1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
| 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season | |
|---|---|
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Kentucky Wildcats |
| NCAA Tournament | 1981 |
| Tournament dates | March 12 – 30, 1981 |
| National Championship | The Spectrum Philadelphia |
| NCAA Champions | Indiana Hoosiers |
| Helms National Champions | Indiana Hoosiers |
| Other champions | Tulsa Golden Hurricanes (NIT) |
| Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden) | Ralph Sampson, Virginia (Naismith) Danny Ainge, BYU (Wooden) |
| Player of the Year (Helms) | Mark Aguirre, DePaul |
The 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 28, 1980, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1981 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament championship game on March 30, 1981, at The Spectrum in Philadelphia. The Indiana Hoosiers won their fourth NCAA national championship with a 63–50 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.