1971 College Basketball Recap

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

UCLA lost one game during the 1970–71 season, to Notre Dame in South Bend. Austin Carr scored 48 points and the Irish won, 89–82.

Everybody else who played the Bruins lost. All 29. At the NCAAs, Long Beach State gave the Uclans a scare in the West Regional final but were eventually beaten back, 57–55.

At the Final Four in Houston, Villanova beat Western Kentucky, in a double overtime semifinal, then lost to UCLA by six when the Bruins' Steve Patterson outscored Howard Porter of the Wildcats, 29–25. Porter was named MVP, but when it was disclosed later that he had signed a pro contract before the tourney, the NCAA voided both the award and Villanova's records.

Otherwise, No.2 Marquette and No.3 Penn, both undefeated during the regular season, were beaten in their second tournament games—Marquette by Ohio State and Penn by Big Five rival Villanova. And South Carolina won the ACC tournament in its final year as a conference member.

Hard luck team of the year? How about No.5 Southern Cal. USC had a 24–2 record, but finished second to you-know-who in the Pac-8 and didn't make the NCAAs.

North Carolina won the ACC regular season title, lost the league tournament final to South Carolina, then bounced back to win the NIT with an 84–66 victory over another ACC rival—Georgia Tech. Bill Chamberlain led the Tar Heels with 35 points and was named MVP.