AP No. 20 Head coach Denny Crum | 1971-82 record 26-5 (12-2 ) Home arena Freedom Hall | |
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Conference Missouri Valley Conference | ||
The 1971–72 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team represented the University of Louisville during the 1971-72 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Louisville's 59th season of intercollegiate competition. The Cardinals competed in the Missouri Valley Conference and were coached by Denny Crum, who was in his first season. The team played its home games at Freedom Hall.
Louisville defeated Memphis State 83-72 in the Missouri Valley Conference playoff to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. They beat Kansas State to win the NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional and advance to the Final Four (their 2nd) where they fell to eventual champion UCLA 96-77. They finished fourth, falling to North Carolina in the third place game 105-91. The Cardinals finished with a 26-5 (12-2) record.