2000–01 Northwestern State Demons basketball team

2000–01 Northwestern State Demons basketball
NCAA tournament, First round
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Record19–13 (11–9 Southland)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Jeff Moore
  • Bill Lewit
  • Jacob Spielbauer
Home arenaPrather Coliseum
2000–01 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
McNeese State 17 3   .850 22 9   .710
Nicholls State 12 8   .600 14 14   .500
UTSA 12 8   .600 14 15   .483
Northwestern State 11 9   .550 19 13   .594
Sam Houston State 11 9   .550 16 13   .552
Texas–Arlington 11 9   .550 13 15   .464
Southwest Texas State 10 10   .500 13 15   .464
Louisiana–Monroe 8 12   .400 11 17   .393
Lamar 7 13   .350 9 18   .333
Stephen F. Austin 6 14   .300 9 17   .346
Southeastern Louisiana 5 15   .250 8 21   .276
2001 Southland Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2000–01 Northwestern State Demons basketball team represented Northwestern State University during the 2000–01 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Demons, led by 2nd year head coach Mike McConathy, played their home games at Prather Coliseum and were members of the Southland Conference. They finished the season 19–13, 11–9 in Southland play to finish in fourth place in the regular season standings. They were champions of the Southland Conference tournament, winning the championship game over McNeese State, to earn an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament – the first appearance in program history. As one of two No. 16 seeds in the Midwest region, Northwestern State defeated Winthrop in the play-in game. The Demons were then beaten by No. 1 seed Illinois in the opening round.