach Lou Henson.
New Mexico State Lou Henson Ken Hayes
Tulsa Ken Hayes Jim King
UCLA John Wooden Gene Bartow Wooden announced his retirement during the 1975 Final Four, where he won his record tenth NCAA title. He was replaced by Illinois head coach Bartow.
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References

Related Articles

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