1981 ACC men's basketball tournament

The 1981 Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament was held in Landover, Maryland, at the Capital Centre from March 5–7. North Carolina defeated Maryland, 61–60, to win the championship. Sam Perkins of North Carolina was named the tournament MVP.

1981 ACC men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1980–81
Teams	8
Site	Capital Centre Landover, Maryland
Champions	North Carolina (9th title)
Winning coach	Dean Smith (8th title)
MVP	Sam Perkins (North Carolina)
Television	C.D. Chesley
ACC men's basketball tournaments

1980–81 ACC men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 5 Virginia	13	–	1		.929			29	–	4		.879
No. 6 North Carolina †	10	–	4		.714			29	–	8		.784
No. 11 Wake Forest	9	–	5		.643			22	–	7		.759
No. 18 Maryland	8	–	6		.571			21	–	10		.677
Duke	6	–	8		.429			17	–	13		.567
Clemson	6	–	8		.429			20	–	11		.645
NC State	4	–	10		.286			14	–	13		.519
Georgia Tech	0	–	14		.000			4	–	23		.148
† 1981 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Bracket

	Quarterfinals March 5					Semifinals March 6					Championship Game March 7
	1	#4 Virginia	76
	8	Georgia Tech	47
						1	#4 Virginia	62
						4	#20 Maryland	85
	4	#20 Maryland	56
	5	Duke	53
											4	#20 Maryland	60
											2	#12 North Carolina	61
	2	#12 North Carolina	69
	7	NC State	54
						2	#12 North Carolina	58
						3	#11 Wake Forest	57
	3	#11 Wake Forest	80
	6	Clemson	71