View source for 1981 NCAA Division I basketball tournament


{{Short description|Edition of USA college basketball tournament}}
{{see also|1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Championship Game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA basketball tournament
| Year=1981
| Image=1981 Final Four logo.png
| ImageSize=150px
| Caption=
| Teams=48
| FinalFourArena=[[Spectrum (arena)|The Spectrum]]
| FinalFourCity=[[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]
| Champions=[[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana Hoosiers]]
| TitleCount=4th
| ChampGameCount=4th
| ChampFFCount=5th
| RunnerUp=[[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina Tar Heels]]
| GameCount=5th
| RunnerFFCount=8th
| Semifinal1=[[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia Cavaliers]]
| FinalFourCount=1st
| Semifinal2=[[1980–81 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU Tigers]]
| FinalFourCount2=2nd
| Coach=[[Bob Knight]]
| CoachCount=2nd
| MOP=[[Isiah Thomas]]
| MOPTeam=Indiana
| Attendance=347,414
| TopScorer=[[Al Wood]]
| TopScorerTeam=North Carolina
| Points=109
}}

The '''1981 NCAA Division I basketball tournament''' involved 48 schools playing in [[Single-elimination tournament|single-elimination]] play to determine the national champion of men's  [[NCAA Division I]] [[college basketball]]. It began on March 12, 1981, and ended with the [[1981 NCAA Division I basketball championship game|championship game]] on March 30 in [[Philadelphia]]. A total of 48 games were played, including a national third-place game (the last in the NCAA tournament). It was also the last tournament to be televised on [[NBC]], before [[CBS]] took over [[1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament|the following year]]. Additionally, it was the last season in which the NCAA sponsored championships only in men's sports; the first [[NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|Division I women's tournament]] would be played [[1982 NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament|the following year]].

[[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]], coached by [[Bob Knight]], won the national title with a 63–50 victory over [[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]], coached by [[Dean Smith]]. [[Isiah Thomas]] of Indiana was named the Tournament's [[NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player|Most Outstanding Player]].

==The March 14 upsets==

The date of Saturday, March 14, 1981, resulted in three major second round tournament upsets which were decided by last-second baskets.

[[File:St. Joseph's celebration, The Cincinnati Enquirer 1981-03-15 page C-1.jpg|thumb|right|Bob Kearney and Tony Costner of Saint Joseph's celebrate after their upset win over DePaul]]

[[Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball|St. Joseph's]] trailed No. 1 seed [[DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball|DePaul]] by seven at about the midway point of the second half, in an early afternoon Mideast Region game from [[UD Arena|Dayton, Ohio]]. However, with under a minute left, the Hawks had rallied to within one point, 48–47. Blue Demons guard Skip Dillard was fouled with 12 seconds left. Dillard was known as 'Money' for his superb free throw shooting (85%), but he missed the front end of a one-and-one opportunity, and St. Joseph's guard [[Bryan Warrick]] got the rebound and dribbled to the front court without calling a timeout. Then he got the ball to freshman Lonnie McFarlan who was wide open in the right corner. McFarlan began to shoot until forward John Smith yelled "Please!" to him. McFarlan passed to Smith, who was open underneath the basket. Smith's layup with two seconds left enabled the Hawks of coach [[Jim Lynam]] to stun the Blue Demons of [[Ray Meyer]], 49–48.<ref>YouTube - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwHv3tTg8mU&t=1271s March 1981 - St Joe's vs DePaul, NCAA Tournament (Final 8+ Minutes)]Joe Tolstoy</ref>

Later in the afternoon in [[Frank Erwin Center|Austin, Texas]], [[1980–81 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]] coach [[Eddie Sutton]] called timeout with 5 seconds left after falling behind [[1980–81 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]] in the Midwest Region, 73–72 on a jumper by guard [[Derek Smith (basketball)|Derek Smith]]. Sutton told his team to get the ball to [[Ulysses Reed|U.S. Reed]]. The Razorbacks' guard dribbled to near half court, then launched a 49-foot shot that beat the buzzer and swished through the net, as Arkansas dethroned the defending national champion Cardinals of [[Denny Crum]], 74–73. Sutton told the media, "Champions die hard."

