Global Information1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament information
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2022) |
| Teams | 25 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Cole Field House College Park, Maryland | ||||
| Champions | UCLA Bruins (6th title, 6th title game, 7th Final Four) | ||||
| Runner-up | Jacksonville Dolphins (1st title game, 1st Final Four) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
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| Winning coach | John Wooden (6th title) | ||||
| MOP | Sidney Wicks (UCLA) | ||||
| Attendance | 146,794 | ||||
| Top scorer | Austin Carr (Notre Dame) (158 points) | ||||
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The 1970 NCAA University Division basketball tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 7, 1970, and ended with the championship game on March 21 in College Park, Maryland. A total of 29 games were played, including a third-place game in each region and a national third-place game. This tournament was notable for the number of small schools that reached the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4, and championship Game. Another notable aspect of the tournament was that Marquette became the first team to turn down an announced NCAA Tournament bid for the National Invitation Tournament. Coach Al McGuire took issue with being seeded in the Midwest regional instead of the geographically closer Mideast. They were replaced in the field by Dayton.[1] As a result of this action, the NCAA now forbids its members from playing in other postseason tournaments if offered an NCAA bid.
There were three first-time participants in the Final Four: New Mexico State, St. Bonaventure, and Jacksonville, a feat not repeated until the 2023 tournament. UCLA, coached by John Wooden, won the national title with an 80–69 victory in the final game over Jacksonville, coached by Joe Williams. Sidney Wicks of UCLA was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
- ^ "Marquette takes NIT over NCAA bid". Great Falls Tribune. February 25, 1970. p. 11. Retrieved January 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
