2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Schedule and venues

The following are the sites that were selected to host each round of the 2001 tournament:

Opening Round

• March 13
  • University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton)

First and Second Rounds

• March 15 and 17
  • East Region
    • Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina (Host: Atlantic Coast Conference)
    • Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, New York (Hosts: Hofstra University, America East Conference)
  • West Region
    • BSU Pavilion, Boise, Idaho (Host: Boise State University)
    • Cox Arena, San Diego, California (Host: San Diego State University)
• March 16 and 18
  • Midwest Region
    • University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio (Host: University of Dayton)
    • Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri (Host: Big 12 Conference)
  • South Region
    • Memphis Pyramid, Memphis, Tennessee (Host: University of Memphis)
    • Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana (Hosts: Sun Belt Conference, University of New Orleans)

Regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)

• March 22 and 24
  • East Regional, First Union Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Host: Atlantic 10 Conference)
  • West Regional, Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Anaheim, California (Host: Big West Conference)
• March 23 and 25
  • Midwest Regional, Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas (Host: University of Texas at San Antonio)
  • South Regional, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia (Host: Georgia Institute of Technology)

National semifinals and championship (Final Four and championship)

• March 31 and April 2
  • Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Host: University of Minnesota)

Qualifying teams

Automatic bids

The following teams were automatic qualifiers for the 2001 NCAA field by virtue of winning their conference's tournament (except for the Ivy League and Pac-10, whose regular-season champions received their automatic bids).

Listed by region and seeding

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Bids by conference

Bids by conference

Final Four

At Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

National semifinals

• March 31, 2001
  • Duke (E1) 95, Maryland (W3) 84
• :The fourth meeting of the year between ACC rivals Duke and Maryland – both road teams won during the ACC regular season before Duke won 84–82 in the ACC Tournament semifinals in Atlanta en route to winning the tournament – turned into a classic. Maryland jumped out of the gate to an early 39–17 lead. It appeared the Terps would eliminate Duke, led by senior Shane Battier. However, Duke was able to cut the lead at halftime to 49–38. Duke would take its first lead when Jason Williams drained a three to give Duke the lead 73–72 with 6:48 to play. Duke closed the game with a 23–12 run to stun Gary Williams' Maryland squad. Referees: David Libbey, Mark Reischling, and Ted Hillary.
  • Arizona (M2) 80, Michigan State (S1) 61
• : In an emotional season in which Arizona coach Lute Olson suffered the loss of his wife Bobbi, he would be just 40 minutes away from a second National Championship after his Wildcats destroyed the defending national champion Michigan State Spartans. The game was close at halftime with Arizona leading by just 2. However, Arizona outscored Michigan State 48–31 in the second half en route to the 19-point victory.

Championship game

Main article: 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Game

• April 2, 2001
  • Duke (E1) 82, Arizona (M2) 72
• :The second-ranked team coming into the NCAA tournament would leave giving coach Mike Krzyzewski his third National Championship at Duke. Arizona cut Duke's lead to 39–37 early in the second half, but Mike Dunleavy Jr. connected on three three-pointers during an 11–2 Duke run. Dunleavy Jr. led the Duke Blue Devils with 21 points. The Arizona Wildcats would cut the gap to 3 four times, twice inside the four-minute TV timeout. However, Shane Battier proved himself too much for the Wildcats to handle as he hit two critical shots to put the Blue Devils comfortably ahead. Jason Williams, despite a poor shooting night, iced the game with a three-pointer from the top of the key with under 2 minutes to play to give Duke an eight-point lead. The final score was Duke 82 – Arizona 72.

Bracket

Opening Round game – Dayton, Ohio

Winner advances to 16th seed in Midwest Regional vs. (1) Illinois.

| RD1-seed1= 16 | RD1-team1= Winthrop | RD1-score1= 67 | RD1-seed2= 16 | RD1-team2= Northwestern State | RD1-score2= 71

