1980–81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 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 = Notre Dame Fighting Irish
| sport = basketball
| logo = Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo.svg
| logo_size = 150
| conference = Independent
| division =
| short_conf =
| CoachRank = 9
| APRank = 7
| record = 23–6
| conf_record =
| wins_vacated =
| ties_forfeited =
| wins_forfeited =
| conf_wins_vacated =
| conf_wins_forfeited =
| head_coach = Digger Phelps
| hc_year = 10th
| asst_coach1 = Pete Gillen
| ac1_year = 1st
| asst_coach2 =
| ac2_year =
| asst_coach3 =
| ac3_year =
| mvp =
| mvp_year =
| mvp2 =
| mvp2_year =
| captain = Kelly Tripucka
| captain_year =
| captain2 =
| captain2_year =
| captain3 =
| captain3_year =
| captain4 =
| captain4_year =
| arena = Joyce Center
| champion =
| tourney = NCAA Tournament
| tourney_result = Sweet Sixteen
}}
{{1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings}}
The 1980–81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was coached by Digger Phelps and was ranked in the Associated Press poll for the entirety of the season. As a 2 seed, the Fighting Irish defeated the 10 seed James Madison in the second round, 54–45. Notre Dame would fall to BYU in the 1981 NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1980|team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tim|last=Andree|link=y|num=53|pos=C|ft=6|in=10|lbs=230|class=So|rs=|home=Farmington, Michigan}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kevin|last=Hawkins|num=22|pos=F|ft=6|in=5|lbs=200|class=Sr|rs=|home=Los Angeles, California}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tracy|last=Jackson|num=30|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=210|class=Sr|rs=|home=Silver Spring, Maryland|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Marc|last=Kelly|num=25|pos=G|ft=5|in=10|lbs=160|class=Jr|rs=|home=La Crescenta, California}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Joe|last=Kleine|num=45|pos=C|ft=6|in=11|lbs=240|class=Fr|rs=|home=Slater, Missouri|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Mike|last=Mitchell|num=15|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=175|class=Jr|rs=|home=San Bruno, California}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=John|last=Paxson|num=23|pos=G|ft=6|in=2|lbs=180|class=So|rs=|home=Kettering, Ohio|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Gilbert|last=Salinas|num=55|pos=C|ft=6|in=11|lbs=215|class=Sr|rs=|home=San Antonio, Texas}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Tom|last=Sluby|num=33|pos=G|ft=6|in=4|lbs=200|class=Fr|rs=|home=Washington, DC|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Kelly|last=Tripucka|num=44|pos=F|ft=6|in=6|lbs=230|class=Sr|rs=|home=Essex Fells, New Jersey|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Stan|last=Wilcox|num=24|pos=G|ft=6|in=3|lbs=180|class=Sr|rs=|home=North Babylon, New York}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Orlando|last=Woolridge|num=32|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=215|class=Sr|rs=|home=Mansfield, Louisiana|link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
|asst_coach=
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|rank=|gamehighs=|attend=}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Notre Dame Fighting Irish}}| Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = November 29
| nonconf = yes
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 10
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank = 6
| opponent = UCLA
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 0–1 {{cite web |url=https://und.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/1980-81-Box-Scores.pdf |title=1980-81 Box Scores |work=UND.com |publisher=University of Notre Dame |accessdate=April 18, 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200828123936/https://und.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/1980-81-Box-Scores.pdf |archive-date=August 28, 2020}}
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| attend = 12,321
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, CA
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 2
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 13
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Montana State
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 1–1
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 4
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 13
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = TCU
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 2–1
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 6
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 13
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Cal Poly (Pomona)
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 3–1
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 9
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 9
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank = 7
| opponent = Indiana
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 4–1
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 22
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 8
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Valparaiso
| gamename =
| score = 69–56
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = December 27
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 8
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| gamename =
| score = 67–61
| overtime =
| record = 6–1
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Freedom Hall
| attend =
| site_cityst = Louisville, Kentucky
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 4
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 4
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Davidson
| gamename =
| score = 87–67
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Johnston Gym
| attend =
| site_cityst = Davidson, NC
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 6
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 5
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Villanova
| gamename =
| score = 94–65
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Villanova Field House
| attend =
| site_cityst = Villanova, Pennsylvania
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 10
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 5
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Marquette
| gamename =
| score = 52–54
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = MECCA Arena
| attend =
| site_cityst = Milwaukee, WI
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 13
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 7
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = San Francisco
| gamename =
| score = 63–66
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Gymnasium
