1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball season

1969–70 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	South Carolina
NCAA Tournament	1970
Tournament dates	March 7 – 21, 1970
National Championship	Cole Field House College Park, Maryland
NCAA Champions	UCLA
Helms National Champions	UCLA
Other champions	Marquette (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Pete Maravich, LSU (Naismith)
Player of the Year (Helms)	Pete Maravich, LSU

The 1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball season began in December 1969, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament championship game on March 21, 1970, at Cole Field House in College Park, Maryland. The UCLA Bruins won their sixth NCAA national championship with an 80–69 victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins.

Season headlines

• UCLA won its fourth NCAA championship in a row, sixth overall, and sixth in seven seasons. In the Pacific 8 Conference, it also won its fourth of what ultimately would be 13 consecutive conference titles.
• The Pacific Coast Athletic Association began play. It was renamed the Big West Conference in 1988.
• LSU’s Pete Maravich established several NCAA records during his career. Two of the most notable came during this season — single-season scoring average (44.5 in 1969–70, besting his 44.2 average from the prior season) and career scoring (3,667 points). In addition to leading the NCAA in scoring for the third consecutive season, Maravich was named a consensus first-team All-American and SEC Player of the Year for the third time. He was the first player to score 3,000 or more points in his career (1968–1970), and his career average of 44.2 points per game made him the first player to average more than 40 points a game for his career. In a game against Alabama on February 7, 1970, Maravich scored 69 points, setting a record for points scored by a single player in a game against an NCAA University Division (later NCAA Division I) opponent; Maravich broke the record of 68 points set by Calvin Murphy of Niagara in December 1968, and no one outscored Maravich until Kevin Bradshaw scored 72 points in a game in January 1991.

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

Main article: 1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball rankings

The Top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 South Carolina 2 Kentucky 3 Purdue 4 UCLA 5 Davidson 6 New Mexico State 7 North Carolina 8 Marquette 9 Villanova 10 Colorado 11 Duquesne 12 Santa Clara 13 Notre Dame 14 St. John's 15 Louisville 16 USC 17 St. Bonaventure 18 Ohio State 19 Drake 20 Houston

UPI Coaches Ranking Team 1 UCLA 2 South Carolina 3 Kentucky 4 Purdue 5 New Mexico State 6 Colorado 7 North Carolina 8 Davidson 9 USC 10 Duquesne 11 Santa Clara 12 Kansas 13 Marquette 14 St. John's 15 Villanova 16 St. Bonaventure 17 (tie) Arizona New Mexico 19 Louisville 20 La Salle

Conference membership changes

School	Former conference	New conference
Cal State Los Angeles Golden Eagles	non-University Division	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Colorado State Rams	NCAA University Division independent	Western Athletic Conference
Fairleigh Dickinson Knights	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	NCAA University Division independent
Fresno Bulldogs	non-University Division	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Hofstra Flying Dutchmen	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	Middle Atlantic Conference
Iona Gaels	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	NCAA University Division independent
Long Beach State 49ers	non-University Division	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Long Island Sharks	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	NCAA University Division independent
Manhattan Jaspers	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	NCAA University Division independent
Marshall Thundering Herd	Mid-American Conference	NCAA University Division independent
Nevada Wolfpack	non-University Division	West Coast Athletic Conference
UNLV Runnin' Rebels	non-University Division	West Coast Athletic Conference
Saint Peter's Peacocks	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	NCAA University Division independent
San Diego State Aztecs	non-University Division	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
San Jose State Spartans	West Coast Athletic Conference	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
UC Santa Barbara Gauchos	West Coast Athletic Conference	Pacific Coast Athletic Association
Seton Hall Pirates	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	NCAA University Division independent
UTEP Miners	NCAA University Division independent	Western Athletic Conference
Wagner Seahawks	Metropolitan Collegiate Conference	non-NCAA University Division

