1979–80 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
| year = 1979–80
| team = Minnesota Golden Gophers
| sport = basketball
| logo =
| logo_size =
| logo_alt =
| image= Minnesota Golden Gophers logo.svg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| conference = Big Ten Conference
| division =
| short_conf = Big Ten
| CoachRank =
| APRank =
| record = 21–11
| conf_record = 10–8
| wins_vacated =
| ties_forfeited =
| wins_forfeited =
| conf_wins_vacated =
| conf_wins_forfeited =
| head_coach = Jim Dutcher
| hc_year =
| asst_coach1 = Jimmy Williams
| ac1_year =
| asst_coach2 = Jessie Evans
| ac2_year =
| asst_coach3 = Marty Gillespie
| ac3_year =
| mvp =
| mvp_year =
| mvp2 =
| mvp2_year =
| captain =
| captain_year =
| captain2 =
| captain2_year =
| captain3 =
| captain3_year =
| captain4 =
| captain4_year =
| arena = Williams Arena
| champion =
| tourney=National Invitation Tournament
| tourney_result = Runner-Up
}}
{{1979–80 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1979–80 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represented the University of Minnesota as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jim Dutcher, the Gophers played their home games at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.
Minnesota finished tied for fourth in the rugged Big Ten Conference (Indiana and Ohio State were top 10 teams throughout the season while Iowa and Purdue reached the Final Four) with a record of 10–8, but were left out of the 48-team NCAA Tournament. The Gophers went on to reach the championship game of the 1980 NIT, where they fell to Virginia and college legend Ralph Sampson,{{cite news |title=Virginia Is King In NIT |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/03/20/virginia-is-king-in-nit/02281d8d-bfb8-4b66-a341-4ec36f9da433/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 20, 1980 |access-date=February 7, 2021}} and finished with an overall record of 21–11.
Senior forward Kevin McHale finished his career as the school-record holder in blocks while also establishing the single-season record (surpassed three seasons later by teammate Randy Breuer). He finished second on the career scoring and rebounding charts. McHale was taken by the Boston Celtics with the No. 3 pick in the 1980 NBA draft.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1979|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mark|last=Hall|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=|class=SO|link=|rs=|home= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Trent|last=Tucker|num=32|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=185|class=SO|link=y|rs=|home=Flint, Michigan}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Gary|last=Holmes|num=42|pos=F|ft=6|in=10|lbs=|class=SO|link=|rs=|home= }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kevin|last=McHale|dab=basketball|num=44|pos=FC|ft=6|in=10|lbs=210|class=SR|link=y|rs=|home=Hibbing, Minnesota}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Randy|last=Breuer|num=45|pos=C|ft=7|in=3|lbs=225|class=FR|link=y|rs=|home=Lake City, Minnesota}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ben|last=Coleman|num=54|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=230|class=FR|link=y|dab=basketball|rs=|home=Minneapolis, Minnesota}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Jim Dutcher ({{college|Michigan}})
|asst_coach=
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|time=no|rank=yes|tv=yes|attend=no}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Minnesota Golden Gophers}}| Non-Conference Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 30, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1979|sex=men|team=Eastern Michigan Hurons |title=Eastern Michigan}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 77–56
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 3, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1979|sex=men|team=Fresno State Bulldogs|title=Fresno State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 65–49
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 5, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1979|sex=men|team=North Dakota Fighting Sioux|title=North Dakota}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 87–60
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 15, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 75–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 17, 1979
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tennessee
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Stokely Athletic Center
| site_cityst = Knoxville, Tennessee
| gamename =
| score = 64–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 20, 1979
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tully Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Tallahassee, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 91–112
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 22, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Kansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 78–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 28, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Rutgers
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 98–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 29, 1979
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Texas A&M
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 69–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–2
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Minnesota Golden Gophers}}| Big Ten Conference Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 3, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Crisler Arena
| site_cityst = Ann Arbor, Michigan
| gamename =
| score = 67–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–3
| conference = 0–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 5, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Michigan State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jenison Field House
| site_cityst = East Lansing, Michigan
| gamename =
| score = 93–80
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–3
| conference = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 10, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 82–76
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 9–3
| conference = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 12, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 79–75
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–3
| conference = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 17, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = St. John Arena
| site_cityst = Columbus, Ohio
| gamename =
| score = 70–75
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 10–4
| conference = 3–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 19, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Purdue
| opprank = 11
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 67–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–4
| conference = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 24, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Indiana
| opprank = 16
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 55–47
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–4
| conference = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 26, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Iowa Field House
| site_cityst = Iowa City, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 73–80
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–5
| conference = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1979|sex=men|team=Northwestern Wildcats|title=Northwestern}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Welsh-Ryan Arena
| site_cityst = Evanston, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 74–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–5
| conference = 6–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 2, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Iowa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 63–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–6
| conference = 6–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 7, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Purdue
| opprank = 12
| site_stadium = Mackey Arena
| site_cityst = West Lafayette, Indiana
| gamename =
| score = 56–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–7
| conference = 6–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 9, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Northwestern
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 72–55
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–7
| conference = 7–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 14, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Ohio State
| opprank = 9
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 74–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–7
| conference = 8–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 16, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Indiana
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Bloomington, Indiana
| gamename =
| score = 54–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–8
| conference = 8–6
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 21, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Assembly Hall
| site_cityst = Champaign, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 58–60
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 15–9
| conference = 8–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 23, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Wisconsin
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Wisconsin Field House
| site_cityst = Madison, Wisconsin
| gamename =
| score = 55–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–10
| conference = 8–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 28, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Michigan State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 87–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–10
| conference = 9–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 1, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Michigan
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename =
| score = 68–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–10
| conference = 10–8
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Minnesota Golden Gophers}}| 1980 National Invitation Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 5, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Bowling Green
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename = First Round
| score = 64–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 10, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Mississippi
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename = Second Round
| score = 58–56
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 13, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1979|sex=men|team=Southwestern Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns|title=Southwestern Louisiana}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Williams Arena
| site_cityst = Minneapolis, Minnesota
| gamename = Quarterfinal
| score = 94–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 17, 1980
| time =
| w/l = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden
| site_cityst = New York, New York
| gamename = Semifinal
| score = 65–63
| overtime =
| attend = 11,223
| record = 21–10
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 19, 1980
| time =
| w/l = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Virginia
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Madison Square Garden
| site_cityst = New York, New York
| gamename = Championship game
| overtime =
| attend = 13,598
| record = 21–11
}}
{{CBB schedule end| poll=AP Poll}}
{{cite web |title=2020-21 Minnesota Golden Gophers Men's Basketball Media Guide |url=https://gophersports.com/documents/2020/12/22/MBB_Guide_2020_21.pdf |publisher=University of Minnesota Athletics |access-date=February 7, 2021}}
Team players in the 1980 NBA draft
{{see also|1980 NBA draft}}
| class="wikitable"
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Minnesota Golden Gophers| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club }} | |||
| style="text-align:center;" bgcolor=""
| 1 | 3 | Kevin McHale | Boston Celtics |
{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/draft/NBA_1980.html|title=1980 NBA Draft|publisher=Basketball-reference.com|accessdate=February 7, 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1979-80 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team}}
Category:Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball seasons