Only moments after the Razorbacks' upset, the season ended for another #1 seed in the West Region in [[Pauley Pavilion|Los Angeles]]. [[Oregon State Beavers men's basketball|Oregon State]] led [[Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball|Kansas State]] by as much as 11 points in the second half. Coach [[Ralph Miller]] and center [[Steve Johnson (basketball)|Steve Johnson]] had led the Beavers to a two-year record of 52–4. Then [[Rolando Blackman]] led the Wildcats back with a 16–6 run to tie the game, 48–48 with 3:23 left. Johnson then fouled out, and both teams stalled with the ball until Oregon State missed the front end of a one-and-one from the foul line. K-State then held for the last shot. With two seconds left, Blackman, double-teamed, drilled a fall-away 17 footer from the right baseline for a 50–48 upset by the Wildcats of [[Jack Hartman]].

In another second round Mideast Region upset, [[UAB Blazers men's basketball|UAB]] defeated [[1980–81 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] 69–62. A semifinal in the East Region saw [[Danny Ainge]] dribble the length of the court and drive all the way in for a layup and another buzzer-beating winner, lifting [[1980–81 BYU Cougars men's basketball team|BYU]] over [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball|Notre Dame]] 51–50.

Greg Johnson of ''NCAA.com'', in a March 9, 2011 article, indicated that March 14, 1981 was a date which defined March Madness.<ref name="March Madness defining moment?">{{cite news|title=March Madness defining moment?|url=https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/2011-03-08/march-madness%E2%80%99-defining-moment|date=March 9, 2011|publisher=ncaa.com|access-date=April 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201192849/https://www.ncaa.com/news/basketball-men/2011-03-08/march-madness%E2%80%99-defining-moment|archive-date=February 1, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Schedule and venues==
{{Location map+|USA|width=450|float=right|caption=1981 sites for first and second round games|places= 
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=35.227087|lon_deg=-80.843127|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=Charlotte|link=Bojangles' Coliseum|Charlotte Coliseum}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=30.267153|lon_deg=-97.743061|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Austin|link=Frank Erwin Center}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=31.777576|lon_deg=-106.442456|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=El Paso|link=Don Haskins Center|Special Events Center}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=39.758948|lon_deg=-84.191607|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=Dayton|link=UD Arena|University of Dayton Arena}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=34.052234|lon_deg=-118.243685|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=Los Angeles|link=Pauley Pavilion}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=41.823989|lon_deg=-71.412834|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Providence|link=Dunkin' Donuts Center|Providence Civic Center}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=33.209841|lon_deg=-87.569173|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Tuscaloosa|link=Coleman Coliseum|Memorial Coliseum}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=green pog.svg|lat_deg=37.688889|lon_deg=-97.336111|position=top|background=#FFFFFF|label=Wichita|link=Charles Koch Arena|Henry Levitt Arena}}
}}

{{Location map+|USA|width=450|float=right|caption=1981 Regionals (blue) and Final Four (red)|places=
{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=33.748995|lon_deg=-84.387982|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Atlanta|link=Omni Coliseum}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=29.951066|lon_deg=-90.071532|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=New Orleans|link=Mercedes-Benz Superdome|Louisiana Superdome}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=39.165325|lon_deg=-86.526386|position=left|background=#FFFFFF|label=Bloomington|link=Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall|Assembly Hall}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=blue pog.svg|lat_deg=40.760779|lon_deg=-111.891047|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Salt Lake City|link=Jon M. Huntsman Center|Special Events Center}}
{{Location map~|USA|mark=red pog.svg|lat_deg=39.952584|lon_deg=-75.165222|position=bottom|background=#FFFFFF|label=Philadelphia|link=Spectrum (arena)|The Spectrum}}
}}

The following are the sites that were selected to host each round of the 1981 tournament:

'''First and Second rounds'''
*March 12 and 14
**'''East Region'''
*** [[Dunkin' Donuts Center|Providence Civic Center]], [[Providence, Rhode Island]] (Host: [[Providence College]])
**'''Mideast Region'''
*** [[UD Arena|University of Dayton Arena]], [[Dayton, Ohio]] (Host: [[University of Dayton]])
**'''Midwest Region'''
*** [[Frank Erwin Center]], [[Austin, Texas]] (Host: [[University of Texas at Austin]])
**'''West Region'''
*** [[Pauley Pavilion]], [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]] (Host: [[UCLA]])
*March 13 and 15
**'''East Region'''
*** [[Bojangles' Coliseum|Charlotte Coliseum]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] (Host: [[University of North Carolina at Charlotte]])
**'''Mideast Region'''
*** [[Coleman Coliseum|Memorial Coliseum]], [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama]] (Host: [[University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa]])
**'''Midwest Region'''
*** [[Charles Koch Arena|Levitt Arena]], [[Wichita, Kansas]] (Host: [[Wichita State University]])
**'''West Region'''
*** [[Don Haskins Center|Special Events Center]], [[El Paso, Texas]] (Host: [[University of Texas at El Paso]])