| attend =
| site_cityst = San Francisco, California
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 17
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 7
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Hofstra
| gamename =
| score = 65–55
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 19
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 13
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Fordham
| gamename =
| score = 67–61
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 21
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 13
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = San Francisco
| gamename =
| score = 80–75
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 24
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 13
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank = 10
| opponent = Maryland
| gamename =
| score = 73–70
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Cole Field House
| attend =
| site_cityst = College Park, Maryland
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 27
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 8
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Cornell
| gamename =
| score = 80–58
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = January 31
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 8
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = South Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 94–84
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 2
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 9
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Saint Mary's
| gamename =
| score = 94–63
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 4
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 9
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = La Salle
| gamename =
| score = 60–59
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 8
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 9
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = UCLA
| gamename =
| score = 50–51
| overtime =
| record = 16–4
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 10
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 12
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Boston
| gamename =
| score = 89–63
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 14
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 12
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = N. C. State
| gamename =
| score = 71–55
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Reynolds Coliseum
| attend =
| site_cityst = Raleigh, NC
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 16
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 11
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Fairfield
| gamename =
| score = 57–55
| overtime =
| record = 19–4
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 22
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank = 1
| opponent = Virginia
| gamename =
| score = 57–56
| overtime =
| record = 20–4
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Rosemont Horizon
| attend =
| site_cityst = Rosemont, IL
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 26
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 6
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Saint Francis
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 21–4
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = February 28
| nonconf = yes
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| rank = 6
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank =
| opponent = Dayton
| gamename =
| overtime =
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Joyce Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Notre Dame, IN
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 8
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed =
| opprank = 2
| opponent = DePaul
| gamename =
| overtime =
| record = 22–5{{cite news |title=BRADSHAW LEADS DEPAUL VICTORY |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/09/sports/bradshaw-leads-depaul-victory.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 9, 1981 |access-date=December 5, 2021}}
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Rosemont Horizon
| attend =
| site_cityst = Rosemont, Illinois
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Notre Dame Fighting Irish}}| NCAA Tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 14
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| seed = 2 E
| rank = 5
| away =
| neutral =
| oppseed = 10 E
| opprank =
| opponent = James Madison
| gamename = NCAA Tournament • Second Round
| score = 54–45 {{cite news |title=BYU GAINS IN EAST, AS DOES NOTRE DAME |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/15/sports/byu-gains-in-east-as-does-notre-dame.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 15, 1981 |access-date=December 5, 2021}}
| overtime =
| record = 23–5
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Providence Civic Center
| attend =
| site_cityst = Providence, RI
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = March 19
| nonconf =
| time =
| tv =
| rank = 5
| seed = 2 E
| away = yes
| neutral =
| oppseed = 6 E
| opprank = 16
| opponent = BYU
| gamename = NCAA Tournament • Sweet Sixteen
| score = 50–51 {{cite news |title=B.Y.U. DEFEATS IRISH, 51-50; NORTH CAROLINA OUSTS UTAH |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/20/sports/byu-defeats-irish-51-50-north-carolina-ousts-utahz.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 20, 1981 |access-date=December 5, 2021}}
| overtime =
| record = 23–6
| conference =
| highscorer =
| points =
| highrebounder=
| rebounds =
| highassister =
| assists =
| site_stadium = Omni Coliseum
| attend = 15,461
| site_cityst = Atlanta, Georgia
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll =
| timezone =
| region = E
| regionname = East
| notes =
Rankings
{{main|1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings}}
*{{cite book|title=ESPN College Basketball Encyclopedia: The Complete History of the Men's Game|publisher=Random House|pages=899–900|year=2009|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}
Players selected in NBA drafts
| class="wikitable" width="60%
{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Notre Dame Fighting Irish| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Club }} | |||
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1 | 6 | Orlando Woolridge | Chicago Bulls |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| 1 | 12 | Kelly Tripucka | Detroit Pistons |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| 2 | 25 | Tracy Jackson | Boston Celtics |
| align="center" bgcolor=""
| 8 | 167 | Gilbert Salinas | Atlanta Hawks |
| align="center" bgcolor="" |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team}}