The 2010–11 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 8, 2010, with the preliminary games of the 2010 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, and ended with the 2011 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament's championship game on April 4, 2011, at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The tournament's first-round games occurred March 15–16, 2011, in Dayton, Ohio, followed by second and third rounds Thursday through Sunday, March 17–20. Regional games were played March 24–27, with the Final Four on April 2 and the national championship game on April 4.
Season headlines Butler became the first program outside of one of the six "power conferences" to go to back-to-back Final Fours since UNLV in 1990 and 1991.Butler continues run, knocks off Florida to reach Final Four, accessed March 30, 2011 On April 12, 2010, Centenary announced that it will be re-classifying to Division III for all of its sports upon the conclusion of the 2010–11 school year. First year men's basketball coach Adam Walsh led the Gentlemen in their final year as a Division I program. Notable Centenary basketball alumni include Hall of Famer Robert Parish and the 2000–01 NCAA scoring champion Ronnie McCollum. On June 4, 2010, legendary college basketball player and coach John Wooden died at the age of 99. The NCAA tournament expanded from 65 to 68 teams and the NCAA announced that Dayton, Ohio, would be the site of the "First Four" opening games.Dayton to host inaugural First Four games March 15-16 Accessed September 19, 2010 The AP preseason All-American team was named on November 1. Duke's Kyle Singler was the leading vote-getter with 62 of a possible 65 votes. Joining Singler were Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen (53 votes), BYU guard Jimmer Fredette (49), Purdue center JaJuan Johnson (46) and North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes (17). Barnes became the first freshman in history to be named to the preseason team.Preseason All-Americans announced, accessed November 1, 2010 Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo had to serve a one-game suspension in December for a secondary violation of NCAA recruitment rules. He had hired an associate of a potential recruit to help during a youth basketball camp in June. Also, Tennessee head coach Bruce Pearl was suspended for the first eight conference games and received a $1.5 million salary reduction due to recruiting violations and providing false information during the NCAA investigation. On February 22, 2011, Matt Howard of Butler was named Academic All-American of the Year. The March 13 airing of the ESPN films documentary The Fab Five, a followup to its 30 for 30 series, sparked national outrage that lead to a series of media exchanges between members of the press, Michigan Wolverines men's basketball players and Duke Blue Devils men's basketball players in forums such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post.
Milestones and records Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski won his 800th game at Duke on November 24, making him the fifth ever coach to reach that milestone at one school. Belmont coach Rick Byrd won his 600th game on January 30. Jimmer Fredette became the all-time leading scorer in Mountain West Conference history on February 4, 2011. Then, behind his career high 52-point outburst against New Mexico on March 11, he became BYU's all-time leading scorer after surpassing Danny Ainge.Jimmer Fredette's 52 helps BYU avenge earlier losses to Lobos. Retrieved on March 12, 2011. On February 19, 2011, Morehead State's Kenneth Faried grabbed 12 rebounds, giving him 1,576 for his career, and broke Tim Duncan's modern-era NCAA rebounding record.Morehead St. 71, Indiana St. 65 recap. Accessed February 19, 2011. Duncan's rebounding total of 1,570 had stood since 1997. Charles Jenkins of Hofstra surpassed Antoine Agudio as the school's all-time leading scorer. He broke the previous record of 2,286 points on January 29, 2011, in a game against Drexel.Jenkins becomes Hofstra's all-time scorer. February 1, 2011. Retrieved on February 23, 2011. Jenkins graduated as the Colonial Athletic Association's second all-time leading scorer behind Navy's David Robinson, whose 2,669 points remain the CAA's most ever.Hofstra to retire Charles Jenkins' No. 22. February 22, 2011. Retrieved on February 23, 2011. Providence's Marshon Brooks set a new Big East regular season record for single-game scoring as he netted 52 points against Notre Dame in a 94–93 loss to the Irish.Marshon Brooks drops 52 but Ben Hansbrough's 32 helps Irish edge Providence, accessed February 24, 2011 Hofstra guard Charles Jenkins,Hofstra 71, Manhattan 58, accessed December 20, 2010 College of Charleston guard Andrew Goudelock,Cougars Top Tennessee In 91-78 Road Victory , accessed January 2, 2011 Duke forward Kyle Singler,Kyle Singler scores 2,000th career point in Duke's win, accessed January 5. 2011 UTEP guard Randy Culpepper, BYU guard Jimmer Fredette,Jimmer Fredette torches Utah for 47 points, accessed January 13, 2011 Baylor guard LaceDarius Dunn,Baylor rolls Oklahoma for 15th home win in row, accessed January 15, 2011 Boston University forward John Holland, Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney, Appalachian State guard Donald Sims,Appalachian St. 68, Elon 62, accessed February 5. 2011 Seton Hall guard Jeremy Hazell,Jeremy Hazell 4th Seton Hall player to score 2,000 as Pirates win, accessed February 12. 