'''Regional semifinals and finals''' (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)
*March 19 and 21
**'''East Regional''', [[Omni Coliseum]], [[Atlanta|Atlanta, Georgia]] (Host: [[Georgia Tech]])
**'''West Regional''', [[Jon M. Huntsman Center|Special Events Center]], [[Salt Lake City|Salt Lake City, Utah]] (Host: [[University of Utah]])
*March 20 and 22
**'''Mideast Regional''', [[Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall|Assembly Hall]], [[Bloomington, Indiana]] (Host: [[Indiana University Bloomington]])
**'''Midwest Regional''', [[Mercedes-Benz Superdome|Louisiana Superdome]], [[New Orleans|New Orleans, Louisiana]] (Host: [[Tulane University]])

'''National semifinals and championship''' (Final Four and championship)
*March 28 and 30
**[[Spectrum (arena)|The Spectrum]], [[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]] (Hosts: The [[Philadelphia Big 5]] - [[Villanova University]], [[Temple University]], [[La Salle University]], [[Saint Joseph's University]], [[University of Pennsylvania]])

==Teams==
{| class=wikitable
! Region !! Seed !! Team !! Coach !! Conference !! Finished !! Final Opponent !! Score
|-
! colspan=8 | East
|-
| East || 1|| [[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]] || [[Terry Holland]] || [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] || Third Place||1 [[1980–81 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]]||W 78–74
|-
| East || 2|| [[1980–81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team|Notre Dame]] || [[Digger Phelps]] || Independent || Sweet Sixteen||6 [[1980–81 BYU Cougars men's basketball team|BYU]]||L 51–50
|-
| East || 3|| [[1980–81 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team|UCLA]] || [[Larry Brown (basketball)|Larry Brown]] || Pacific-10 || Round of 32||6 [[1980–81 BYU Cougars men's basketball team|BYU]]||L 78–55
|-
| East || 4|| [[1980–81 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]] || [[Don DeVoe]] || [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] || Sweet Sixteen||1 [[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]||L 62–48
|-
| East || 5|| [[1980–81 VCU Rams men's basketball team|VCU]] || [[J. D. Barnett]] || Sun Belt || Round of 32||4 [[1980–81 Tennessee Volunteers basketball team|Tennessee]]||L 58–56
|-
| East || 6|| [[1980–81 BYU Cougars men's basketball team|BYU]] || [[Frank Arnold (basketball)|Frank Arnold]] || [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] || Regional Runner-up||1 [[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]||L 74–60
|-
| East || 7|| [[1980–81 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team|Georgetown]] || [[John Thompson (basketball)|John Thompson]] || Big East || Round of 48||10 [[1980–81 James Madison Dukes men's basketball team|James Madison]]||L 61–55
|-
| East || 8|| [[1980–81 Houston Cougars men's basketball team|Houston]] || [[Guy Lewis]] || Southwest || Round of 48||9 [[1980–81 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team|Villanova]]||L 90–72
|-
| East || 9|| [[1980–81 Villanova Wildcats men's basketball team|Villanova]] || [[Rollie Massimino]] || Big East || Round of 32||1 [[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]||L 54–50
|-
| East || 10|| [[1980–81 James Madison Dukes men's basketball team|James Madison]] || [[Lou Campanelli]] || [[Coastal Athletic Association|ECAC South]] || Round of 32||2 [[1980–81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team|Notre Dame]]||L 54–45
|-
| East || 11|| [[1980–81 Princeton Tigers men's basketball team|Princeton]] || [[Pete Carril]] || Ivy League || Round of 48||6 [[1980–81 BYU Cougars men's basketball team|BYU]]||L 60–51
|-
| East || 12|| {{cbb link|1=1980|sex=men|team=LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds|title=Long Island}}<!--At that time, LIU only had its Brooklyn campus. Post didn't become an LIU campus until much later.--> || Paul Lizzo || [[Northeast Conference|ECAC Metro]] || Round of 48||5 [[1980–81 VCU Rams men's basketball team|VCU]]||L 85–69
|-
! colspan=8 | Mideast
|-
| Mideast || 1|| [[1980–81 DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball team|DePaul]] || [[Ray Meyer]] || Independent || Round of 32||9 [[1980–81 Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team|Saint Joseph's]]||L 49–48
