The 2020-21 DI men's basketball season was unlike any other. Still, games were played and milestones were met.
krikya18.com tracked notable milestones that were achieved during the season. They were set by players, coaches and programs alike.
Got a milestone tip for us? Send us an email with as much information as you can. We'll confirm and add to this list.
April 5, 2021 — Baylor wins its first national championship
The Bears rolled No. 1 Gonzaga, 86-70, in the title game on April 5. In doing so, No. 1 Baylor became the 37th different program to win the DI men's basketball national championship.
FIRST. TIME. FEELING! 👏
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness)
Baylor wins the for the first time in men’s program history!
No. 1 seed Gonzaga rolled No. 6 seed USC in the Elite Eight, 85-66, to win its 30th game of the season. It's an NCAA record the fifth consecutive 30-win season for the Bulldogs.
🚨 NEW RECORD 🚨
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness)
Gonzaga sets an NCAA record with its 5th straight 30-win season!
March 20, 2021 — Abilene Christian wins first NCAA tournament game in program history
No. 14 seed Abilene Christian held off No. 3 Texas, 53-52, on March 20 to win the school's first-ever NCAA tournament game. The Wildcats were 0-1 in the Big Dance before the victory.
FIRST NCAA TOURNAMENT WIN MOOD
— ACU Sports (@ACUsports)
March 19, 2021 — Bob Huggins wins game No. 900
Coach Bog Huggins won the 900th game of his career when No. 3 seed West Virginia rolled No. 14 seed Morehead State, 84-67, on March 19. His previous stops as head coach include Kansas State, Cincinnati, Akron and Walsh. Huggins is just the to reach 900 victories.
Congratulations on 9️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ wins, from some of your biggest fans!
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops)
March 19, 2021 — North Texas wins first NCAA tournament game in school history
No. 13 seed North Texas outlasted No. 4 Purdue, 78-69, in overtime on March 19 to win the program's first-ever NCAA tournament game. The Mean Green were 0-3 all time in the Big Dance prior to the victory.
📂 Things
— North Texas Basketball (@MeanGreenMBB)
└ 📂 You love to see
└ 📁 It
March 13, 2021 — Grand Canyon clinches its first NCAA tournament berth
The Lopes defeated New Mexico State 74-56 on March 13 to win the 2021 WAC tournament. In doing so, Grand Canyon clinched the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. This will be its first-ever appearance in the Big Dance.
For the first time in school history, THE LOPES ARE GOING DANCING!! 💜💜
— Grand Canyon Men's Basketball (@GCU_MBB)
March 13, 2021 — Hartford clinches its first NCAA tournament berth
The Hawks defeated UMass Lowell 64-50 on March 13 to win the 2021 America East tournament. With the victory comes the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament. This will be Hartford's first-ever appearance in the Big Dance.
RECAP: The Hawks are dancing for the first time in program history ‼️ 🎉 🏆
— Hartford Men’s Basketball (@HartfordMBB)
📖: | |
March 2, 2021 — Baylor wins its first regular season conference championship since 1950
The third-ranked Bears clinched their first regular season conference championship by defeating No. 6 West Virginia, 94-89, in overtime on March 2. Baylor's last regular season title came in 1950, when it was part of the Southwest Conference.
🏆 🐻 | 🏀
— Baylor Basketball (@BaylorMBB)
Feb. 27, 2021 — Roy Williams wins his 900th game as a head coach
North Carolina head coach Roy Williams won the 900th game of his career on Feb. 27, as his Tar Heels defeated No. 11 Florida State, 78-70. Before arriving at Chapel Hill, N.C., in 2003, Williams was the head coach at Kansas from 1988-2003. He's won three national championships with the Tar Heels.
𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐃. 🙌
— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball)
Congratulations Coach Williams on 900 career head coaching wins.
Feb. 21, 2021 — Luka Garza becomes Iowa's all-time leading scorer
Luka Garza became Iowa's all-time leading scorer during the Hawkeye's 74-68 win over Penn State on Feb. 21. The center surpassed Roy Marble's 2,116 points with an uncontested layup.
