1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1983 and ended with the Final Four in Seattle, Washington on April 2, 1984. The Georgetown Hoyas won their first NCAA national championship with an 84–75 victory over the Houston Cougars, who were making their third consecutive appearance in the Final Four.

1983–84 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP #1	North Carolina
NCAA Tournament	1984
Tournament dates	March 13, 1984 – April 2, 1984
National Championship	Kingdome Seattle, Washington
NCAA Champions	Georgetown
Other champions	Michigan (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Michael Jordan, North Carolina

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1983–84, the following rules changes were implemented:

• If a team was in the bonus situation within the last two minutes of the game and all of overtime, common fouls resulted in two free throws. This rule was changed back to the one-and-one free throw situation after a month due to its unpopularity.
• Several conferences were granted permission to experiment with a 45-second shot clock (either for the entire game or shut off in the last 4:00 of the second half) the three-point shot from 19 feet, and coaching boxes to limit coaches to their bench areas.

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

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

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 North Carolina 2 Kentucky 3 Houston 4 Georgetown 5 Memphis State 6 Louisville 7 Iowa 8 Maryland 9 UCLA 10 Oregon State 11 LSU 12 Michigan State 13 Fresno State 14 Arkansas 15 Boston College 16 Georgia 17 Kansas 18 DePaul 19 Indiana 20 Oklahoma 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% Joe Jakubick Akron 30.1 Akeem Olajuwon Houston 13.5 Craig Lathen UIC 9.4 Akeem Olajuwon Houston 67.5 Lewis Jackson Alabama St. 29.0 Carey Scurry Long Island 13.5 Danny Tarkanian UNLV 8.5 Bobby Lee Hurt Alabama 66.4 Devin Durrant BYU 27.9 Xavier McDaniel Wichita St. 13.1 Reid Gettys Houston 8.4 Keith Walker Utica 66.0 Alfredrick Hughes Loyola (IL) 27.6 Donald Newman Ark.–Little Rock 12.9 Andre LaFleur Northeastern 7.9 Patrick Ewing Georgetown 65.8 Wayman Tisdale Oklahoma 27.0 Michael Cage San Diego St. 12.6 Tony William Florida St. 7.7 A. C. Green Oregon St. 65.7 Jeff Cross Maine 12.6 Free Throw Percentage Player School FT% Steve Alford Indiana 91.3 Joe Carrabino Harvard 90.5 Chris Mullin St. John's 90.4 Bob Ferry Harvard 90.3 Vince Cunningham UTSA 87.9 Conference standings 1983–84 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Illinois-Chicago 12 – 2   .857     22 – 7   .759 Northern Iowa 10 – 4   .714     18 – 10   .643 Missouri State 9 – 5   .643     18 – 10   .643 Eastern Illinois 7 – 7   .500     15 – 13   .536 Western Illinois † 6 – 8   .429     17 – 13   .567 Green Bay 5 – 9   .357     9 – 19   .321 Cleveland State 4 – 10   .286     14 – 16   .467 Valparaiso 3 – 11   .214     9 – 19   .321 † 1984 AMCU-8 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Temple 18 – 0   1.000     26 – 5   .839 Saint Joseph's 13 – 5   .722     20 – 9   .690 George Washington 11 – 7   .611     17 – 12   .586 West Virginia † 9 – 9   .500     20 – 12   .625 Rutgers 9 – 9   .500     15 – 13   .536 St. Bonaventure 8 – 10   .444     18 – 13   .581 Duquesne 8 – 10   .444     10 – 18   .357 UMass 6 – 12   .333     12 – 17   .414 Rhode Island 5 – 13   .278     6 – 22   .214 Penn State 3 – 15   .167     5 – 22   .185 † 1984 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 ACC men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 1 North Carolina 14 – 0   1.000     28 – 3   .903 No. 11 Maryland † 9 – 5   .643     24 – 8   .750 No. 19 Wake Forest 7 – 7   .500     23 – 9   .719 No. 14 Duke 7 – 7   .500     24 – 10   .706 Georgia Tech 6 – 8   .429     18 – 11   .621 Virginia 6 – 8   .429     21 – 12   .636 NC State 4 – 10   .286     19 – 14   .576 Clemson 3 – 11   .214     14 – 14   .500 † 1984 ACC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Big East men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 2 Georgetown† 14 – 2   .875     34 – 3   .919 No. 18 Syracuse 12 – 4   .750     23 – 9   .719 Villanova 12 – 4   .750     19 – 12   .613 Boston College 8 – 8   .500     18 – 12   .600 St. John's 8 – 8   .500     18 – 12   .600 Pittsburgh 6 – 10   .375     18 – 13   .581 Connecticut 5 – 11   .313     13 – 15   .464 Providence 5 – 11   .313     15 – 14   .517 Seton Hall 2 – 14   .125     9 – 19   .321 † 1984 Big East Tournament winner As of April 2, 1984; Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 7 Oklahoma 13 – 1   .929     29 – 5   .853 Kansas † 9 – 5   .643     22 – 10   .688 Nebraska 7 – 7   .500     18 – 12   .600 Iowa State 6 – 8   .429     16 – 13   .552 Colorado 6 – 8   .429     16 – 13   .552 Kansas State 5 – 9   .357     14 – 15   .483 Oklahoma State 5 – 9   .357     13 – 15   .464 Missouri 5 – 9   .357     16 – 14   .533 † 1984 Big Eight Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Big Sky men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Weber State 12 – 2   .857     23 – 8   .742 Montana 9 – 5   .643     23 – 7   .767 Montana State 7 – 7   .500     14 – 15   .483 Nevada † 7 – 7   .500     17 – 14   .548 Idaho State 6 – 8   .429     12 – 19   .387 Boise State 6 – 8   .429     15 – 12   .556 Northern Arizona 5 – 9   .357     13 – 14   .481 Idaho 4 – 10   .286     9 – 19   .321 † Conference tournament winner 1983–84 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 6 Illinois 15 – 3   .833     26 – 5   .839 No. 10 Purdue 15 – 3   .833     22 – 7   .759 Indiana 13 – 5   .722     22 – 9   .710 Michigan 10 – 8   .556     24 – 9   .727 Michigan State 8 – 10   .444     15 – 13   .536 Ohio State 8 – 10   .444     15 – 14   .517 Northwestern 5 – 13   .278     14 – 14   .500 Minnesota 6 – 12   .333     15 – 13   .536 Iowa 6 – 12   .333     13 – 15   .464 Wisconsin* 0 – 18   .000     0 – 28   .000 Rankings from AP Poll *Wisconsin forfeited all games due to NCAA sanctions. Disputed record (4–14, 8–20) 1983–84 ECC men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Bucknell 14 – 2   .875     24 – 5   .828 Rider † 11 – 5   .688     20 – 11   .645 Drexel 10 – 6   .625     17 – 12   .586 Hofstra 9 – 7   .563     14 – 14   .500 Lafayette 9 – 7   .563     12 – 17   .414 Delaware 6 – 10   .375     11 – 16   .407 Towson 5 – 11   .313     10 – 19   .345 American 5 – 11   .313     6 – 22   .214 Lehigh 3 – 13   .188     4 – 23   .148 † 1984 ECC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 ECAC Metro men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Long Island† 11 – 5   .688     20 – 11   .645 Robert Morris 11 – 5   .688     17 – 13   .567 Fairleigh Dickinson 10 – 6   .625     17 – 12   .586 Loyola (MD) 10 – 6   .625     16 – 12   .571 Marist 8 – 8   .500     14 – 15   .483 Siena 8 – 8   .500     15 – 13   .536 Saint Francis (PA) 8 – 8   .500     12 – 15   .444 Wagner 5 – 11   .313     8 – 20   .286 St. Francis (NY) 1 – 15   .063     2 – 26   .071 † 1984 ECAC Metro Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 ECAC North men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Northeastern † 14 – 0   1.000     27 – 5   .844 Canisius 9 – 5   .643     19 – 11   .633 Boston University 9 – 5   .643     16 – 13   .552 New Hampshire 8 – 6   .571     15 – 13   .536 Maine 7 – 7   .500     17 – 10   .630 Niagara 5 – 9   .357     10 – 18   .357 Vermont 3 – 11   .214     7 – 21   .250 Colgate 1 – 13   .071     5 – 22   .185 † 1984 ECAC North Tournament winner 1983–84 ECAC South men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Richmond † 7 – 3   .700     22 – 10   .688 Navy 6 – 4   .600     24 – 8   .750 William & Mary 6 – 4   .600     14 – 14   .500 George Mason 5 – 5   .500     21 – 7   .750 James Madison 5 – 5   .500     15 – 14   .517 East Carolina 1 – 9   .100     4 – 24   .143 † 1984 ECAC South Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Metro Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 16 Memphis State † 11 – 3   .786     26 – 7   .788 Louisville 11 – 3   .786     24 – 11   .686 Florida State 9 – 5   .643     20 – 11   .645 Virginia Tech 8 – 6   .571     22 – 13   .629 Tulane 7 – 7   .500     17 – 11   .607 South Carolina 5 – 9   .357     12 – 16   .429 Southern Miss 4 – 10   .286     13 – 15   .464 Cincinnati 0 – 14   .000     3 – 25   .107 † 1984 Metro Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Midwestern City Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Oral Roberts † 11 – 3   .786     21 – 10   .677 Loyola-Chicago 10 – 4   .714     20 – 9   .690 Xavier 9 – 5   .643     22 – 11   .667 Butler 7 – 7   .500     13 – 15   .464 Evansville 7 – 7   .500     15 – 14   .517 Saint Louis 5 – 9   .357     12 – 16   .429 Detroit 4 – 10   .286     8 – 20   .286 Oklahoma City 3 – 11   .214     8 – 19   .296 † 1984 MCC Tournament winner 1983–84 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Illinois State 13 – 3   .813     23 – 8   .742 No. 12 Tulsa † 13 – 3   .813     27 – 4   .871 Wichita State 11 – 5   .688     18 – 12   .600 Creighton 8 – 8   .500     17 – 14   .548 Bradley 7 – 9   .438     15 – 13   .536 Southern Illinois 7 – 9   .438     15 – 13   .536 Indiana State 6 – 10   .375     14 – 14   .500 Drake 4 – 12   .250     8 – 20   .286 West Texas State 3 – 13   .188     8 – 19   .296 † 1984 MVC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 13 UNLV 16 – 2   .889     29 – 6   .829 UC Irvine 14 – 4   .778     19 – 10   .655 Fresno State† 13 – 5   .722     25 – 8   .758 Utah State 12 – 6   .667     19 – 11   .633 New Mexico State 9 – 9   .500     13 – 15   .464 Cal State Fullerton 8 – 10   .444     17 – 13   .567 San Jose State 6 – 12   .333     10 – 18   .357 Long Beach State 6 – 12   .333     9 – 19   .321 UC Santa Barbara 5 – 13   .278     10 – 17   .370 Pacific 1 – 17   .056     3 – 27   .100 † 1984 PCAA Tournament winner 1983–84 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 15 Washington 15 – 3   .833     24 – 7   .774 No. 17 Oregon State 15 – 3   .833     22 – 7   .759 Oregon 11 – 7   .611     16 – 13   .552 UCLA 10 – 8   .556     17 – 11   .607 Stanford 8 – 10   .444     19 – 12   .613 Arizona State 8 – 10   .444     13 – 15   .464 Arizona 8 – 10   .444     11 – 17   .393 USC 6 – 12   .333     11 – 20   .355 California 5 – 13   .278     12 – 16   .429 Washington State 4 – 14   .222     10 – 18   .357 As of April 15, 1983; Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 3 Kentucky † 14 – 4   .778     29 – 5   .853 Auburn 12 – 6   .667     20 – 11   .645 Florida 11 – 7   .611     16 – 13   .552 LSU 11 – 7   .611     18 – 11   .621 Alabama 10 – 8   .556     18 – 12   .600 Tennessee 9 – 9   .500     21 – 14   .600 Vanderbilt 8 – 10   .444     14 – 15   .483 Georgia 8 – 10   .444     17 – 13   .567 Mississippi State 4 – 14   .222     9 – 19   .321 Ole Miss 3 – 15   .167     8 – 20   .286 † 1984 SEC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT Marshall† 13 – 3   .813     25 – 6   .806 Chattanooga 12 – 4   .750     24 – 7   .774 Western Carolina 9 – 7   .563     15 – 13   .536 Appalachian State 8 – 8   .500     13 – 16   .448 The Citadel 8 – 8   .500     14 – 14   .500 Furman 7 – 9   .438     12 – 17   .414 East Tennessee State 6 – 10   .375     9 – 19   .321 Davidson 5 – 11   .313     9 – 19   .321 VMI 4 – 12   .250     8 – 19   .296 † Tournament winner As of April 30, 1984; Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 5 Houston † 15 – 1   .938     32 – 5   .865 No. 8 Arkansas 14 – 2   .875     25 – 7   .781 SMU 12 – 4   .750     25 – 8   .758 Texas Tech 10 – 6   .625     17 – 12   .586 Texas A&M 7 – 9   .438     