|-
| Mideast || 2|| [[1980–81 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky]] || [[Joe B. Hall]] || [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] || Round of 32||7 [[1980–81 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]]||L 69–62
|-
| Mideast || 3|| [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]] || [[Bob Knight]] || Big Ten || '''Champion'''||2 [[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]]||W 63–50
|-
| Mideast || 4|| [[1980–81 Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team|Wake Forest]] || [[Carl Tacy]] || [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] || Round of 32||5 [[1980–81 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]||L 67–64
|-
| Mideast || 5|| [[1980–81 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]] || [[Tom Davis (basketball, born 1938)|Tom Davis]] || Big East || Sweet Sixteen||9 [[1980–81 Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team|Saint Joseph's]]||L 42–41
|-
| Mideast || 6|| [[1980–81 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]] || [[Lefty Driesell]] || [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] || Round of 32||3 [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]]||L 99–64
|-
| Mideast || 7|| [[1980–81 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]] || [[Gene Bartow]] || Sun Belt || Sweet Sixteen||3 [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]]||L 87–72
|-
| Mideast || 8|| [[1980–81 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team|Creighton]] || [[Tom Apke]] || Missouri Valley || Round of 48||9 [[1980–81 Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team|Saint Joseph's]]||L 59–57
|-
| Mideast || 9|| [[1980–81 Saint Joseph's Hawks men's basketball team|Saint Joseph's]] || [[Jim Lynam]] || [[East Coast Conference|East Coast]] || Regional Runner-up||3 [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]]||L 78–46
|-
| Mideast || 10|| [[1980–81 Western Kentucky Hilltoppers basketball team|Western Kentucky]] || [[Clem Haskins]] || Ohio Valley || Round of 48||7 [[1980–81 UAB Blazers men's basketball team|UAB]]||L 93–68
|-
| Mideast || 11|| [[1980–81 Chattanooga Mocs basketball team|Chattanooga]] || [[Murray Arnold]] || Southern || Round of 48||6 [[1980–81 Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team|Maryland]]||L 81–69
|-
| Mideast || 12|| [[1980–81 Ball State Cardinals men's basketball team|Ball State]] || [[Steve Yoder]] || [[Mid-American Conference|MAC]] || Round of 48||5 [[1980–81 Boston College Eagles men's basketball team|Boston College]]||L 93–90
|-
! colspan=8 | Midwest
|-
| Midwest || 1|| [[1980–81 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]] || [[Dale Brown (basketball)|Dale Brown]] || [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] || Fourth Place||1 [[1980–81 Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball team|Virginia]]||L 78–74
|-
| Midwest || 2|| [[1980–81 Arizona State Sun Devils men's basketball team|Arizona State]] || [[Ned Wulk]] || Pacific-10 || Round of 32||7 [[1980–81 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]] ||L 88–71
|-
| Midwest || 3|| [[1980–81 Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team|Iowa]] || [[Lute Olson]] || Big Ten || Round of 32||6 [[1980–81 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team|Wichita State]]||L 60–56
|-
| Midwest || 4|| [[1980–81 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team|Louisville]] || [[Denny Crum]] || Metro || Round of 32||5 [[1980–81 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]] ||L 74–73
|-
| Midwest || 5|| [[1980–81 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]] || [[Eddie Sutton]] || Southwest || Sweet Sixteen||1 [[1980–81 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]]||L 72–56
|-
| Midwest || 6|| [[1980–81 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team|Wichita State]] || [[Gene Smithson]] || Missouri Valley || Regional Runner-up||1 [[1980–81 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]]||L 96–85
|-