East regional — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

March 15 March 17 March 22 March 24 | RD1-seed01= 1 | RD1-team01= Duke | RD1-score01= 95 | RD1-seed02= 16 | RD1-team02= Monmouth | RD1-score02= 52 | RD1-seed03= 8 | RD1-team03= Georgia | RD1-score03= 68 | RD1-seed04= 9 | RD1-team04= Missouri | RD1-score04= 70 | RD1-seed05= 5 | RD1-team05= | RD1-score05= 68 | RD1-seed06= 12 | RD1-team06= Utah State | RD1-score06= 77OT | RD1-seed07= 4 | RD1-team07= UCLA | RD1-score07= 61 | RD1-seed08= 13 | RD1-team08= Hofstra | RD1-score08= 48 | RD1-seed09= 6 | RD1-team09= USC | RD1-score09= 69 | RD1-seed10= 11 | RD1-team10= Oklahoma State | RD1-score10= 54 | RD1-seed11= 3 | RD1-team11= Boston College | RD1-score11= 68 | RD1-seed12= 14 | RD1-team12= Southern Utah | RD1-score12= 65 | RD1-seed13= 7 | RD1-team13= Iowa | RD1-score13= 69 | RD1-seed14= 10 | RD1-team14= Creighton | RD1-score14= 56 | RD1-seed15= 2 | RD1-team15= Kentucky | RD1-score15= 72 | RD1-seed16= 15 | RD1-team16= Holy Cross | RD1-score16= 68 | RD2-seed01= 1 | RD2-team01= Duke | RD2-score01= 94 | RD2-seed02= 9 | RD2-team02= Missouri | RD2-score02= 81 | RD2-seed03= 12 | RD2-team03= Utah State | RD2-score03= 50 | RD2-seed04= 4 | RD2-team04= UCLA | RD2-score04= 75 | RD2-seed05= 6 | RD2-team05= USC | RD2-score05= 74 | RD2-seed06= 3 | RD2-team06= Boston College | RD2-score06= 71 | RD2-seed07= 7 | RD2-team07= Iowa | RD2-score07= 79 | RD2-seed08= 2 | RD2-team08= Kentucky | RD2-score08= 92 | RD3-seed01= 1 | RD3-team01= Duke | RD3-score01= 76 | RD3-seed02= 4 | RD3-team02= UCLA | RD3-score02= 63 | RD3-seed03= 6 | RD3-team03=USC | RD3-score03= 80 | RD3-seed04= 2 | RD3-team04= Kentucky | RD3-score04= 76 | RD4-seed01= 1 | RD4-team01= Duke | RD4-score01= 79 | RD4-seed02= 6 | RD4-team02= USC | RD4-score02= 69

Ohio State vacated all wins and its NCAA Tournament appearance from the 2000–01 season due to the Jim O’Brien scandal. Unlike forfeiture, a vacated game does not result in the other school being credited with a win, only with Ohio State removing the wins from its own record.

West regional — Anaheim, California

March 15 March 17 March 22 March 24 | RD1-seed01= 1 | RD1-team01= Stanford | RD1-score01= 88 | RD1-seed02= 16 | RD1-team02= UNC-Greensboro | RD1-score02= 60 | RD1-seed03= 8 | RD1-team03= Georgia Tech | RD1-score03= 62 | RD1-seed04= 9 | RD1-team04= Saint Joseph's | RD1-score04= 66 | RD1-seed05= 5 | RD1-team05= Cincinnati | RD1-score05= 84 | RD1-seed06= 12 | RD1-team06= BYU | RD1-score06= 59 | RD1-seed07= 4 | RD1-team07= Indiana | RD1-score07= 73 | RD1-seed08= 13 | RD1-team08= Kent State | RD1-score08= 77 | RD1-seed09= 6 | RD1-team09= Wisconsin | RD1-score09= 49 | RD1-seed10= 11 | RD1-team10= Georgia State | RD1-score10= 50 | RD1-seed11= 3 | RD1-team11= Maryland | RD1-score11= 83 | RD1-seed12= 14 | RD1-team12= George Mason | RD1-score12= 80 | RD1-seed13= 7 | RD1-team13= Arkansas | RD1-score13= 61 | RD1-seed14= 10 | RD1-team14= Georgetown | RD1-score14= 63 | RD1-seed15= 2 | RD1-team15= Iowa State | RD1-score15= 57 | RD1-seed16= 15 | RD1-team16= Hampton | RD1-score16= 58 | RD2-seed01= 1 | RD2-team01= Stanford | RD2-score01= 90 | RD2-seed02= 9 | RD2-team02= Saint Joseph's | RD2-score02= 83 | RD2-seed03= 5 | RD2-team03= Cincinnati | RD2-score03= 66 | RD2-seed04= 13 | RD2-team04= Kent State | RD2-score04= 43 | RD2-seed05= 11 | RD2-team05= Georgia State | RD2-score05= 60 | RD2-seed06= 3 | RD2-team06= Maryland | RD2-score06= 79 | RD2-seed07= 10 | RD2-team07= Georgetown | RD2-score07= 76 | RD2-seed08= 15 | RD2-team08= Hampton | RD2-score08= 57 | RD3-seed01= 1 | RD3-team01= Stanford | RD3-score01= 78 | RD3-seed02= 5 | RD3-team02= Cincinnati | RD3-score02= 65 | RD3-seed03= 3 | RD3-team03= Maryland | RD3-score03= 76 | RD3-seed04= 10 | RD3-team04= Georgetown | RD3-score04= 66 | RD4-seed01= 1 | RD4-team01= Stanford | RD4-score01= 73 | RD4-seed02= 3 | RD4-team02= Maryland | RD4-score02= 87