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference	Regular season winner	Conference player of the year	Conference tournament	Tournament venue (City)	Tournament winner
Atlantic Coast Conference	South Carolina	John Roche, South Carolina	1970 ACC men's basketball tournament	Charlotte Coliseum (Charlotte, North Carolina)	NC State
Big Eight Conference	Kansas State	Dave Robisch, Kansas	No Tournament
Big Sky Conference	Weber State	None selected	No Tournament
Big Ten Conference	Iowa	None selected	No Tournament
Ivy League	Penn	None selected	No Tournament
Mid-American Conference	Ohio	Jim Penix, Bowling Green	No Tournament
Middle Atlantic Conference	St. Joseph's (East); Lafayette, Lehigh, & Rider (West)		No Tournament
Missouri Valley Conference	Drake	Jim Ard, Cincinnati	No Tournament
Ohio Valley Conference	Western Kentucky	Jim McDaniels, Western Kentucky	No Tournament
Pacific 8 Conference	UCLA	None selected	No Tournament
Pacific Coast Athletic Association	Long Beach State	George Trapp, Long Beach State	No Tournament
Southeastern Conference	Kentucky	Pete Maravich, LSU	No Tournament
Southern Conference	Davidson	Mike Maloy, Davidson	1970 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament	Charlotte Coliseum (Charlotte, North Carolina)	Davidson
Southland Conference	Lamar	Kenny Haynes, Lamar	No Tournament
Southwest Conference	Rice	Gene Phillips, SMU	No Tournament
West Coast Athletic Conference	Santa Clara	Dennis Awtrey, Santa Clara	No Tournament
Western Athletic Conference	UTEP	None selected	No Tournament
Yankee Conference	Connecticut & Massachusetts	None selected	No Tournament