| Midwest || 7|| [[1980–81 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]] || [[Ted Owens (basketball coach)|Ted Owens]] || Big Eight || Sweet Sixteen||6 [[1980–81 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team|Wichita State]]||L 66–65
|-
| Midwest || 8|| [[1980–81 Lamar Cardinals basketball team|Lamar]] || [[Pat Foster]] || Southland || Round of 32||1 [[1980–81 LSU Tigers basketball team|LSU]]||L 100–78
|-
| Midwest || 9|| [[1980–81 Missouri Tigers men's basketball team|Missouri]] || [[Norm Stewart]] || Big Eight || Round of 48||8 [[1980–81 Lamar Cardinals basketball team|Lamar]]||L 71–67
|-
| Midwest || 10|| [[1980–81 Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball team|Ole Miss]] || [[Bob Weltlich]] || [[Southeastern Conference|SEC]] || Round of 48||7 [[1980–81 Kansas Jayhawks men's basketball team|Kansas]]||L 69–66
|-
| Midwest || 11|| {{cbb link|1=1980|sex=men|team=Southern Jaguars|title=Southern}} || [[Carl Stewart (basketball)|Carl Stewart]] || [[Southwest Athletic Conference|SWAC]] || Round of 48||6 [[1980–81 Wichita State Shockers men's basketball team|Wichita State]]||L 95–70
|-
| Midwest || 12|| [[1980–81 Mercer Bears men's basketball team|Mercer]] || [[Bill Bibb]] || [[Atlantic Sun Conference|Trans America]] || Round of 48||5 [[1980–81 Arkansas Razorbacks men's basketball team|Arkansas]]||L 73–67
|-
! colspan=8 | West
|-
| West || 1|| [[1980–81 Oregon State Beavers men's basketball team|Oregon State]] || [[Ralph Miller]] || Pacific-10 || Round of 32||8 [[1980–81 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team|Kansas State]] ||L 50–48
|-
| West || 2|| [[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]] || [[Dean Smith]] || [[Atlantic Coast Conference|ACC]] || Runner Up||3 [[1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team|Indiana]]||L 63–50
|-
| West || 3|| [[1980–81 Utah Utes men's basketball team|Utah]] || [[Jerry Pimm]] || [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] || Sweet Sixteen||2 [[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]]||L 61–56
|-
| West || 4|| [[1980–81 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]] || [[Lou Henson]] || Big Ten || Sweet Sixteen||8 [[1980–81 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team|Kansas State]]||L 57–52
|-
| West || 5|| [[1980–81 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team|Wyoming]] || [[Jim Brandenburg (basketball)|Jim Brandenburg]] || [[Western Athletic Conference|WAC]] || Round of 32||4 [[1980–81 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Illinois]]||L 67–65
|-
| West || 6|| [[1980–81 Fresno State Bulldogs men's basketball team|Fresno State]] || [[Boyd Grant]] || [[Big West|Pacific Coast]] || Round of 48||11 [[1980–81 Northeastern Huskies men's basketball team|Northeastern]]||L 55–53
|-
| West || 7|| [[1980–81 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team|Idaho]] || [[Don Monson]] || Big Sky || Round of 48||10 [[1980–81 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team|Pittsburgh]]||L 70–69
|-
| West || 8|| [[1980–81 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team|Kansas State]] || [[Jack Hartman]] || Big Eight || Regional Runner-up||2 [[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]]||L 82–68
|-
| West || 9|| [[1980–81 San Francisco Dons men's basketball team|San Francisco]] || [[Peter Barry (basketball)|Peter Barry]] || West Coast || Round of 48||8 [[1980–81 Kansas State Wildcats men's basketball team|Kansas State]]||L 64–60
|-
| West || 10|| [[1980–81 Pittsburgh Panthers men's basketball team|Pittsburgh]] || [[Roy Chipman]] || [[Atlantic 10 Conference|Eastern]] || Round of 32||2 [[1980–81 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team|North Carolina]]||L 74–57
|-
| West || 11|| [[1980–81 Northeastern Huskies men's basketball team|Northeastern]] || [[Jim Calhoun]] || [[America East Conference|ECAC North]] || Round of 32||3 [[1980–81 Utah Utes men's basketball team|Utah]]||L 94–69
|-
| West || 12|| [[1980–81 Howard Bison men's basketball team|Howard]] || [[A.B. Williamson]] || [[Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference|MEAC]] || Round of 48||5 [[1980–81 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team|Wyoming]]||L 78–43
|}