South regional — Atlanta, Georgia

March 16 March 18 March 23 March 25 | RD1-seed01= 1 | RD1-team01= Michigan State | RD1-score01= 69 | RD1-seed02= 16 | RD1-team02= Alabama State | RD1-score02= 35 | RD1-seed03= 8 | RD1-team03= California | RD1-score03= 70 | RD1-seed04= 9 | RD1-team04= Fresno State | RD1-score04= 82 | RD1-seed05= 5 | RD1-team05= Virginia | RD1-score05= 85 | RD1-seed06= 12 | RD1-team06= Gonzaga | RD1-score06= 86 | RD1-seed07= 4 | RD1-team07= Oklahoma | RD1-score07= 68 | RD1-seed08= 13 | RD1-team08= Indiana State | RD1-score08= 70OT | RD1-seed09= 6 | RD1-team09= Texas | RD1-score09= 65 | RD1-seed10= 11 | RD1-team10= Temple | RD1-score10= 79 | RD1-seed11= 3 | RD1-team11= Florida | RD1-score11= 69 | RD1-seed12= 14 | RD1-team12= Western Kentucky | RD1-score12= 56 | RD1-seed13= 7 | RD1-team13= Penn State | RD1-score13= 69 | RD1-seed14= 10 | RD1-team14= Providence | RD1-score14= 59 | RD1-seed15= 2 | RD1-team15= North Carolina | RD1-score15= 70 | RD1-seed16= 15 | RD1-team16= Princeton | RD1-score16= 48 | RD2-seed01= 1 | RD2-team01= Michigan State | RD2-score01= 81 | RD2-seed02= 9 | RD2-team02= Fresno State | RD2-score02= 65 | RD2-seed03= 12 | RD2-team03= Gonzaga | RD2-score03= 85 | RD2-seed04= 13 | RD2-team04= Indiana State | RD2-score04= 68 | RD2-seed05= 11 | RD2-team05= Temple | RD2-score05= 75 | RD2-seed06= 3 | RD2-team06= Florida | RD2-score06= 54 | RD2-seed07=7 | RD2-team07= Penn State | RD2-score07= 82 | RD2-seed08= 2 | RD2-team08= North Carolina | RD2-score08= 74 | RD3-seed01= 1 | RD3-team01= Michigan State | RD3-score01= 77 | RD3-seed02= 12 | RD3-team02= Gonzaga | RD3-score02= 62 | RD3-seed03= 11 | RD3-team03= Temple | RD3-score03= 84 | RD3-seed04= 7 | RD3-team04= Penn State | RD3-score04= 72 | RD4-seed01= 1 | RD4-team01= Michigan State | RD4-score01= 69 | RD4-seed02= 11 | RD4-team02= Temple | RD4-score02= 62

Midwest regional — San Antonio, Texas

March 16 March 18 March 23 March 25 | RD1-seed01=1 | RD1-team01= Illinois | RD1-score01= 96 | RD1-seed02= 16 | RD1-team02= Northwestern State | RD1-score02= 54 | RD1-seed03= 8 | RD1-team03= Tennessee | RD1-score03= 63 | RD1-seed04= 9 | RD1-team04= Charlotte | RD1-score04= 70 | RD1-seed05= 5 | RD1-team05= Syracuse | RD1-score05= 79 | RD1-seed06= 12 | RD1-team06= Hawaii | RD1-score06= 69 | RD1-seed07= 4 | RD1-team07= Kansas | RD1-score07= 99 | RD1-seed08= 13 | RD1-team08= Cal State Northridge | RD1-score08= 75 | RD1-seed09= 6 | RD1-team09= Notre Dame | RD1-score09= 83 | RD1-seed10= 11 | RD1-team10= Xavier | RD1-score10= 71 | RD1-seed11= 3 | RD1-team11= Ole Miss | RD1-score11= 72 | RD1-seed12= 14 | RD1-team12= Iona | RD1-score12= 70 | RD1-seed13= 7 | RD1-team13= Wake Forest | RD1-score13= 63 | RD1-seed14= 10 | RD1-team14= Butler | RD1-score14= 79 | RD1-seed15= 2 | RD1-team15= Arizona | RD1-score15= 101 | RD1-seed16= 15 | RD1-team16= Eastern Illinois | RD1-score16= 76 | RD2-seed01= 1 | RD2-team01= Illinois | RD2-score01= 79 | RD2-seed02= 9 | RD2-team02= Charlotte | RD2-score02= 61 | RD2-seed03= 5 | RD2-team03= Syracuse | RD2-score03= 58 | RD2-seed04= 4 | RD2-team04= Kansas | RD2-score04= 87 | RD2-seed05= 6 | RD2-team05= Notre Dame | RD2-score05= 56 | RD2-seed06= 3 | RD2-team06= Ole Miss | RD2-score06= 59 | RD2-seed07= 10 | RD2-team07= Butler | RD2-score07= 52 | RD2-seed08= 2 | RD2-team08= Arizona | RD2-score08= 73 | RD3-seed01= 1 | RD3-team01= Illinois | RD3-score01= 80 | RD3-seed02= 4 | RD3-team02= Kansas | RD3-score02= 64 | RD3-seed03= 3 | RD3-team03= Ole Miss | RD3-score03= 56 | RD3-seed04= 2 | RD3-team04= Arizona | RD3-score04= 66 | RD4-seed01= 1 | RD4-team01= Illinois | RD4-score01= 81 | RD4-seed02= 2 | RD4-team02= Arizona | RD4-score02= 87