Conference standings

1969–70 ACC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 6 South Carolina 14 – 0   1.000 25 – 3   .893 North Carolina 9 – 5   .643 18 – 9   .667 No. 10 NC State † 9 – 5   .643 23 – 7   .767 Duke 8 – 6   .571 17 – 9   .654 Wake Forest 6 – 8   .429 14 – 13   .519 Maryland 5 – 9   .357 13 – 13   .500 Virginia 3 – 11   .214 10 – 15   .400 Clemson 2 – 12   .143 7 – 19   .269 † 1970 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Kansas State 10 – 4   .714 20 – 8   .714 Kansas 8 – 6   .571 17 – 9   .654 Oklahoma 7 – 7   .500 19 – 9   .679 Nebraska 7 – 7   .500 16 – 9   .640 Missouri 7 – 7   .500 15 – 11   .577 Colorado 7 – 7   .500 14 – 12   .538 Oklahoma State 5 – 9   .357 14 – 12   .538 Iowa State 5 – 9   .357 12 – 14   .462 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Big Sky men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Weber State 12 – 3   .800 19 – 8   .704 Idaho State 11 – 4   .733 14 – 11   .560 Gonzaga 7 – 8   .467 10 – 16   .385 Idaho 6 – 9   .400 10 – 15   .400 Montana 5 – 10   .333 8 – 18   .308 Montana State 4 – 11   .267 4 – 22   .154
1969–70 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 7 Iowa 14 – 0   1.000 20 – 5   .800 Purdue 11 – 3   .786 18 – 6   .750 Ohio State 8 – 6   .571 15 – 9   .625 Illinois 8 – 6   .571 15 – 9   .625 Minnesota 7 – 7   .500 13 – 11   .542 Michigan 5 – 9   .357 10 – 14   .417 Wisconsin 5 – 9   .357 10 – 14   .417 Michigan State 5 – 9   .357 9 – 15   .375 Northwestern 4 – 10   .286 9 – 15   .375 Indiana 3 – 11   .214 7 – 17   .292 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Ivy League men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 13 Pennsylvania 14 – 0   1.000 25 – 2   .926 Columbia 11 – 3   .786 20 – 5   .800 Princeton 9 – 5   .643 16 – 9   .640 Dartmouth 7 – 7   .500 13 – 12   .520 Yale 7 – 7   .500 11 – 13   .458 Cornell 4 – 10   .286 7 – 16   .304 Brown 3 – 11   .214 6 – 20   .231 Harvard 1 – 13   .071 7 – 19   .269 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Ohio 9 – 1   .900 20 – 5   .800 Bowling Green State 7 – 3   .700 15 – 9   .625 Miami (Ohio) 6 – 4   .600 15 – 9   .625 Toledo 5 – 5   .500 15 – 9   .625 Kent State 2 – 8   .200 7 – 17   .292 Western Michigan 1 – 7   .125 5 – 18   .217 Rankings from AP Poll
1969–70 MAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT University–Eastern Saint Joseph's 5 – 0   1.000 15 – 12   .556 La Salle 3 – 2   .600 14 – 12   .538 Temple † 2 – 3   .400 15 – 13   .536 Hofstra 2 – 3   .400 13 – 13   .500 American 2 – 3   .400 11 – 12   .478 West Chester 1 – 4   .200 11 – 15   .423 University–Western Lehigh 7 – 3   .700 13 – 14   .481 Lafayette 7 – 3   .700 12 – 14   .462 Rider 7 – 3   .700 16 – 10   .615 Delaware 6 – 4   .600 16 – 9   .640 Bucknell 3 – 7   .300 6 – 17   .261 Gettysburg 0 – 10   .000 8 – 18   .308 College–Northern Philadelphia Textile † –   – –   – Scranton 10 – 4   .714 15 – 8   .652 Upsala –   – –   – Juniata 8 – 4   .667 14 – 8   .636 Wagner 6 – 5   .545 11 – 14   .440 Elizabethtown 7 – 6   .538 9 – 13   .409 Susquehanna 8 – 8   .500 12 – 11   .522 Albright 7 – 10   .412 7 – 18   .280 Lycoming 3 – 12   .200 4 – 15   .211 College–Southern Muhlenberg † 13 – 1   .929 16 – 6   .727 Pennsylvania Military –   – –   – Johns Hopkins 8 – 4   .667 10 – 8   .556 Dickinson 11 – 6   .647 13 – 11   .542 Drexel 7 – 6   .538 11 – 11   .500 Ursinus 8 – 8   .500 9 – 9   .500 Swarthmore 7 – 7   .500 10 – 8   .556 Lebanon Valley 6 – 11   .353 7 – 13   .350 Moravian 4 – 16   .200 4 – 17   .190 Franklin & Marshall 3 – 12   .200 3 – 17   .150 Haverford 2 – 12   .143 5 – 14   .263 † 1970 MAC men's basketball tournament winner University division only counted games within their division. College division counted games across Northern/Southern. Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 14 Drake 14 – 2   .875 22 – 7   .759 Cincinnati 12 – 4   .750 21 – 6   .778 North Texas State 11 – 5   .688 18 – 8   .692 Louisville 11 – 5   .688 18 – 9   .667 Tulsa 9 – 8   .529 15 – 11   .577 Bradley 7 – 9   .438 14 – 12   .538 Saint Louis 5 – 11   .313 9 – 17   .346 Wichita State 3 – 13   .188 8 – 18   .308 Memphis State 1 – 16   .059 6 – 20   .231 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 18 Western Kentucky 14 – 0   1.000 22 – 3   .880 Murray State 9 – 5   .643 17 – 9   .654 East Tennessee State 8 – 6   .571 15 – 11   .577 Eastern Kentucky 8 – 6   .571 12 – 10   .545 Middle Tennessee 6 – 8   .429 15 – 11   .577 Morehead State 5 – 9   .357 13 – 11   .542 Tennessee Tech 4 – 10   .286 10 – 15   .400 Austin Peay 2 – 12   .143 5 – 21   .192 Rankings from AP Poll