2011 Penn State guard Talor Battle,Penn St. 65, Northwestern 41, accessed February 13, 2011 Purdue guard E'Twaun Moore,Purdue's E'Twaun Moore brings career-best day to beat No. 3 Ohio State, Accessed February 20, 2011 Kansas State guard Jacob Pullen,Jacob Pullen's 24 push Kansas State past No. 21 Missouri, accessed February 27, 2011 Richmond guard Kevin Anderson,Richmond improves hopes for NCAA at-large bid with win, accessed February 27, 2011 Nicholls State forward Anatoly Bose,Nicholls' Bose Tops 2,000 Career Points in OT Win over Northwestern State, accessed March 3, 2011 Lipscomb center Adnan Hodzic,Postseason Basketball Resume: Lipscomb Bisons , accessed March 30, 2011 Ole Miss guard Chris Warren,Warren Eclipses 2,000 Points In Final Game , accessed March 17, 2011 Wofford forward Noah DahlmanMen's Basketball Falls To BYU In NCAA Tournament 74-66, accessed March 18, 2011 Morehead State center Kenneth Faried, and Colorado guard Cory HigginsTide's Late Rally Overtakes Buffs In NIT Semifinals, accessed March 30, 2011 each passed the 2,000 point mark for their careers. After defeating Texas A&M in their next-to-last regular-season game of the year, Kansas clinched at least a share of their seventh straight Big 12 Conference regular season title.KU is All Business. Retrieved on March 3, 2011. It is the most consecutive conference championships from a power conference since John Wooden's UCLA Bruins won 13 straight from 1967–1979. Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon set the Division I record for most wins in a coach's first eight seasons after defeating South Florida on March 2.Pitt tops South Florida to clinch at least a share of Big East title. Retrieved on March 3, 2011. It was his 214th career win. Butler set a Horizon League record with their fifth straight conference championship, shared or outright, breaking the previous record of four consecutive regular season championships, also set by Butler from 2000 to 2003.Butler Clinches Record Fifth Straight League Title . Retrieved on March 5, 2011. Xavier won their fifth straight conference championship, shared or outright, which matched the Atlantic 10 Conference record.Xavier cruises past Charlotte to earn at least a share of Atlantic 10 title. Retrieved on March 3, 2011. Over the course of the 2010–11 Ivy League season, Harvard became the final member of the Ivy League to win at least a share of one men's basketball regular season championship since the league was formed during the 1956–57 season. Saint Joseph's coach Phil Martelli won his 300th game on March 11.Saint Joseph's 93, Duquesne 90. Retrieved on March 11, 2011. It happened after a 93–90 overtime win against Duquesne in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament. Ohio State guard David Lighty broke the all-time career games played record on March 12. The fifth-year senior appeared in his 153rd game, breaking the previous record of 152 set by Deon Thompson in 2009–10. Duke's Kyle Singler and Morehead State's Kenneth Faried each eclipsed the dual 2000 points and 1000 rebounds thresholds, joining an exclusive list of NCAA Division I players to accomplish both feats.
New arenas Auburn moved from one on-campus venue to another, leaving behind their home since 1969, Beard–Eaves–Memorial Coliseum, for the new Auburn Arena. The Tigers' first game at their new home was a 79–66 win in a preseason exhibition against Division II West Alabama on November 3, 2010. The first regular-season game was a 70–69 overtime loss to UNC Asheville on November 13, 2010. Louisville moved from Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center, their home since 1956, to the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. The Cardinals' first game at their new home was an 83–66 win in a preseason exhibition against then-Division II Northern Kentucky on October 31, 2010. The first regular-season game was an 88–73 win over Butler on November 16, 2010. Oregon opened Matthew Knight Arena, the replacement for venerable McArthur Court, on January 13, 2011. The Ducks defeated USC, 68–62.
Season outlook
Pre-season polls
The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls, October 28, 2010. Associated PressRankingTeam1 Duke (55)2 Michigan State (8)3 Kansas State (2)4 Ohio State5 Pittsburgh6 Villanova7 Kansas8 North Carolina9 Florida10 Syracuse11 Kentucky12 Gonzaga13 Illinois14 Purdue15 Missouri16 Baylor17 Butler18 Washington19 Memphis20 Georgetown21 Virginia Tech22 Temple23 Tennessee24 BYU25 San Diego State ESPN/USA Today CoachesRankingTeam1 Duke (29)2 Michigan State (2)3 Kansas State4 Pittsburgh5 Ohio State6 Villanova7 Kansas8 Purdue9 North Carolina10 Kentucky11 Florida12 Gonzaga13 Syracuse14 Baylor15 Missouri16 Illinois17 Washington18 Butler19 Memphis20 Tennessee21 Georgetown22 Temple23 Virginia Tech24 Wisconsin25 Texas
Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 2010–11 season.
SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference Sun Belt NCAA Division I independent NCAA Division I independent Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (NCAA Division II)
Regular season A number of early-season tournaments marked the beginning of the college basketball season.An early look at the early-season events Accessed September 19, 2010
Early-season tournaments Name Dates Num. teams Champions NIT Season Tip-Off Nov. 15–26 Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Nov. 8–19 Charleston Classic Nov. 18-21 Puerto Rico Tip-Off Nov. 18–21 Paradise Jam tournament Nov. 19–22 CBE Classic Nov. 12–23 Maui Invitational Tournament Nov. 22–24 Cancún Challenge Nov. 18–24 Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 24–27 76 Classic Nov. 25–28 Old Spice Classic Nov. 25–28 Las Vegas Invitational Nov. 15–27 Legends Classic Nov. 14–27 South Padre Island Invitational Nov. 26–28 Diamond Head Classic Dec. 22–25 *Although these tournaments included more teams, only four played for the championship.
Conferences Conference winners and tournaments