With this bucket, has passed Roy Marble (2,116) to become ' all-time scoring leader 👏👏👏
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX)
Feb. 6, 2021 — Ayo Dosunmu records third triple-double in Illinois history
Illini guard Ayo Dosunmu posted the third triple-double in program history during No. 12 Illinois' 75-60 win over No. 19 Wisconsin on Feb. 6. Dosunmu finished with 21 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists.
🔥 is DIFFERENT
— FOX College Hoops (@CBBonFOX)
The star recorded just the 3rd triple double in program history today vs Wisconsin!
Feb. 3, 2021 — East Carolina stuns No. 5 Houston for first-ever win over a top-5 team
The Pirates shocked the fifth-ranked Cougars 82-73 on Feb. 3. It was the program's first-ever win over an AP top-5 team, . East Carolina entered the game 0-17 all-time against teams ranked within the top 5.
First victory over a top 5 opponent in PROGRAM HISTORY.
— ECU Men’s Basketball (@ecubasketball)
Retweet if you're a proud Pirate!!! 🏴☠️
Jan. 23, 2021 — Auburn sets program record for most points in an SEC road game
The Tigers' 109-86 win over South Carolina on Jan. 23 set a program record for points scored in an SEC road game. Auburn has competed in the SEC since the conference was founded in 1932.
Most points in an road win in program history!
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB)
Jan 16, 2021 — John Petty Jr. becomes Alabama's all-time leader in made 3-pointers
John Petty Jr. became Alabama's all-time leader in 3-point field goals during the Crimson Tide's 90-59 win over Arkansas on Jan. 16. Petty's fourth triple of the game (the 264th of his career) surpassed Brian Williams for the .
2️⃣6️⃣5️⃣ THREES
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork)
John Petty Jr. is ’s all-time leader in career threes 👌
Jan. 12, 2021 — Michigan wins third-straight game over ranked opponent by 19+ points
After hammering No. 9 Wisconsin 77-54 on Jan. 12, the seventh-ranked Wolverines have now won three-straight games against ranked opponents by at least 19 points. They're the first team in history to do so, . Michigan beat then-No. 19 Northwestern 85-66 on Jan. 3 and then-No. 16 Minnesota 82-57 on Jan. 6.
No team in college basketball has ever done this until tonight.
— Michigan Men's Basketball (@umichbball)
Big things happening in Ann Arbor. 〽️🏀
Jan. 11, 2021 — Boise State's winning streak reaches 11
Boise State won its 11th-straight game on Jan. 11, handling Wyoming 83-60. The 11-game tear is the longest winning streak in program history. After opening the season with a loss, the Broncos are now 11-1.
𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐑𝐃
— Boise State MBB (@BroncoSportsMBB)
11 consecutive wins for the Broncos!!! Now 11-1 on the season.
Dec. 30, 2020 — Mack Smith makes a 3-pointer for the 89th-straight game
Mack Smith's triple at the 11:52 mark of the first half put the Eastern Illinois guard into the record books. He's now made a 3-pointer in 89 consecutive games, the longest such streak in DI history. Smith finished with eight points on 3-for-8 shooting as the Panthers lost to Eastern Kentucky 69-61.
Mack Smith sets the NCAA record for consecutive games with a made 3-pointer knocking down a 3 from the right corner at EKU with 11:52 to play in the first half..
— Eastern Illinois Athletics (@EIU_Panthers)
Dec. 29, 2020 — West Virginia reaches win No. 1,800
The Mountaineers became the 22nd program in DI history to win 1,800 games after its 73-51 victory over Northeastern on Dec. 29. West Virginia is the second team to have reached that milestone this season, as Villanova did so back on Nov. 25.
Today’s win marks No. 1️⃣8️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ as a program, ranking 22nd in the nation!
— WVU Men's Basketball (@WVUhoops)
Dec. 26, 2020 — No. 1 Gonzaga beats four top-20 teams in its first seven games
After handling No. 16 Virginia 98-75, the Bulldogs have now defeated four AP top-20 teams in their first seven games. They're the , according to ESPN. Those other three wins came against then-No. 6 Kansas, then-No. 11 West Virginia and then-No. 3 Iowa.
