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 No. 1	Georgetown Hoyas
NCAA Tournament	1985
Tournament dates	March 14 – April 1, 1985
National Championship	Rupp Arena Lexington, Kentucky
NCAA Champions	Villanova Wildcats
Other champions	UCLA Bruins (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Patrick Ewing, Georgetown Hoyas (Naismith) Chris Mullin, St. John's Redmen (Wooden)
← 1983–84 1985–86 →

Season headlines

• The 1985 NCAA Tournament was the first to feature a 64-team field,^[1] expanding from 53 teams the year before.
• Three teams from the Big East Conference (Georgetown, St. John's, and Villanova) advanced to the NCAA tournament's Final Four. It was the first time that three teams from the same conference reached the Final Four.^[1]
• Georgetown was the first defending champion to return to the Final Four since the 1975–76 UCLA Bruins did it in the 1976 NCAA Tournament.
• Basketball analysts consider Villanova's defeat of Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game to be one of the biggest upsets in NCAA tournament history. Villanova made 22 of 28 field goal attempts for a field goal percentage of 78.6 percent, a record for an NCAA championship game.^[2] Villanova won its first national championship and became the first unranked team to win the national championship.^[1]
• Xavier McDaniel of Wichita State became the first player to lead the United States in scoring and rebounding in the same season.^[3]
• On March 27, 1985, John "Hot Rod" Williams was among four Tulane players arrested on charges of accepting money and cocaine in an alleged point shaving scheme. The incident prompted Tulane to disband its men's basketball program at the end of the season. The school did not resume men's basketball competition until the 1989–90 season.

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1984–85, the following rules changes were implemented:^[4]

• The coaching box was introduced, whereby a coach and all bench personnel had to remain in the 28-foot-long (8.5 m) 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.^[5]

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

Conference membership changes

School	Former conference	New conference
American Eagles	East Coast Conference	ECAC South Conference
Augusta State Jaguars	Division II independent	Division I independent
Central Florida (UCF) Knights	Sunshine State Conference (Division II)	Division I independent
Chicago State Cougars	NAIA Independent	Division I independent
Florida A&M Rattlers	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference	Division I independent
Hartford Hawks	Division II independent	ECAC North Conference
Morgan State Bears	Division II independent	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Nicholls State Colonels	Trans America Athletic Conference (provisional)	Gulf Star Conference (Division II)
Northwestern State Demons	Trans America Athletic Conference	Gulf Star Conference (Division II)
Radford Highlanders	Division II independent	Division I independent
Siena Saints	ECAC Metro Conference	ECAC North Conference
Southeastern Louisiana Lions	Division I independent	Gulf Star Conference (Division II)
UNC Wilmington Seahawks	Division I independent	ECAC South Conference

NOTE: Prior to the season, Nicholls State left the Trans America Athletic Conference after two seasons as a provisional member, during which it played no conference games.

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference	Regular season winner[6]	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[7]	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[8]	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[9]	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[10]	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[11]	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
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[12]	John Griffin, Siena	1985 ECAC North men's basketball tournament	Matthews Arena (Boston, Massachusetts)	Northeastern
ECAC South	Navy & Richmond	David Robinson, Navy	Paul Evans, Navy	1985 ECAC South men's basketball tournament	William & Mary Hall (Williamsburg, Virginia)	Navy
Ivy League	Penn	Ken Bantum, Cornell[13]	None selected	No Tournament
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference	Iona	Randy Cozzens, Army[14]	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)[15]	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)[16]	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[17]	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[18]	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[19]	Stan Morrison, USC	No Tournament
Pacific Coast Athletic Association	UNLV	Richie Adams, UNLV[20]	Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV	1985 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball tournament	The Forum (Inglewood, California)	UNLV
Southeastern Conference	LSU	Kenny Walker, Kentucky[21]	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[22]	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[23]	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[24]	Davey Whitney, Alcorn State	1985 SWAC men's basketball tournament	Mississippi Coliseum (Jackson, Mississippi)	Southern
Sun Belt Conference	VCU	Terry Catledge, South Alabama[25]	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[26]	Bill Bibb, Mercer	1985 TAAC men's basketball tournament	Hanner Fieldhouse (Statesboro, Georgia)	Mercer
West Coast Athletic Conference	Pepperdine	Dwayne Polee, Pepperdine[27]	Jim Harrick, Pepperdine	No Tournament
Western Athletic Conference	UTEP	Timo Saarelainen, BYU[28]	Smokey Gaines, San Diego State	1985 WAC men's basketball tournament	Special Events Center (El Paso, Texas)	San Diego State