==Bracket==
<nowiki>*</nowiki> – Denotes overtime period

===East region===
{{4RoundBracket|byes=1|nowrap=y
 | RD3=Regional semifinals | RD4=Regional Finals | RD1-seed01=8
 | RD1-team01=Houston
 | RD1-score01=72
 | RD1-seed02=9
 | RD1-team02='''Villanova'''
 | RD1-score02='''90'''
 | RD1-seed07=5
 | RD1-team07='''VCU'''
 | RD1-score07='''85'''
 | RD1-seed08=12
 | RD1-team08=Long Island
 | RD1-score08=69
 | RD1-seed09=6
 | RD1-team09='''BYU'''
 | RD1-score09=60
 | RD1-seed10=11
 | RD1-team10=Princeton
 | RD1-score10=51
 | RD1-seed15=7
 | RD1-team15=Georgetown
 | RD1-score15=55
 | RD1-seed16=10
 | RD1-team16='''James Madison'''
 | RD1-score16='''61'''
 | RD2-seed01=9
 | RD2-team01=Villanova
 | RD2-score01=50
 | RD2-seed02=1
 | RD2-team02='''Virginia'''
 | RD2-score02='''54'''
 | RD2-seed03=4
 | RD2-team03='''Tennessee'''
 | RD2-score03='''58'''
 | RD2-seed04=5
 | RD2-team04=VCU
 | RD2-score04=56*
 | RD2-seed05=6
 | RD2-team05='''BYU'''
 | RD2-score05='''78'''
 | RD2-seed06=3
 | RD2-team06=UCLA
 | RD2-score06=55
 | RD2-seed07=2
 | RD2-team07='''Notre Dame'''
 | RD2-score07='''54'''
 | RD2-seed08=10
 | RD2-team08=James Madison
 | RD2-score08=45
 | RD3-seed01=1
 | RD3-team01='''Virginia'''
 | RD3-score01='''62'''
 | RD3-seed02=4
 | RD3-team02=Tennessee
 | RD3-score02=48
 | RD3-seed03=6
 | RD3-team03='''BYU'''
 | RD3-score03='''51'''
 | RD3-seed04=2
 | RD3-team04=Notre Dame
 | RD3-score04=50
 | RD4-seed01=1
 | RD4-team01='''Virginia'''
 | RD4-score01='''74'''
 | RD4-seed02=6
 | RD4-team02=BYU
 | RD4-score02=60
}}

===West region===
{{4RoundBracket|byes=1|nowrap=y
 | RD3=Regional semifinals | RD4=Regional Finals | RD1-seed01=8
 | RD1-team01='''Kansas State'''
 | RD1-score01='''64'''
 | RD1-seed02=9
 | RD1-team02=San Francisco
 | RD1-score02=60
 | RD1-seed07=5
 | RD1-team07='''Wyoming'''
 | RD1-score07='''78'''
 | RD1-seed08=12
 | RD1-team08=Howard
 | RD1-score08=43
 | RD1-seed09=6
 | RD1-team09=Fresno State
 | RD1-score09=53
 | RD1-seed10=11
 | RD1-team10='''Northeastern'''
 | RD1-score10='''55'''
 | RD1-seed15=7
 | RD1-team15=Idaho
 | RD1-score15=69*
 | RD1-seed16=10
 | RD1-team16='''Pittsburgh'''
 | RD1-score16='''70'''
 | RD2-seed01=8
 | RD2-team01='''Kansas State'''
 | RD2-score01='''50'''
 | RD2-seed02=1
 | RD2-team02=Oregon State
 | RD2-score02=48
 | RD2-seed03=4
 | RD2-team03='''Illinois'''
 | RD2-score03='''67'''
 | RD2-seed04=5
 | RD2-team04=Wyoming
 | RD2-score04=65
 | RD2-seed05=11
 | RD2-team05=Northeastern
 | RD2-score05=69
 | RD2-seed06=3
 | RD2-team06='''Utah'''
 | RD2-score06='''94'''
 | RD2-seed07=2
 | RD2-team07='''North Carolina'''
 | RD2-score07='''74'''
 | RD2-seed08=10
 | RD2-team08=Pittsburgh
 | RD2-score08=57
 | RD3-seed01=8
 | RD3-team01='''Kansas State'''
 | RD3-score01='''57'''
 | RD3-seed02=4
 | RD3-team02=Illinois
 | RD3-score02=52
 | RD3-seed03=3
 | RD3-team03=Utah
 | RD3-score03=56
 | RD3-seed04=2
 | RD3-team04='''North Carolina'''
 | RD3-score04='''61'''
 | RD4-seed01=8
 | RD4-team01=Kansas State
 | RD4-score01=68
 | RD4-seed02=2
 | RD4-team02='''North Carolina'''
 | RD4-score02='''82'''
}}