. was straight up feelin' it 😤
— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB)
Dec. 25, 2020 — Badgers set program record for most points in a road win over a ranked team
Another week, another scoring milestone for Wisconsin. The ninth-ranked Badgers defeated No. 12 Michigan State 85-76 on Dec. 25. Those 85 points were the in program history, according to ESPN.
at #20 Penn State ✔️
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB)
at #5 Ohio State ✔️
at #19 Michigan ✔️
at #12 Michigan State ✔️
The Badgers have now won four of their last six road games against AP Top-25 teams. Top Plays from our Christmas Day win!
Dec. 19, 2020 — Wisconsin records its largest margin of victory against a ranked opponent
No. 12 Wisconsin steamrolled No. 23 Louisville 85-48 on Dec. 19. The Badgers' 37-point win was their largest margin of victory against an AP Top-25 team in program history.
Top Plays ... and plenty of 'em!
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB)
Today's 37-point win over #23 Louisville is Wisconsin's largest over an AP Top-25 team in school history
Dec. 17, 2020 — Kansas wins its 30th-straight conference opener
Kansas opened league play the same way it had in the previous 29 seasons: with a victory. The Jayhawks' 58-57 triumph over Texas Tech on Dec. 17 was their 30th conference-opening win in as many years. According to Elias Sports Bureau and ESPN, that's the for a DI program in the last 50 seasons.
Since ‘92
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops)
That’s 𝟯𝟬-𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝘀 on opening night of conference play.
Faces change // Expectations don’t
Dec. 16, 2020 — Jay Wright wins his 600th game
Villanova head coach Jay Wright won the 600th game of his career on Dec. 16 when the Wildcats defeated Butler 85-66. Prior to Villanova, he was Hofstra's head coach from 1994-2001. The 58-year-old has won two national championships with the Wildcats.
With tonight’s win over Butler, earned his 600th career victory! Congratulations Coach ✌️✌️✌️
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB)
Dec. 8, 2020 — Penn State earns win No. 1,500
The Nittany Lions won their 1,500th game in program history on Dec. 8, upsetting No. 15 Virginia Tech 75-55. Those 1,500 wins date back to the 1896-97 season, when Penn State began playing college basketball.
ANOTHER milestone!
— Penn State Men’s Basketball (@PennStateMBB)
Dec. 6, 2020 — Ohio's 40-0 run against Cleveland State
Ohio went on a 40-0 scoring run during its 101-46 victory over Cleveland State on Dec. 6. That's the longest run for a DI team against a DI opponent in NCAA history.
We went on a 40-0 run that spanned 12:47.
— Ohio Men's Basketball (@OhioMBasketball)
That was the largest run against another DI opponent in NCAA history.
Dec. 2, 2020 — Illinois State sets single-game record for assists, field-goal percentage
The Redbirds finished with 57 assists and shot 84.3 percent (70-of-83) from the floor in their 177-108 victory over Greenville on Dec. 2. Both are . Illinois State and Greenville also combined for the fourth-highest scoring total ever in a DI game with 285 points.
Have you all caught your breath yet?
— Redbird Men's Basketball (@Redbird_MBB)
Here's some of the top dunks for in their win over Greenville!
Big props to for keeping up with the action tonight!
Nov. 30, 2020 — Kansas is ranked in the AP Top 25 poll for the 222nd-straight week
Kansas set a record on Nov. 30 for consecutive weeks ranked in the AP poll. The Jayhawks have now appeared in the Top 25 for 222 straight weeks — a streak that began on Feb. 2, 2009. That broke the previous record of 221, set by UCLA from 1966-80.
Jayhawks comin’ in at No. 7 this week...
— Kansas Basketball (@KUHoops)
That’s 𝟮𝟮𝟮 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 ranked in the , a new NCAA record ✊
More ➝
Nov. 25, 2020 — Villanova reaches 1,800 victories
Villanova became the 21st program in DI history to win 1,800 games after its 76-67 victory over Boston College on Nov. 25, according to the . The Wildcats had been sitting at 1,799 since back on March 7. Everyone knows what happened next.
🎥 WIN No. 1️⃣
— Villanova MBB (@NovaMBB)
The views on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of the NCAA or its member institutions.