1980–81 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA team season
|mode=Basketball
|year=1980–81
|team=Louisville Cardinals
|image=Louisville Cardinals text logo.svg
|conference=Metro Conference
|division=
|short_conf=Metro
|CoachRank =13
|APRank=12
|record=21–9
|conf_record=11–1
|head_coach=Denny Crum
|hc_year=10th
|asst_coach1=
|asst_coach2=
|asst_coach3=
|captain=Game captains
|stadium=Freedom Hall
|champion=Metro Conference Champions
Metro Conference tournament champions
|bowl= NCAA Men's Division I Tournament
|bowl_result= Second Round
}}
{{1980–81 Metro Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1980–81 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team represented the University of Louisville during the 1980-81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season, Louisville's 67th season of intercollegiate competition. The Cardinals competed in the Metro Conference and were coached by Denny Crum, who was in his tenth season. The team played its home games at Freedom Hall.
The Cardinals won the Metro Conference tournament championship (their 3rd), defeating Cincinnati 42–31. As defending Champion Louisville was upset by a half-court shot by U.S. Reed and lost to Arkansas 74–73 in the NCAA tournament second round. The Cardinals finished with a 21–9 (11–1) record.{{cite web|title=Lousivlle Basketball Media Guide|url=http://www.guide.provations.com/louisville/basketball2012_13#pg186|work=Lousivlle Basketball Media Guide|publisher=University of Louisville|accessdate=21 December 2012}}
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1980|team=Louisville Cardinals|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Lancaster|last=Gordon|link=y|dab=|num=4|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=185|class=Fr|home=Jackson, Mississippi|high_school=Jim Hill}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Jerry|last=Eaves|num=5|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=180|class=JR|rs=|home=Louisville, Kentucky |link=y|high_school=Ballard }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Greg|last=Deuser|num=14|pos=G|ft=6|in=0|lbs=170|class=JR|rs=|home=New Albany, Indiana |high_school=Floyd Central }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Scooter|last=McCray|num=21|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=185|class=JR|rs=|home=Mount Vernon, New York|nat=USA|link=y |high_school=Mount Vernon}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rodney|last=McCray|dab=basketball|num=22|pos=F-C|ft=6|in=7|lbs=220|class=SO|rs=|home=Mount Vernon, New York|nat=USA|link=y |high_school=Mount Vernon}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Roger|last=Burkman|num=34|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=175|class=SR|rs=|link=y|home=Indianapolis, Indiana |high_school=Franklin Central}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first= Marty|last=Pulliam|num=40|pos=C|ft=6|in=9|lbs=225|class=JR|rs=|home=Harrodsburg, Kentucky|high_school=Mercer Country Senior}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Wiley|last=Brown|num=41|pos=C|ft=6|in=8|lbs=220|class=JR|rs=|home=Sylvester, Georgia |link=y|high_school=Worth County }}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Derek|last=Smith|dab=basketball|num=43|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=205|class=JR|rs=|home=Hogansville, Georgia|link=y|high_school=Hogansville}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Poncho|last=Wright|num=44|pos=G-F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=195|class=JR|rs=|home=Indianapolis, Indiana|high_school=Marshall}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
}}
Schedule
{{CBB schedule start
| time =
| rank =
| tv =
| gamehighs =
| attend =
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{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 22
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 3
| opponent = DePaul
| opprank = 2
| site_stadium = Springfield Civic Center
| site_cityst = Springfield, MA
| gamename = Hall of Fame Game
| tv = TVS
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 80–86
| overtime =
| attend = 8,937
| record = 0–1
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 4
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tulsa
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Tulsa, OK
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 60–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 0–2
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 6
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Oklahoma State
| opprank =
| site_stadium =
| site_cityst = Stillwater, OK
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 71–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 0–3
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 13
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Maryland
| opprank = 4
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv = NBC
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 78–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–3
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 20
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 20
| opponent = Utah
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 59–78
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–4
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 22
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Minnesota
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 59–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–5
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 29
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = North Carolina
| opprank = 6
| site_stadium = L.A. Sports Arena
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename = Winston Tire Classic
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 64–86
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 30
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = USC
| opprank =
| site_stadium = L.A. Sports Arena
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
| gamename = Winston Tire Classic
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 79–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–6
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 3
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Kansas State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Ahearn Field House
| site_cityst = Manhattan, KS
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 47–64
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–7
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 5
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tulane
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Louisiana Superdome
| site_cityst = New Orleans, LA
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 73–53
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–7
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 10
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Cincinnati
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Riverfront Coliseum
| site_cityst = Cincinnati, OH
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 83–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–7
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 17
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 98–78
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–7
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 18
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Missouri
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 71–49
| overtime =
| attend = 13,386
| record = 6–7
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 22
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Memphis State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Mid-South Coliseum
| site_cityst = Memphis, TN
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 55–60
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 6–8
| conference = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Providence
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 71–55
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 29
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = St. Louis
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 61–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–8
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 31
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 92–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–8
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 2
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = US International
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 86–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 4
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Tulane
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 85–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–8
| conference = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 7
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Florida State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Tully Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Tallahassee, FL
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 82–73
| overtime = OT
| attend =
| record = 12–8
| conference = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 9
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Cassell Coliseum
| site_cityst = Blacksburg, VA
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 71–66
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–8
| conference = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 13
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Marquette
| opprank =
| site_stadium = MECCA Arena
| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 79–60
| overtime =
| attend = 11,052
| record = 14–8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 16
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Memphis State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 95–65
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–8
| conference = 9–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 18
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Iona
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 91–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 23
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Cincinnati
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 81–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–8
| conference = 10–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 25
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = St. Louis
| opprank =
| site_stadium = The Checkersdome
| site_cityst = St. Louis, MO
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 97–85
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–8
| conference = 11–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 28
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 20
| opponent = Western Kentucky
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename =
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 90–75
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–8
| conference =
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Louisville Cardinals}}|1981 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 7
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = 1
| opponent = Virginia Tech
| opprank =
| oppseed = 4
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename = Semifinals
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 81–68
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–8
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 8
| time =
| status = w
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed = 1
| opponent = Cincinnati
| opprank =
| oppseed = 3
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| site_cityst = Louisville, KY
| gamename = Final
| tv =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 42–31
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–8
| conference =
}}
|-
!colspan=12 style={{NCAA color cell|Louisville Cardinals}}| 1981 NCAA Division I basketball tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 14
| time =
| status = l
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 12
| seed = 4 MW
| opponent = Arkansas
| opprank = 20
| oppseed = 5 MW
| site_stadium = Frank Erwin Center
| site_cityst = Austin, TX
| gamename = First Round
| tv = NBC
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| score = 73–74{{cite magazine |title=March 14, 1981: When the NCAA tournament became Madness |url=https://www.si.com/college/2012/03/14/1981-madness |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=March 14, 2012 |access-date=February 19, 2023}}
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–9
| conference =
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll = AP Poll
| timezone = Eastern Time
| region = MW
| regionname = Midwest
| notes =
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Louisville Cardinals men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team}}
Category:Louisville Cardinals men's basketball seasons
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball, 1980-81