1980–81 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year=1980–81
|team=Creighton Bluejays
|sport=Basketball
|image=
|image_size=150
|conference=Missouri Valley Conference
|division=
|short_conf=MVC
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=21–9
|conf_record=11–5
|head_coach=Tom Apke
|hc_year=7th
|asst_coach1=
|asst_coach2=
|asst_coach3=
|asst_coach4=
|stadium=Omaha Civic Auditorium
|champion=MVC tournament champion
|tourney= NCAA tournament
|tourney_result = second round
}}
{{1980–81 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1980–81 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team represented Creighton University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Bluejays, led by head coach Tom Apke, played their home games at the Omaha Civic Auditorium. The Jays finished with a 21–9 record (11–5 MVC), and won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament{{cite news |title=Creighton 68, Southwest Missouri State 52 |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1991/03/06/Creighton-68-Southwest-Missouri-State-52/1574668235600/ |publisher=UPI Archives |date=March 6, 1991 |access-date=May 17, 2020}} to earn an automatic bid to the 1981 NCAA tournament. As No. 8 seed in the Mideast region, the Jays fell to No. 9 seed Saint Joseph's in the opening round.{{cite news |title=Bluejays Flatten Feeble Aggies as N.M. Makes Another 1st-Round Exit |url=https://www.deseret.com/1991/3/15/18910353/bluejays-flatten-feeble-aggies-as-n-m-makes-another-1st-round-exit |newspaper=Deseret News |date=March 15, 1991 |access-date=May 17, 2020}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1980|team=Creighton Bluejays|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mark|last=Jones|num=10|pos=G|ft=6|in=1|lbs=|class=So|link=|dab= basketball|home=Corning, Iowa|high_school=Corning }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kevin|last=McKenna|num=30|pos=G|ft=6|in=7|lbs=190|class=Sr|link=y|dab= basketball|home=Palatine, Illinois|high_school={{nbsp}} }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Alex|last=Stivrins|num=32|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=210|class=Fr|link=y|home=Lincoln, Nebraska|high_school={{nbsp}} }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=George|last=Morrow|num=41|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs=|class=Sr|link=|home=Memphis, Tennessee|high_school={{nbsp}} }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kevin|last=Ross|num=51|pos=FC|ft=6|in=8|lbs=|class=Jr|link=|home=Kansas City, Kansas|high_school={{nbsp}} }}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Tom Apke ({{college|Creighton}})
|asst_coach=
|roster_url=https://gocreighton.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/1980-81
|accessdate=
}}
{{cite web |title=1980-81 Creighton Bluejays Roster and Stats |website=Sports Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/creighton/1981.html |access-date=February 25, 2023}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|rank=|ranklink=1980-81 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=1980-81|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Creighton Bluejays}}| Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 28, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets|title=Wisconsin–Superior}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 92–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 2, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Omaha Mavericks|title=Nebraska–Omaha}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 79–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 6, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 66–61
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 8, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Saint Louis Billikens|title=Saint Louis}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = St. Louis Arena
| site_cityst = St. Louis, Missouri
| gamename =
| score = 64–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 9, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Loyola Ramblers|title=Loyola–Chicago}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 82–74
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 12, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Iowa State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Hilton Coliseum
| site_cityst = Ames, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 77–73
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 22, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Canisius Golden Griffins|title=Canisius}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 72–52
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 28, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=South Florida Bulls|title=South Florida}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Sun Dome
| site_cityst = Tampa, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 62–77
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 3, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Tulsa Golden Hurricane|title=Tulsa}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 97–86
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–1
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 8, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Southern Illinois Salukis|title=Southern Illinois}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = SIU Arena
| site_cityst = Carbondale, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 78–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–1
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 10, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Indiana State Sycamores|title=Indiana State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Hulman Center
| site_cityst = Terre Haute, Indiana
| gamename =
| score = 62–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–1
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 15, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Marquette
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 66–76
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 17, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Bradley Braves|title=Bradley}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 54–51
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–2
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 19, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Drake Bulldogs|title=Drake}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Veterans Memorial Auditorium
| site_cityst = Des Moines, Iowa
| gamename =
| score = 70–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–3
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 22, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Wichita State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 72–77
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–4
| conference = 4–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 24, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=West Texas A&M Buffaloes |title=West Texas A&M}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 86–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–4
| conference = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tulsa
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tulsa Convention Center
| site_cityst = Tulsa, Oklahoma
| gamename =
| score = 84–87
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–5
| conference = 5–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 2, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Southern Illinois
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 50–43
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–5
| conference = 6–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 5, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Indiana State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 65–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–5
| conference = 7–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 7, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Bradley
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Robertson Memorial Field House
| site_cityst = Peoria, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 80–93
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–6
| conference = 7–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 9, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = DePaul
| opprank = 3
| site_stadium = Rosemont Horizon
| site_cityst = Rosemont, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 57–83
| overtime =
| attend = 16,473
| record = 14–7
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 14, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=New Mexico State Aggies|title=New Mexico State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 95–83
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–7
| conference = 8–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 19, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Drake
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 73–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–7
| conference = 9–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 21, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Wichita State
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = Levitt Arena
| site_cityst = Wichita, Kansas
| gamename =
| score = 70–83
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–8
| conference = 9–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 26, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = West Texas A&M
| opprank =
| site_stadium = WT Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Canyon, Texas
| gamename =
| score = 90–86
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–8
| conference = 10–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 28, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = New Mexico State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Pan American Center
| site_cityst = Las Cruces, New Mexico
| gamename =
| score = 84–78
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–8
| conference = 11–5
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Creighton Bluejays}}| 1981 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 5, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = 2
| opponent = Indiana State
| opprank =
| oppseed = 7
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| score = 64–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 6, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = 2
| opponent = Tulsa
| opprank =
| oppseed = 3
| site_stadium = Omaha Civic Auditorium
| site_cityst = Omaha, Nebraska
| gamename = Semifinals
| score = 66–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–8
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 7, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = 2
| opponent = Wichita State
| opprank =
| oppseed = 1
| site_stadium = Levitt Arena
| site_cityst = Wichita, Kansas
| gamename = Championship game
| score = 70–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–8
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Creighton Bluejays}}| 1981 NCAA Division I basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 12, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 8 ME
| opponent = Saint Joseph's
| opprank =
| oppseed = 9 ME
| site_stadium = University of Dayton Arena
| site_cityst = Dayton, Ohio
| gamename = First round
| score = 57–59
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–9
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll = AP poll
| timezone = Central
| region = ME
| regionname = Mideast
| notes =
}}
{{cite web |title=2019-20 Creighton Men's Basketball Media Guide |url=https://gocreighton.com/news/2019/9/29/2019-20-mens-basketball-media-guide-now-on-line.aspx |publisher=Creighton Bluejays |access-date=February 25, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Creighton Bluejays men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Creighton Bluejays men's basketball team}}