High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The 1971 NCAA Men`s Division I Basketball Tournament involved 25 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men`s NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1971, and ended with the championship game on March 27 in Houston, Texas. A total of 29 games were played, including a third place game in each region and a national third place game.