===Mideast region===
{{4RoundBracket|byes=1|nowrap=y
 | RD3=Regional semifinals | RD4=Regional Finals | RD1-seed01=8
 | RD1-team01=Creighton
 | RD1-score01=57
 | RD1-seed02=9
 | RD1-team02='''Saint Joseph's'''
 | RD1-score02='''59'''
 | RD1-seed07=5
 | RD1-team07='''Boston College'''
 | RD1-score07=93
 | RD1-seed08=12
 | RD1-team08=Ball State
 | RD1-score08=90
 | RD1-seed09=6
 | RD1-team09='''Maryland'''
 | RD1-score09='''81'''
 | RD1-seed10=11
 | RD1-team10=Chattanooga
 | RD1-score10=69
 | RD1-seed15=7
 | RD1-team15='''UAB'''
 | RD1-score15='''93'''
 | RD1-seed16=10
 | RD1-team16=Western Kentucky
 | RD1-score16=68
 | RD2-seed01=9
 | RD2-team01='''Saint Joseph's'''
 | RD2-score01='''49'''
 | RD2-seed02=1
 | RD2-team02=DePaul
 | RD2-score02=48
 | RD2-seed03=4
 | RD2-team03=Wake Forest
 | RD2-score03=64
 | RD2-seed04=5
 | RD2-team04='''Boston College'''
 | RD2-score04='''67'''
 | RD2-seed05=6
 | RD2-team05=Maryland
 | RD2-score05=64
 | RD2-seed06=3
 | RD2-team06='''Indiana'''
 | RD2-score06='''99'''
 | RD2-seed07=2
 | RD2-team07=Kentucky
 | RD2-score07=62
 | RD2-seed08=7
 | RD2-team08='''UAB'''
 | RD2-score08='''69'''
 | RD3-seed01=9
 | RD3-team01='''Saint Joseph's'''
 | RD3-score01='''42'''
 | RD3-seed02=5
 | RD3-team02=Boston College
 | RD3-score02=41
 | RD3-seed03=3
 | RD3-team03='''Indiana'''
 | RD3-score03='''87'''
 | RD3-seed04=7
 | RD3-team04=UAB
 | RD3-score04=72
 | RD4-seed01=9
 | RD4-team01=Saint Joseph's
 | RD4-score01=46
 | RD4-seed02=3
 | RD4-team02='''Indiana'''
 | RD4-score02='''78'''
}}

===Midwest region===
{{4RoundBracket|byes=1|nowrap=y
 | RD3=Regional semifinals | RD4=Regional Finals | RD1-seed01=8
 | RD1-team01='''Lamar'''
 | RD1-score01='''71'''
 | RD1-seed02=9
 | RD1-team02=Missouri
 | RD1-score02=67
 | RD1-seed07=5
 | RD1-team07='''Arkansas'''
 | RD1-score07='''73'''
 | RD1-seed08=12
 | RD1-team08=Mercer
 | RD1-score08=67
 | RD1-seed09=6
 | RD1-team09='''Wichita State'''
 | RD1-score09='''95'''
 | RD1-seed10=11
 | RD1-team10=Southern
 | RD1-score10=70
 | RD1-seed15=7
 | RD1-team15='''Kansas'''
 | RD1-score15='''69'''
 | RD1-seed16=10
 | RD1-team16=Ole Miss
 | RD1-score16=66
 | RD2-seed01=8
 | RD2-team01=Lamar
 | RD2-score01=78
 | RD2-seed02=1
 | RD2-team02='''LSU'''
 | RD2-score02='''100'''
 | RD2-seed03=4
 | RD2-team03=Louisville
 | RD2-score03=73
 | RD2-seed04=5
 | RD2-team04='''Arkansas'''
 | RD2-score04='''74'''
 | RD2-seed05=6
 | RD2-team05='''Wichita State'''
 | RD2-score05='''60'''
 | RD2-seed06=3
 | RD2-team06=Iowa
 | RD2-score06=56
 | RD2-seed07=2
 | RD2-team07=Arizona State
 | RD2-score07=71
 | RD2-seed08=7
 | RD2-team08='''Kansas'''
 | RD2-score08='''88'''
 | RD3-seed01=1
 | RD3-team01='''LSU'''
 | RD3-score01='''72'''
 | RD3-seed02=5
 | RD3-team02=Arkansas
 | RD3-score02=56
 | RD3-seed03=6
 | RD3-team03='''Wichita State'''
 | RD3-score03='''66'''
 | RD3-seed04=7
 | RD3-team04=Kansas
 | RD3-score04=65
 | RD4-seed01=1
 | RD4-team01='''LSU'''
 | RD4-score01='''96'''
 | RD4-seed02=6
 | RD4-team02=Wichita State
 | RD4-score02=85
}}

