2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season


The 2004–05 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2004, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2005 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 4, 2005 at the Edward Jones Dome in Saint Louis, Missouri. The North Carolina Tar Heels won their fourth NCAA national championship with a 75–70 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini.

Season headlines

Pre-season polls

The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 11, 2004.

Conference membership changes

These schools joined new conferences for the 2004–05 season.
SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference
LongwoodNCAA Division IINCAA Division I Independent
Miami Big East ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference
Northern ColoradoNCAA Division IINCAA Division I Independent
UC DavisNCAA Division IINCAA Division I Independent
Utah ValleyNJCAANCAA Division I Independent
Virginia TechBig East ConferenceAtlantic Coast Conference

Regular season

Conference winners and tournaments

30 conference seasons conclude with a single-elimination tournament. Traditionally, all conference schools are eligible, regardless of record. However, some conferences, most notably the Big East, do not invite the teams with the worst records. The conference tournament winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A school that wins the conference regular season title is guaranteed an NIT bid; however, it may receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Ivy League is the only Division I conference that does not hold a conference tournament, instead sending their regular-season champion.

Statistical leaders

* Coleman and Funn tied for the national assists lead. Each player had 224 assists in 28 games.

Post-Season Tournaments

NCAA Tournament

The NCAA Tournament tipped off on March 15, 2005 with the opening round game in Dayton, Ohio, and concluded on April 4 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, MO. A total of 65 teams entered the tournament. Thirty of the teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference tournaments. The automatic bid of the Ivy League, which does not conduct a post-season tournament, went to its regular season champion. The remaining 34 teams were granted "at-large" bids, which are extended by the NCAA Selection Committee. The Big East Conference led the way with eight bids. North Carolina won their fourth NCAA title, beating Illinois 75–70 in the final. North Carolina forward Sean May was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.

Final Four – St. Louis, Missouri – Edward Jones Dome

National Invitation Tournament

After the NCAA Tournament field was announced, the National Invitation Tournament invited 32 teams to participate, reducing the field's size from 40. Eight teams were given automatic bids for winning their conference regular seasons, and 24 other teams were also invited. Dave Odom's South Carolina Gamecocks won the title, defeating the Saint Joseph's Hawks 60–57 in the championship game. The Gamecocks' Carlos Powell was named tournament MVP.

NIT Semifinals & Final

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Major player of the year awards

A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.
TeamFormer
Coach		Interim
Coach		New
Coach		Reason
Air ForceChris MooneyJeff BzdelikMooney left for Richmond after only one year.
Alabama StateRob SpiveryLewis JacksonSpivery jumped jobs within the SWAC.
BYUSteve ClevelandDave RoseCleveland left to take the coaching position at Fresno State, Associate head coach Rose was elevated to the top spot.
UC RiversideJohn MasiDavid Spencer
CentenaryKevin JohnsonRob Flaska
Charleston SouthernJim PlattBarclay Radebaugh
CincinnatiBob HugginsAndy KennedyMick CroninHuggins resigned after a power struggle with Cincinnati's Athletic Director. Assistant Kennedy coached the season but was replaced by Cronin after the 2005–06 season's end.
Coastal CarolinaPete StricklandBuzz PetersonCoastal scored a high-profile hire, bringing in fired Tennessee coach Peterson.
DePaulDave LeitaoJerry WainwrightLeitao left for Virginia, paving the way for Chicago native Wainwright to return home.
East CarolinaBill HerrionRicky StokesECU Athletic Director Terry Holland hired his former player to lead the Pirates.
Eastern IllinoisRick SamuelsMike Miller
Eastern KentuckyTravis FordJeff NeubauerEKU hires West Virginia's top assistant after Ford leaves for UMass.
Eastern MichiganJim BooneCharles Ramsey
Florida AtlanticSidney GreenMatt DohertyFAU fires Green and hires deposed North Carolina coach Doherty.
Fresno StateRay LopesSteve Cleveland
IPFWDoug NollJoe PechotaDane FifeIPFW makes the 25-year-old Fife the youngest head coach in Division I.
JacksonvilleHugh DurhamCliff WarrenDurham retired after 37 seasons and 633 victories.
Louisiana-MonroeMike ViningOrlando Early
Loyola MarymountSteve AggersRodney Tention
MassachusettsSteve LappasTravis FordLappas was fired after UMass missed the postseason in all four of his seasons there.
Mississippi Valley StateLafayette StriblingJames Green
New HampshirePhil RoweBill Herrion
New Mexico StateLou HensonTony StubblefieldReggie TheusHenson officially retired on January 22, 2005 due to health reasons. After the season, Louisville assistant and former NBA All-Star Theus was hired.
UNC GreensboroFran McCafferyMike Dement
Portland StateHeath SchroyerKen Bone
PurdueGene KeadyMatt PainterPurdue executed their succession plan as Keady stepped aside for top assistant Painter.
RichmondJerry WainwrightChris MooneyRichmond turned to Princeton offense disciple Mooney after Wainwright left for DePaul
RiderDon HarnumTommy DempseyDempsey took over as Harnum became Rider AD.
San Jose StatePhil L. JohnsonGeorge Nessman
Savannah StateEd DanielsHorace Broadnax
SienaRob LanierFran McCaffery
Southeastern LouisianaBilly KennedyJim Yarbrough
Southern CaliforniaHenry BibbyJim SaiaTim FloydBibby was fired four games into the season. Coaching veteran Floyd was hired after the season.
Stony BrookNick MacarchukSteve Pikiell
St. Francis Ron GanulinBrian Nash
TennesseeBuzz PetersonBruce PearlPearl parlayed Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Sweet 16 run into a Southeastern Conference head coaching job.
TulaneShawn FinneyDave DickersonTulane hired top Maryland assistant Dickerson.
TulsaJohn PhillipsDoug WojcikTulsa tapped Tom Izzo assistant Wojcik.
VermontTom BrennanMike LonerganColorful coach Brennan retired after 19 years.
VirginiaPete GillenDave LeitaoGillen steps down after seven years at the helm.
VMIBart BellairsDuggar Baucom
Western CarolinaSteve ShurinaLarry Hunter
Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBruce PearlRob JeterUWM brought back former Panther assistant Jeter after Pearl left for Tennessee.
Youngstown StateJohn RobicJerry Slocum