1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

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.

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)

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:[1]

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.[2]

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 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 Banjamin 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 [3] Conference standings 1984–85 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Cleveland State 11 – 3   .786     21 – 8   .724 Western Illinois 10 – 4   .714     14 – 14   .500 Eastern Illinois † 9 – 5   .643     20 – 10   .667 Missouri State 8 – 6   .571     17 – 13   .567 Illinois-Chicago 7 – 7   .500     14 – 14   .500 Northern Iowa 6 – 8   .429     12 – 16   .429 Valparaiso 4 – 10   .286     8 – 20   .286 Green Bay 1 – 13   .071     4 – 24   .143 † 1985 AMCU-8 Tournament winner Rankings from [4] 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 1984–85 ACC men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 6 Georgia Tech † 9 – 5   .643     27 – 8   .771 No. 7 North Carolina 9 – 5   .643     27 – 9   .750 No. 16 NC State 9 – 5   .643     23 – 10   .697 No. 10 Duke 8 – 6   .571     23 – 8   .742 Maryland 8 – 6   .571     25 – 12   .676 Clemson 5 – 9   .357     16 – 13   .552 Wake Forest 5 – 9   .357     15 – 14   .517 Virginia 3 – 11   .214     17 – 16   .515 † 1985 ACC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Big East men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 3 St. John's 15 – 1   .938     31 – 4   .886 No. 1 Georgetown† 14 – 2   .875     35 – 3   .921 No. 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[5]; Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 4 Oklahoma † 13 – 1   .929     31 – 6   .838 No. 13 Kansas 11 – 3   .786     26 – 8   .765 Iowa State 7 – 7   .500     21 – 13   .618 Missouri 7 – 7   .500     18 – 14   .563 Kansas State 5 – 9   .357     14 – 14   .500 Colorado 5 – 9   .357     11 – 17   .393 Nebraska 5 – 9   .357     16 – 14   .533 Oklahoma State 3 – 11   .214     12 – 16   .429 † 1985 Big Eight Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Big Sky men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Nevada † 11 – 3   .786     21 – 10   .677 Montana 10 – 4   .714     22 – 7   .759 Weber State 9 – 5   .643     20 – 9   .690 Northern Arizona 8 – 6   .571     17 – 12   .586 Montana State 7 – 7   .500     11 – 17   .393 Boise State 5 – 9   .357     16 – 13   .552 Idaho State 5 – 9   .357     15 – 18   .455 Idaho 1 – 13   .071     8 – 22   .267 † Conference tournament winner 1984–85 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 2 Michigan 16 – 2   .889     26 – 4   .867 No. 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 1984–85 ECAC Metro men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Marist 11 – 3   .786     17 – 12   .586 Fairleigh Dickinson† 10 – 4   .714     21 – 10   .677 Long Island 9 – 5   .643     15 – 13   .536 Loyola (MD) 8 – 6   .571     16 – 14   .533 Saint Francis (PA) 6 – 8   .429     9 – 19   .321 Wagner 5 – 9   .357     11 – 17   .393 Robert Morris 4 – 10   .286     9 – 19   .321 St. Francis (NY) 3 – 11   .214     7 – 21   .250 † 1985 ECAC Metro Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 ECAC North men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Canisius 13 – 3   .813     20 – 10   .667 Northeastern † 13 – 3   .813     22 – 9   .710 Siena 12 – 4   .750     22 – 7   .759 Niagara 11 – 5   .688     16 – 12   .571 Boston University 9 – 7   .563     15 – 15   .500 Vermont 5 – 11   .313     9 – 19   .321 Maine 5 – 11   .313     11 – 17   .393 New Hampshire 4 – 12   .250     7 – 22   .241 Colgate 0 – 16   .000     5 – 21   .192 Hartford –   –     7 – 21   .250 † 1985 ECAC North Tournament winner 1984–85 ECAC South men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Navy † 11 – 3   .786     26 – 6   .813 Richmond 11 – 3   .786     21 – 11   .656 George Mason 10 – 4   .714     18 – 11   .621 William & Mary 9 – 5   .643     16 – 12   .571 James Madison 7 – 7   .500     14 – 14   .500 UNC Wilmington 4 – 10   .286     12 – 16   .429 American 3 – 11   .214     9 – 19   .321 East Carolina 1 – 13   .071     7 – 21   .250 † 1985 ECAC South Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[6] 1984–85 Metro Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 5 Memphis State † 13 – 1   .929     31 – 4   .886 Virginia Tech 10 – 4   .714     20 – 9   .690 Cincinnati 8 – 6   .571     17 – 14   .548 South Carolina 6 – 8   .429     15 – 13   .536 Tulane 6 – 8   .429     15 – 13   .536 Louisville 6 – 8   .429     19 – 18   .514 Florida State 4 – 10   .286     14 – 16   .467 Southern Miss 3 – 11   .214     7 – 21   .250 † 1985 Metro Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[7] 1984–85 Midwestern City Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 14 Loyola-Chicago † 13 – 1   .929     27 – 6   .818 Butler 9 – 5   .643     19 – 10   .655 Oral Roberts 8 – 6   .571     15 – 15   .500 Detroit 8 – 6   .571     16 – 12   .571 Xavier 7 – 7   .500     16 – 13   .552 Saint Louis 6 – 8   .429     13 – 15   .464 Evansville 4 – 10   .286     13 – 16   .448 Oklahoma City 1 – 13   .071     6 – 20   .231 † 1985 MCC Tournament winner 1984–85 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 18 Tulsa 12 – 4   .750     23 – 8   .742 Illinois State 11 – 5   .688     22 – 8   .733 Wichita State † 11 – 5   .688     18 – 13   .581 Bradley 9 – 7   .563     17 – 13   .567 Creighton 9 – 7   .563     20 – 12   .625 Southern Illinois 6 – 10   .375     14 – 14   .500 Indiana State 6 – 10   .375     14 – 15   .483 West Texas State 4 – 12   .250     11 – 17   .393 Drake 4 – 12   .250     12 – 15   .444 † 1985 MVC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 9 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 Washington State 5 – 13   .278     13 – 15   .464 California 5 – 13   .278     13 – 15   .464 Stanford 3 – 15   .167     11 – 17   .393 As of November 25, 2011[8]; Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 20 LSU 13 – 5   .722     19 – 10   .655 No. 19 Georgia 12 – 6   .667     22 – 9   .710 Alabama 11 – 7   .611     23 – 10   .697 Kentucky 11 – 7   .611     18 – 13   .581 Florida 9 – 9   .500     18 – 12   .600 Mississippi State 9 – 9   .500     13 – 15   .464 Tennessee 8 – 10   .444     22 – 15   .595 Auburn † 8 – 10   .444     22 – 12   .647 Ole Miss 5 – 13   .278     11 – 17   .393 Vanderbilt 4 – 14   .222     11 – 17   .393 † 1985 SEC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Chattanooga 14 – 2   .875     24 – 8   .750 Marshall† 12 – 4   .750     21 – 13   .618 The Citadel 11 – 5   .688     18 – 11   .621 Western Carolina 8 – 8   .500     14 – 14   .500 VMI 7 – 9   .438     16 – 14   .533 Appalachian State 7 – 9   .438     14 – 14   .500 Davidson 6 – 10   .375     10 – 20   .333 Furman 4 – 12   .250     7 – 21   .250 East Tennessee State 3 – 13   .188     9 – 18   .333 † Tournament winner As of April 30, 1985; Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Southland Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 8 Louisiana Tech † 11 – 1   .917     29 – 3   .906 McNeese State 9 – 3   .750     18 – 10   .643 Lamar 8 – 4   .667     20 – 12   .625 Arkansas State 6 – 6   .500     14 – 14   .500 Northeast Louisiana 4 – 8   .333     17 – 12   .586 Texas-Arlington 3 – 9   .250     12 – 16   .429 North Texas 1 – 11   .083     5 – 23   .179 † 1985 Southland Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[9] 1984–85 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 17 Texas Tech † 12 – 4   .750     23 – 8   .742 SMU 10 – 6   .625     23 – 10   .697 Texas A&M 10 – 6   .625     19 – 11   .633 Arkansas 10 – 6   .625     22 – 13   .629 TCU 8 – 8   .500     16 – 12   .571 Houston 8 – 8   .500     16 – 14   .533 Texas 7 – 9   .438     15 – 13   .536 Baylor 4 – 12   .250     11 – 17   .393 Rice 3 – 13   .188     11 – 16   .407 † 1985 SWC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 11 VCU † 12 – 2   .857     26 – 6   .813 UAB 11 – 3   .786     25 – 9   .735 Old Dominion 9 – 5   .643     19 – 12   .613 South Florida 6 – 8   .429     18 – 12   .600 Jacksonville 6 – 8   .429     15 – 14   .517 South Alabama 6 – 8   .429     15 – 13   .536 Western Kentucky 5 – 9   .357     14 – 14   .500 Charlotte 1 – 13   .071     5 – 23   .179 † 1985 Sun Belt Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Pepperdine 11 – 1   .917     23 – 9   .719 Santa Clara 9 – 3   .750     20 – 9   .690 Saint Mary's 7 – 5   .583     15 – 12   .556 San Diego 5 – 7   .417     16 – 11   .593 Gonzaga 4 – 8   .333     15 – 13   .536 Portland 3 – 9   .250     14 – 14   .500 Loyola Marymount 3 – 9   .250     11 – 16   .407 Rankings from AP Poll 1984–85 WAC men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT UTEP 12 – 4   .750     22 – 10   .688 San Diego State † 11 – 5   .688     23 – 8   .742 New Mexico 9 – 7   .563     19 – 13   .594 Colorado State 9 – 7   .563     18 – 12   .600 BYU 9 – 7   .563     15 – 14   .517 Utah 8 – 8   .500     15 – 16   .484 Wyoming 7 – 9   .438     15 – 14   .517 Hawaii 5 – 11   .313     10 – 18   .357 Air Force 2 – 14   .125     8 – 20   .286 † 1985 WAC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[10] 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 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 NYC): Chris Mullin, St. John's (3-time recipient) References "2017–18 NCAA Men's Basketball Records, Page 4" (PDF). 2017–18 NCAA Men's Basketball Media Guide. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2017. Retrieved February 17, 2018. ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game. Random House. 2009. p. 910. ISBN 0-345-51392-4. "1986 NCAA Basketball Record Book, pages 105–107". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Fall 1986. Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help) sports-reference.com 1984-85 Mid-Continent Conference Season Summary sports-reference.com 1984-85 Big East Conference Season Summary sports-reference.com 1984-85 Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference South Season Summary sports-reference.com 1984-85 Metropolitan Collegiate Athletic Conference Season Summary "2011-12 Men's Basketball Media Guide". Pac-12 Conference. p. 67. Retrieved November 25, 2011. sports-reference.com 1984-85 Southland Conference Season Summary sports-reference.com 1984-85 Western Athletic Conference Season Summary