===Final Four===
{{4TeamBracket| RD1=National semifinals<br>Saturday, March 28 | RD2=[[1981 NCAA Division I basketball championship game|National Final]]<br>Monday, March 30
 | RD1-seed1=E1
 | RD1-team1=Virginia
 | RD1-score1=65
 | RD1-seed2=W2
 | RD1-team2='''North Carolina'''
 | RD1-score2='''78'''
 | RD1-seed3=ME3
 | RD1-team3='''Indiana'''
 | RD1-score3='''67'''
 | RD1-seed4=MW1
 | RD1-team4=LSU
 | RD1-score4=49
 | RD2-seed1=W2
 | RD2-team1=North Carolina
 | RD2-score1=50
 | RD2-seed2=ME3
 | RD2-team2='''Indiana'''
 | RD2-score2='''63'''

| RD2b=National third-place game
 | RD2b-seed1=E1
 | RD2b-team1='''Virginia'''
 | RD2b-score1='''78'''
 | RD2b-seed2=MW1
 | RD2b-team2=LSU
 | RD2b-score2=74
}}

==Notes==
* This was the last tournament that a third-place game was staged prior to the national championship; every prior championship since 1946 had featured the game.
* The 1981 tournament holds the record for the most first-time participants. Twelve teams – UAB, Ball State, Chattanooga, Fresno State, Howard, Idaho, James Madison, LIU, Mercer, Mississippi, Northeastern, and Southern – appeared in their first tournament. UAB, coached by [[Gene Bartow]], made it the furthest, reaching the Sweet Sixteen before falling to eventual champion Indiana. The twelve teams beat the previous record of eleven set in 1955. Half of the first time teams would return in 1982, with the longest drought before their second appearance being sixteen years for the Ole Miss Rebels.
* As of 2024, this is the only time all three Division I schools from [[Kansas]]—Kansas, Kansas State and Wichita State—have advanced to the Sweet 16.
* As of 2023, all forty-eight teams in the 1981 tournament have returned to the tournament at least once. This would happen five more times in the 1980s, but has not happened again since 1989.

==Announcers (NBC and NCAA Productions)==
*[[Dick Enberg]], [[Billy Packer]] and [[Al McGuire]] – Second round at Providence, Rhode Island (UCLA–Brigham Young, Notre Dame–James Madison); Second round at Charlotte, North Carolina (Virginia–Villanova, Tennessee–VCU); East Regional Final at Atlanta, Georgia; Midwest Regional Final at New Orleans, Louisiana; Final Four at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*[[Marv Albert]] and [[Steve Grote]] – Mideast Regional Final at Bloomington, Indiana
*[[Don Criqui]] and [[Gary Thompson (basketball player)|Gary Thompson]] – Second round at Dayton, Ohio (DePaul–St. Joseph's, Indiana–Maryland); West Regional Final at Salt Lake City, Utah (Kansas State-North Carolina)
*[[Bill O'Donnell (sportscaster)|Bill O'Donnell]] and [[Jeff Mullins (basketball)|Jeff Mullins]] – East Regional semifinals at Atlanta, Georgia
*[[Jim Thacker]] and [[Steve Grote]] – Mideast Regional semifinals at Bloomington, Indiana
*[[Fred White (sportscaster)|Fred White]] and [[Larry Conley]] – Midwest Regional semifinals at New Orleans, Louisiana
*[[Bob Costas]] and [[Gary Thompson (basketball player)|Gary Thompson]] – Second round at Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Kentucky–UAB, Wake Forest–Boston College)
*[[Marv Albert]] and [[Bucky Waters]] – Second round at Austin, Texas (LSU–Lamar, Louisville–Arkansas)
*[[Charlie Jones (sportscaster)|Charlie Jones]] and [[Lynn Shackelford]] – Second round at Wichita, Kansas (Iowa–Wichita State, Arizona State–Kansas)
*[[Jay Randolph]] and [[Steve Grote]] – Second round at Los Angeles, California (Oregon State–Kansas State, Illinois–Wyoming)
*[[Merle Harmon]] and [[Matt Guokas]] – Second round at El Paso, Texas (Utah–Northeastern, North Carolina–Pittsburgh)
*[[Tom Hammond]] and [[Larry Conley]] – First round at Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Boston College–Ball State, UAB–Western Kentucky)
*Tom Hammond and Gary Thompson-West Regional Semifinals at Salt Lake City, Utah

==See also==
* [[1981 NCAA Division II basketball tournament]]
* [[1981 NCAA Division III basketball tournament]]
* [[1981 National Invitation Tournament]]
* [[1981 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament]]
* [[NAIA Women's Basketball Championships|1981 NAIA Division I women's basketball tournament]]
* [[National Women's Invitation Tournament|1981 National Women's Invitation Tournament]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline}}
* [https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/postseason/1981-ncaa.html 1981 NCAA Tournament Summary] at [[Sports-Reference.com]]

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