1980–81 South Alabama Jaguars basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|year=1980–81
|team=South Alabama Jaguars
|sport=Basketball
|image=South Alabama Jaguars wordmark.svg
|image_size=250
|conference=Sun Belt Conference
|division=East Division
|short_conf=Sun Belt
|CoachRank=
|APRank=
|record=25–6
|conf_record=9–3
|head_coach=Cliff Ellis
|hc_year = 6th
|asst_coach1=
|asst_coach2=
|asst_coach3=
|asst_coach4=
|arena=Jaguar Gym
Mobile Municipal Auditorium
|champion=Sun Belt Regular season co-champions
|tourney=NIT tournament
|tourney_result = quarterfinals
|prev=1979–80
|next=1981–82
}}
{{1980–81 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings}}
The 1980–81 South Alabama Jaguars basketball team represented the University of South Alabama during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Jaguars were led by head coach Cliff Ellis, in his sixth year as head coach. They played their home games at the Mobile Civic Center, and were members of the Sun Belt Conference. South Alabama finished the season 25–6, 9–3 in Sun Belt play to finish tied for first place. They were invited to the NIT tournament, where they lost to {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Tulsa Golden Hurricane|title=Tulsa}} in the quarterfinals.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1980|team=South Alabama Jaguars|teamcolors=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Rory|last=White|num=|pos=F|ft=6|in=8|lbs=210 |class=Sr|link=y|home=Tuskegee, Alabama}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Ed|last=Rains|num=15|pos=F|ft=6|in=7|lbs= |class=Sr|link=y|home=Ocala, Florida}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Cliff Ellis ({{college|Florida State}})
|asst_coach=
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start|time=|rank=|ranklink=1980-81 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings|rankyear=1980|tv=|record=yes|attend=yes}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|South Alabama Jaguars}}| Regular season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 1, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Wisconsin–Parkside Rangers|title=Wisconsin–Parkside}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 86–58
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 3, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders|title=Middle Tennessee State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 79–80
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 1–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 5, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=UTEP Miners|title=Texas–El Paso}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Hart Center
| site_cityst = Worcester, Massachusetts
| gamename = Worcester County Classic
| score = 77–66
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 2–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 6, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = Holy Cross
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Hart Center
| site_cityst = Worcester, Massachusetts
| gamename = Worcester County Classic
| score = 77–53
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 3–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 11, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles|title=Tennessee Tech}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 67–48
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 13, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=none|team=Prairie View A&M Panthers|title=Prairie View A&M}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 101–53
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 16, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Ohio State Buckeyes|title=Ohio State}}
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = St. John Arena
| site_cityst = Columbus, Ohio
| gamename =
| score = 76–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 18, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Akron Zips|title=Akron}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Memorial Hall
| site_cityst = Akron, Ohio
| gamename =
| score = 52–49
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 29, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Navy Midshipmen|title=Navy}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename = Senior Bowl
| score = 65–47
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 8–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 30, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Fordham Rams|title=Fordham}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Mobile Municipal Auditorium
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename = Senior Bowl
| score = 79–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 9–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 2, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=none|team=Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils|title=Mississippi Valley State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 98–67
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 10–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 6, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 15
| opponent = VCU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Richmond Coliseum
| site_cityst = Richmond, Virginia
| gamename =
| score = 76–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 11–1
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 8, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=UNC Charlotte 49ers|title=UNC Charlotte}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Belk Gymnasium
| site_cityst = Charlotte, North Carolina
| gamename =
| score = 92–61
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 12–1
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 10, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Georgia State Panthers|title=Georgia State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 74–54
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 13–1
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 13, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UNC Charlotte
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 80–63
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 14–1
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 17, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Nicholls State Colonels|title=Nicholls State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 95–62
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 22, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank = 11
| opponent = VCU
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 70–86
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 15–2
| conference = 4–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 24, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=McNeese State Cowboys|title=McNeese State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Lake Charles Civic Center
| site_cityst = Lake Charles, Louisiana
| gamename =
| score = 64–60
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 16–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 27, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Jacksonville Dolphins|title=Jacksonville}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jacksonville Coliseum
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 55–48
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 17–2
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UAB
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center
| site_cityst = Birmingham, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 70–73
| overtime =
| attend = 16,131
| record = 17–3
| conference = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 5, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=South Florida Bulls|title=South Florida}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 54–50
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 18–3
| conference = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 8, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Jacksonville
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 86–65
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 19–3
| conference = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 10, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Georgia State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = GSU Sports Arena
| site_cityst = Atlanta, Georgia
| gamename =
| score = 82–49
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–3
| conference = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 12, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = South Florida
| opprank =
| site_stadium = USF Sun Dome
| site_cityst = Tampa, Florida
| gamename =
| score = 52–70
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 20–4
| conference = 8–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 17, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UAB
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename =
| score = 77–57
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 21–4
| conference = 9–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 19, 1981
| time = 7:30 p.m.
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Illinois State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Horton Field House
| site_cityst = Normal, Illinois
| gamename =
| score = 50–44
| overtime =
| attend = 4,572
| record = 22–4
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|South Alabama Jaguars}}| Sun Belt Conference tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 27, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 2
| opponent = Georgia State
| opprank =
| oppseed = 7
| site_stadium = Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, Florida
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| score = 79–41
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 23–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 28, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| seed = 2
| opponent = UAB
| opprank =
| oppseed = 3
| site_stadium = Jacksonville Memorial Coliseum
| site_cityst = Jacksonville, Florida
| gamename = Semifinals
| score = 86–59
| overtime =
| attend = 5,271
| record = 23–5
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|South Alabama Jaguars}}| NIT tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 11, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Texas–Arlington Mavericks|title=Texas–Arlington}}
| opprank =
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Jaguar Gym
| site_cityst = Mobile, Alabama
| gamename = First round
| score = 74–71
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 24–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 16, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=none|team=Georgia Bulldogs|title=Georgia}}
| opprank =
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Stegeman Coliseum
| site_cityst = Athens, Georgia
| gamename = Second round
| score = 73–72
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 25–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 20, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| seed =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Tulsa Golden Hurricane|title=Tulsa}}
| opprank =
| oppseed =
| site_stadium = Mabee Center
| site_cityst = Tulsa, Oklahoma
| gamename = Quarterfinals
| score = 68–69
| overtime =
| attend =
| record = 25–6
}}
{{CBB schedule end|rank=| poll=AP Poll|timezone=Central Time|region=MW|regionname=Midwest}}
{{cite web |title=2019-20 South Alabama Men's Basketball Media Guide |url=https://usajaguars.com/documents/2019/11/4/19_20_Media_Guide.pdf |publisher=University of South Alabama Athletics |access-date=July 15, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/south-alabama/men/1981-schedule.html|title=1980-81 South Alabama Jaguars Men's Schedule and Results|website=Sports Reference|access-date=July 15, 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{South Alabama Jaguars basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 South Alabama Jaguars basketball team}}
Category:South Alabama Jaguars men's basketball seasons