16 – 14   .533 Rice 6 – 10   .375     13 – 17   .433 TCU 4 – 12   .250     11 – 17   .393 Texas 3 – 13   .188     7 – 21   .250 Baylor 1 – 15   .063     5 – 23   .179 † 1984 SWC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT VCU 11 – 3   .786     23 – 7   .767 Old Dominion 9 – 5   .643     19 – 12   .613 South Florida 9 – 5   .643     17 – 11   .607 South Alabama 9 – 5   .643     22 – 8   .733 UAB † 8 – 6   .571     23 – 11   .676 Western Kentucky 5 – 9   .357     12 – 17   .414 Jacksonville 3 – 11   .214     12 – 16   .429 UNC Charlotte 2 – 12   .143     9 – 19   .321 † 1984 Sun Belt Conference Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT San Diego 9 – 3   .750     18 – 10   .643 Santa Clara 7 – 5   .583     22 – 10   .688 Saint Mary's 7 – 5   .583     12 – 16   .429 Gonzaga 6 – 6   .500     17 – 10   .630 Pepperdine 6 – 6   .500     15 – 13   .536 Loyola Marymount 5 – 7   .417     12 – 15   .444 Portland 2 – 10   .167     11 – 17   .393 Rankings from AP Poll 1983–84 WAC men's basketball standings Conf     Overall Team W   L   PCT     W   L   PCT No. 9 UTEP † 13 – 3   .813     27 – 4   .871 BYU 12 – 4   .750     20 – 11   .645 New Mexico 10 – 6   .625     24 – 11   .686 Wyoming 9 – 7   .563     17 – 13   .567 Colorado State 9 – 7   .563     16 – 14   .533 Hawaii 6 – 10   .375     12 – 16   .429 San Diego State 6 – 10   .375     15 – 13   .536 Utah 4 – 12   .250     11 – 19   .367 Air Force 3 – 13   .188     8 – 19   .296 † 1984 WAC Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll Postseason tournaments NCAA Tournament Main article: 1984 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Final Four - Kingdome, Seattle, Washington National Semifinals National Championship Game             E7 Virginia 47* MW2 Houston 49 W1 Georgetown 84 MW2 Houston 75 ME1 Kentucky 40 W1 Georgetown 53 National Invitation Tournament Main article: 1984 National Invitation Tournament NIT Semifinals and Final Semifinals Finals             Southwestern Louisiana 59 Notre Dame 65 Notre Dame 63 Michigan 83 Michigan 78 Virginia Tech 75 Third place game       Southwestern Louisiana 70 Virginia Tech 71 Award winners Consensus All-American teams Main article: 1984 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans Consensus First Team Player Position Class Team Patrick Ewing C Junior Georgetown Michael Jordan G Junior North Carolina Akeem Olajuwon C Junior Houston Sam Perkins F Senior North Carolina Wayman Tisdale F Sophomore Oklahoma Consensus Second Team Player Position Class Team Michael Cage F Senior San Diego State Devin Durrant F Senior Brigham Young Keith Lee F/C Junior Memphis State Chris Mullin F/G Junior St. John's Melvin Turpin C/F Senior Kentucky Leon Wood G Senior Cal State Fullerton Major player of the year awards Wooden Award: Michael Jordan, North Carolina Naismith Award: Michael Jordan, North Carolina Associated Press Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, North Carolina UPI Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, North Carolina NABC Player of the Year: Michael Jordan, North Carolina Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Michael Jordan, North Carolina Adolph Rupp Trophy: Michael Jordan, North Carolina Major coach of the year awards Associated Press Coach of the Year: Ray Meyer, DePaul UPI Coach of the Year: Ray Meyer, DePaul Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Gene Keady, Purdue NABC Coach of the Year: Marv Harshman, Washington CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Gene Keady, Purdue Sporting News Coach of the Year: John Thompson, Georgetown Other major awards Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Ricky Stokes, Virginia Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Ralph Lewis, Iona NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in NYC): Chris Mullin, St. John's and Steve Burtt, Iona References