Conference standings

1984–85 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 Southwest 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 Wisconsin–Green Bay 1 – 13   .071 4 – 24   .143 † 1985 AMCU-8 tournament winner Rankings from [29]	1984–85 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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 v t e 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[30] Rankings from AP Poll	1984–85 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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 † 1985 Big Sky tournament winner
1984–85 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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 State 5 – 9   .357 7 – 21   .250 † 1985 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1984–85 ECAC Metro men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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 v t e 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[31]	1984–85 Ivy League men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Penn 10 – 4   .714 13 – 14   .481 Columbia 9 – 5   .643 13 – 13   .500 Cornell 8 – 6   .571 14 – 12   .538 Harvard 7 – 7   .500 15 – 9   .625 Yale 7 – 7   .500 14 – 12   .538 Princeton 7 – 7   .500 11 – 15   .423 Brown 5 – 9   .357 9 – 18   .333 Dartmouth 3 – 11   .214 5 – 21   .192 Rankings from AP Poll
1984–85 Metro Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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[32]	1984–85 MAAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Iona † 11 – 3   .786 26 – 5   .839 Fordham 9 – 5   .643 19 – 12   .613 Holy Cross 8 – 6   .571 9 – 19   .321 La Salle 8 – 6   .571 15 – 13   .536 Army 7 – 7   .500 16 – 13   .552 Saint Peter's 5 – 9   .357 15 – 14   .517 Manhattan 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Fairfield 4 – 10   .286 11 – 17   .393 † 1985 MAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[33]	1984–85 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 † 1985 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1984–85 MEAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT North Carolina A&T † 10 – 2   .833 19 – 10   .655 Howard 9 – 3   .750 15 – 11   .577 Delaware State 8 – 4   .667 12 – 17   .414 South Carolina State 7 – 4   .636 11 – 16   .407 Bethune–Cookman 4 – 7   .364 8 – 19   .296 Maryland Eastern Shore 2 – 10   .167 3 – 25   .107 Morgan State 1 – 11   .083 3 – 25   .107 † 1985 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1984–85 Midwestern City Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Tennessee Tech 11 – 3   .786 19 – 9   .679 Eastern Kentucky 9 – 5   .643 16 – 13   .552 Youngstown State 9 – 5   .643 19 – 11   .633 Murray State 8 – 6   .571 19 – 9   .679 Middle Tennessee † 7 – 7   .500 17 – 14   .548 Akron 6 – 8   .429 12 – 14   .462 Austin Peay 4 – 10   .286 8 – 19   .296 Morehead State 2 – 12   .143 7 – 20   .259 † 1985 OVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[34]	1984–85 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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[35] Rankings from AP Poll
1984–85 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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 v t e 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[36]
1984–85 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 SWAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Alcorn State 13 – 1   .929 23 – 7   .767 Southern † 9 – 5   .643 19 – 11   .633 Mississippi Valley State 7 – 7   .500 18 – 11   .621 Alabama State 7 – 7   .500 14 – 17   .452 Texas Southern 6 – 8   .429 11 – 17   .393 Jackson State 6 – 8   .429 10 – 16   .385 Grambling State 4 – 10   .286 8 – 19   .296 Prairie View A&M 4 – 10   .286 5 – 22   .185 † 1985 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1984–85 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 UNC Charlotte 1 – 13   .071 5 – 23   .179 † 1985 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1984–85 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Georgia Southern 11 – 3   .786 24 – 5   .828 Houston Baptist 10 – 4   .714 21 – 8   .724 Mercer † 10 – 4   .714 22 – 9   .710 Arkansas–Little Rock 9 – 5   .643 17 – 13   .567 Samford 7 – 7   .500 18 – 12   .600 Hardin–Simmons 7 – 7   .500 11 – 17   .393 Centenary 2 – 12   .143 7 – 21   .250 Georgia State 0 – 14   .000 2 – 26   .071 † 1985 TAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1984–85 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings v t e 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 v t e 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[37]

Division I independents

A total of 22 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Notre Dame (21–9) had both the best winning percentage (.700) and the most wins.^[38]

1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Notre Dame –   – 21 – 9   .700 Dayton –   – 19 – 10   .655 DePaul –   – 19 – 10   .655 Marquette –   – 20 – 11   .645 Texas–San Antonio –   – 18 – 10   .643 Chicago State –   – 16 – 11   .593 Radford –   – 16 – 12   .571 Utica –   – 15 – 12   .556 Southwestern Louisiana –   – 17 – 14   .548 Brooklyn –   – 15 – 13   .536 Baptist –   – 13 – 15   .464 Eastern Washington –   – 12 – 15   .444 Monmouth –   – 12 – 15   .444 Stetson –   – 12 – 16   .429 Texas–Pan American –   – 12 – 16   .429 New Orleans –   – 11 – 19   .367 Florida A&M –   – 10 – 18   .357 Central Florida –   – 10 – 18   .357 Tennessee State –   – 9 – 19   .321 Augusta State –   – 8 – 20   .286 Campbell –   – 5 – 22   .185 U.S. International –   – 1 – 27   .036 Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference	Regular season winner	Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5	Villanova	Ed Pinckney, Villanova

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

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

^[39]

Postseason tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main article: 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball 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

Main article: 1985 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

Main article: 1985 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

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