1969–70 Pacific–8 Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 2 UCLA 12 – 2   .857 28 – 2   .933 Washington State 9 – 5   .643 19 – 7   .731 No. 20 USC 9 – 5   .643 18 – 8   .692 Oregon 8 – 6   .571 17 – 9   .654 Washington 7 – 7   .500 17 – 9   .654 California 5 – 9   .357 11 – 15   .423 Oregon State 4 – 10   .286 10 – 16   .385 Stanford 2 – 12   .143 5 – 20   .200 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 19 Long Beach State† 10 – 0   1.000 24 – 5   .828 UC Santa Barbara 6 – 4   .600 12 – 14   .462 Cal State Los Angeles* –   – 18 – 8   .692 Fresno State* –   – 14 – 12   .538 San Diego State* –   – 13 – 13   .500 San Jose State 0 – 10   .000 3 – 21   .125 † Regular-season championship winner * – Played as non-major program Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 1 Kentucky 17 – 1   .944 26 – 2   .929 LSU 13 – 5   .722 22 – 10   .688 Auburn 11 – 7   .611 15 – 11   .577 Georgia 11 – 7   .611 13 – 12   .520 Tennessee 10 – 8   .556 16 – 9   .640 Vanderbilt 8 – 10   .444 12 – 14   .462 Ole Miss 6 – 12   .333 10 – 15   .400 Florida 6 – 12   .333 9 – 17   .346 Alabama 5 – 13   .278 8 – 18   .308 Mississippi State 3 – 15   .167 6 – 18   .250 Rankings from AP Poll
1969–70 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 15 Davidson † 10 – 0   1.000 22 – 5   .815 East Carolina 9 – 2   .818 16 – 10   .615 George Washington 6 – 4   .600 12 – 15   .444 Furman 5 – 6   .455 13 – 13   .500 William & Mary 5 – 7   .417 11 – 16   .407 The Citadel 4 – 8   .333 8 – 16   .333 Richmond 4 – 9   .308 9 – 18   .333 VMI 3 – 10   .231 6 – 19   .240 † Tournament winner As of April 30, 1970 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Southland Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Lamar 7 – 1   .875 15 – 9   .625 Texas-Arlington 4 – 4   .500 8 – 16   .333 Trinity (Tex.)* –   – 15 – 8   .652 Arkansas State* –   – 14 – 9   .609 Abilene Christian* –   – 10 – 16   .385 * – Played as non-major program Rankings from AP poll	1969–70 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Rice 10 – 4   .714 14 – 11   .560 Texas A&M 9 – 5   .643 14 – 10   .583 Baylor 8 – 6   .571 15 – 9   .625 Texas Tech 8 – 6   .571 14 – 10   .583 TCU 8 – 6   .571 10 – 14   .417 Texas 6 – 8   .429 11 – 13   .458 SMU 4 – 10   .286 5 – 19   .208 Arkansas 3 – 11   .214 5 – 19   .208 Rankings from AP Poll
1969–70 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Santa Clara† 11 – 3   .786 23 – 6   .793 Pacific 11 – 3   .786 21 – 6   .778 UNLV 9 – 5   .643 17 – 9   .654 San Francisco 9 – 5   .643 15 – 11   .577 Pepperdine 7 – 7   .500 14 – 12   .538 Loyola (Calif.) 7 – 7   .500 13 – 13   .500 Nevada 2 – 12   .143 5 – 17   .227 Saint Mary's 0 – 14   .000 3 – 22   .120 † Regular-season championship winner Rankings from AP poll	1969–70 WAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT UTEP 10 – 4   .714 17 – 8   .680 Wyoming 9 – 5   .643 19 – 7   .731 Utah 9 – 5   .643 18 – 10   .643 Arizona 8 – 6   .571 12 – 14   .462 Colorado State 7 – 7   .500 14 – 9   .609 New Mexico 7 – 7   .500 13 – 13   .500 BYU 4 – 10   .286 8 – 18   .308 Arizona State 2 – 12   .143 4 – 22   .154 Rankings from AP Poll	1969–70 Yankee Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Massachusetts 8 – 2   .800 18 – 7   .720 Connecticut 8 – 2   .800 14 – 9   .609 Rhode Island 7 – 3   .700 16 – 10   .615 New Hampshire 3 – 7   .300 12 – 11   .522 Vermont 3 – 7   .300 8 – 16   .333 Maine 1 – 9   .100 7 – 17   .292