Final Four — Minneapolis, Minnesota

March 31 April 2 | RD1-seed1=E1 | RD1-team1= Duke | RD1-score1= 95 | RD1-seed2= W3 | RD1-team2= Maryland | RD1-score2= 84 | RD1-seed3= S1 | RD1-team3= Michigan State | RD1-score3= 61 | RD1-seed4= M2 | RD1-team4= Arizona | RD1-score4= 80 | RD2-seed1= E1 | RD2-team1= Duke | RD2-score1= 82 | RD2-seed2= M2 | RD2-team2= Arizona | RD2-score2= 72

Upsets

This tournament featured many upsets in the first two rounds, with pairs of #10, #11, #12, and #13 seeds winning in the first and a #10, #11, and #12 seeds all making it to the Sweet 16. The best remembered and most unexpected occurred when Hampton beat number 2 seed Iowa State 58–57 in the first round. The Pirates were down by as much as 11 in the game and outscored the Cyclones 10–0 in the final seven minutes of the game. Tarvis Williams made the winning shot with 6.9 seconds left. The video of Hampton coach Steve Merfield being lifted in the air by player David Johnson during the celebration has become a classic clip, often played by CBS and ESPN to showcase the excitement of the underdog in the NCAA tournament.

Hampton became only the fourth #15 seed to win a game since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 and the first since 1997. They went on to lose to Georgetown in the second round, failing to become the first seed that low to make the Round of 16. The Pirates were the last #15 seed to advance in the tournament until 2012, in which two #15 seeds beat their #2-seeded opponents.

Temple became just the 3rd #11 seed to make it to the Elite Eight since the tournament had expanded, upsetting #6 Texas and #3 Florida on the way. In the same region, 12-seed Gonzaga made the Sweet 16 for the third year in a row, all as a double digit seed. Both teams would lose to defending champion #1 Michigan State who, along with #7 Penn State, were the only top seeds to make it past the second round in that region (Penn State would lose to Temple in the Sweet 16).

Announcers

• Jim Nantz/Billy Packer/Bonnie Bernstein – First and Second Rounds at New Orleans, Louisiana; East Regional at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Final Four and National Championship at Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Dick Enberg/Bill Walton/Lesley Visser – First and Second Rounds at San Diego, California; Midwest Regional at San Antonio, Texas
• Verne Lundquist/Bill Raftery/Armen Keteyian – First and Second Rounds at Kansas City, Missouri; South Regional at Atlanta, Georgia
• Gus Johnson/Dan Bonner/Dwayne Ballen – First and Second Rounds at Uniondale, New York; West Regional at Anaheim, California
• Kevin Harlan/Jon Sundvold/Charles Davis – First and Second Rounds at Greensboro, North Carolina
• Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Brett Haber – First and Second Rounds at Memphis, Tennessee
• Tim Brando/Rick Pitino/Spencer Tillman – Opening Round Game, First and Second Rounds at Dayton, Ohio
• Craig Bolerjack/James Worthy/Bob Wenzel – First and Second Rounds at Boise, Idaho

Greg Gumbel once again served as the studio host, joined by analyst Clark Kellogg.

References

References

1. "2001 NCAA National semifinals: (E1) Duke 95, (W3) Maryland 84". CNNSI.com.
2. NCAA On Demand. (2014-02-27). "2001 NCAA Basketball National Semi-Final – Maryland vs Duke".
3. "2001 NCAA National semifinals: (MW2) Kansas 80, (S4) Michigan State 61". CNNSI.com.
4. (2006-03-10). "OSU gets probation".
5. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060908111859/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/college/2001/ncaa_tourney/west/news/2001/03/15/hampton_iowastate_ap/ 15th-seeded Pirates stun No. 2 seed Cyclones 58–57 ]