University Division independents

A total of 61 college teams played as University Division independents. Among them, Jacksonville (27–2) had the best winning percentage (.931), and Jacksonville and New Mexico State (27–3) finished with the most wins.

1969–70 NCAA University Division men's basketball independents standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 4 Jacksonville –   – 27 – 2   .931 No. 5 New Mexico State –   – 27 – 3   .900 No. 8 Marquette –   – 26 – 3   .897 No. 3 St. Bonaventure –   – 25 – 3   .893 No. 11 Florida State –   – 23 – 3   .885 No. 12 Houston –   – 25 – 5   .833 Army –   – 22 – 6   .786 No. 17 Niagara –   – 22 – 7   .759 No. 16 Utah State –   – 22 – 7   .759 Villanova –   – 22 – 7   .759 No. 9 Notre Dame –   – 21 – 8   .724 St. John's –   – 21 – 8   .724 Georgetown –   – 18 – 7   .720 Duquesne –   – 17 – 7   .708 Dayton –   – 19 – 8   .704 Manhattan –   – 18 – 8   .692 Hardin–Simmons –   – 17 – 9   .654 Holy Cross –   – 16 – 9   .640 Long Island –   – 16 – 9   .640 Georgia Tech –   – 17 – 10   .630 Creighton –   – 15 – 10   .600 Seattle –   – 15 – 10   .600 Boston University –   – 14 – 10   .583 Butler –   – 15 – 11   .577 Oklahoma City –   – 17 – 13   .567 Fairleigh Dickinson –   – 13 – 10   .565 Southern Illinois –   – 13 – 10   .565 Colgate –   – 14 – 11   .560 Providence –   – 14 – 11   .560 Denver –   – 13 – 11   .542 Loyola (IL) –   – 13 – 11   .542 Penn State –   – 13 – 11   .542 Rutgers –   – 13 – 11   .542 Saint Peter's –   – 13 – 11   .542 Northern Illinois –   – 13 – 12   .520 Air Force –   – 12 – 12   .500 Fairfield –   – 12 – 12   .500 Iona –   – 12 – 12   .500 NYU –   – 12 – 12   .500 Pittsburgh –   – 12 – 12   .500 Saint Francis (PA) –   – 12 – 12   .500 Syracuse –   – 12 – 12   .500 DePaul –   – 12 – 13   .480 West Texas State –   – 12 – 13   .480 Loyola (LA) –   – 12 – 14   .462 Boston College –   – 11 – 13   .458 Virginia Tech –   – 10 – 12   .455 St. Francis (NY) –   – 9 – 12   .429 West Virginia –   – 11 – 15   .423 Canisius –   – 9 – 13   .409 Fordham –   – 10 – 15   .400 Seton Hall –   – 10 – 15   .400 Marshall –   – 9 – 14   .391 Miami (FL) –   – 9 – 17   .346 Centenary –   – 8 – 16   .333 Pan American –   – 8 – 16   .333 Detroit –   – 7 – 18   .280 Tulane –   – 5 – 18   .217 Xavier –   – 5 – 20   .200 Navy –   – 4 – 19   .174 Portland –   – 4 – 22   .154 Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference	Regular season winner	Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5	Penn	Ken Durrett, La Salle

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

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main articles: 1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament and 1970 NCAA University Division Basketball Championship Game

Final Four

	National semifinals					National finals
	E	St. Bonaventure	83
	ME	Jacksonville	91
						ME	Jacksonville	69
						W	UCLA	80
	MW	New Mexico State	77
	W	UCLA	93			Third place
						E	St. Bonaventure	73
						MW	New Mexico State	79

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1970 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

	Semifinals				Finals
	Army	59
	St. John's	60
					St. John's	53
					Marquette	65
	Marquette	101
	LSU	79			Third place
					Army	75
					LSU	68

Awards

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1970 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Dan Issel	F/C	Senior	Kentucky
Bob Lanier	C	Senior	St. Bonaventure
Pete Maravich	G/F	Senior	Louisiana State
Rick Mount	G/F	Senior	Purdue
Calvin Murphy	G	Senior	Niagara

Consensus Second Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Austin Carr	G	Junior	Notre Dame
Jim Collins	G	Senior	New Mexico State
John Roche	G	Junior	South Carolina
Charlie Scott	F	Senior	North Carolina
Sidney Wicks	F	Junior	UCLA

Major player of the year awards

• Naismith Award: Pete Maravich, LSU
• Helms Player of the Year: Pete Maravich, LSU
• Associated Press Player of the Year: Pete Maravich, LSU
• UPI Player of the Year: Pete Maravich, LSU
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Pete Maravich, LSU
• Sporting News Player of the Year: Pete Maravich, LSU

Major coach of the year awards

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): John Wooden, UCLA
• NABC Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA
• UPI Coach of the Year: John Wooden, UCLA
• Sporting News Coach of the Year: Adolph Rupp, Kentucky

Other major awards

• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): John Rinka, Kenyon
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Ken Durrett, La Salle
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Jim McMillian, Columbia

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

Team	Former Coach	Interim Coach	New Coach	Reason
Hardin–Simmons	Paul Lambert		Glen Whitis
Kansas State	Cotton Fitzsimmons		Jack Hartman
Oklahoma State	Henry Iba		Sam Aubrey
St. John's	Lou Carnesecca		Frank Mulzoff
Southern Illinois	Jack Hartman		Paul Lambert