1980–81 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team
{{short description|American college basketball season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox college sports team season
|sport = Basketball
|sex = none
|year = 1980–81
|team = Wyoming Cowboys
|image =
|image_size =
|conference = Western Athletic Conference
|division =
|short_conf = WAC
|CoachRank = 16
|APRank = 17
|record = 24–6
|conf_record = 13–3
|head_coach = Jim Brandenburg
|hc_year = 2nd
|asst_coach1 =
|asst_coach2 =
|asst_coach3 =
|arena = War Memorial Fieldhouse
|champion = WAC co-champions
|tourney = NCAA tournament
|tourney_result = Second round
}}
{{1980–81 WAC men's basketball standings}}
The 1980–81 Wyoming Cowboys basketball team represented the University of Wyoming as a member of the Western Athletic Conference during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Cowboys, led by second-year head coach Jim Brandenburg, played their home games at War Memorial Fieldhouse in Laramie, Wyoming.
Roster
{{CBB roster/Header|year=1980|team=Wyoming Cowboys|teamcolors=y|high_school=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Charles|last=Bradley|num=|pos=G|ft=6|in=5|lbs=210|class=Sr|rs=|home=Edgewood, Maryland |high_school=Edgewood |link=y |dab=basketball}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Bill|last=Garnett|num=|pos=F|ft=6|in=9|lbs=220|class=Jr|rs=|home=Denver, Colorado |high_school=Regis Jesuit |link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Player|first=Chris|last=Engler|num=|pos=C|ft=6|in=11|lbs=240|class=Jr|rs=|home=Oak Park Heights, Minnesota|high_school=Minnesota |link=y}}
{{CBB roster/Footer
|head_coach=
- Jim Brandenburg ({{college|Colorado State}})
|asst_coach=
|roster_url=
|accessdate=
}}
Schedule and results
{{CBB schedule start
| rank =
| gamehighs =
| attend =
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Wyoming Cowboys}}| Regular Season
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Nov 28, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Nebraska
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bob Devaney Sports Center
| site_cityst = Lincoln, Nebraska
| gamename =
| score = 62–59
| overtime = OT
| attend = 7,800
| record = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 2, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Midwestern State Mustangs|title=Midwestern State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 87–61
| overtime =
| attend = 4,389
| record = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 4, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Stanford Cardinal|title=Stanford}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 73–51
| overtime =
| attend = 5,079
| record = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 6, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Adams State Grizzlies|title=Adams State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 101–67
| overtime =
| attend = 7,042
| record = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 11, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Boise State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Bronco Gym
| site_cityst = Boise, Idaho
| gamename =
| score = 76–51
| overtime =
| attend = 2,076
| record = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 13, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=USC Trojans|title=USC}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = L.A. Sports Arena
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, California
| gamename =
| score = 57–59
| overtime =
| attend = 3,270
| record = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 16, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Western Montana Bulldogs|title=Western Montana}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 79–45
| overtime =
| attend = 4,713
| record = 6–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 19, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Oklahoma Sooners|title=Oklahoma}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Astrodome
| site_cityst = Houston, Texas
| gamename =
| score = 98–77
| overtime =
| attend = 3,800
| record = 7–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 20, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Houston
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Astrodome
| site_cityst = Houston, Texas
| gamename =
| score = 61–70
| overtime =
| attend = 5,300
| record = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Dec 29, 1980
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=UIC Flames|title=Illinois–Chicago}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 99–47
| overtime =
| attend = 4,419
| record = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 2, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=San Diego State Aztecs|title=San Diego State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = San Diego Sports Arena
| site_cityst = San Diego, California
| gamename =
| score = 69–51
| overtime =
| attend = 3,247
| record = 9–2
| conference = 1–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 5, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Hawaii Rainbow Warriors|title=Hawaii}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Neal S. Blaisdell Center
| site_cityst = Honolulu, Hawaii
| gamename =
| score = 71–66
| overtime = OT
| attend = 5,479
| record = 10–2
| conference = 2–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 9, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=UTEP Miners|title=UTEP}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 44–42
| overtime =
| attend = 8,107
| record = 11–2
| conference = 3–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 10, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=New Mexico Lobos|title=New Mexico}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 91–54
| overtime =
| attend = 7,814
| record = 12–2
| conference = 4–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 17, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Colorado State Rams|title=Colorado State}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Moby Arena
| site_cityst = Fort Collins, Colorado
| gamename =
| score = 85–54
| overtime =
| attend = 8,976
| record = 13–2
| conference = 5–0
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 23, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Utah
| opprank = 14
| site_stadium = Jon M. Huntsman Center
| site_cityst = Salt Lake City, Utah
| gamename =
| score = 53–55
| overtime =
| attend = 15,122
| record = 13–3
| conference = 5–1
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 24, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = BYU
| opprank = 18
| site_stadium = Marriott Center
| site_cityst = Provo, Utah
| gamename =
| score = 70–84
| overtime =
| attend = 22,983
| record = 13–4
| conference = 5–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 27, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=UNLV Runnin' Rebels|title=UNLV}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 71–66
| overtime =
| attend = 7,124
| record = 14–4
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Jan 31, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = {{cbb link|year=1980|sex=men|team=Air Force Falcons|title=Air Force}}
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 69–45
| overtime =
| attend = 7,234
| record = 15–4
| conference = 6–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 5, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Hawaii
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 77–58
| overtime =
| attend = 7,998
| record = 16–4
| conference = 7–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 7, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = San Diego State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 102–57
| overtime =
| attend = 7,991
| record = 17–4
| conference = 8–2
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 12, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = New Mexico
| opprank =
| site_stadium = University Arena
| site_cityst = Albuquerque, New Mexico
| gamename =
| score = 56–57
| overtime =
| attend = 15,803
| record = 17–5
| conference = 8–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 14, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = UTEP
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Special Events Center
| site_cityst = El Paso, Texas
| gamename =
| score = 63–58
| overtime =
| attend = 8,121
| record = 18–5
| conference = 9–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 21, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Colorado State
| opprank =
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 68–40
| overtime =
| attend = 8,665
| record = 19–5
| conference = 10–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 26, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = BYU
| opprank = 15
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 86–84
| overtime =
| attend = 9,300
| record = 20–5
| conference = 11–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Feb 28, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away =
| neutral =
| rank =
| opponent = Utah
| opprank = 7
| site_stadium = War Memorial Fieldhouse
| site_cityst = Laramie, Wyoming
| gamename =
| score = 53–50
| overtime =
| attend = 8,974
| record = 21–5
| conference = 12–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 6, 1981
| time =
| nonconf =
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 19
| opponent = Air Force
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Clune Arena
| site_cityst = Colorado Springs, Colorado
| gamename =
| score = 46–38
| overtime =
| attend = 6,300
| record = 22–5
| conference = 13–3
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 7, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away = yes
| neutral =
| rank = 19
| opponent = UNLV
| opprank =
| site_stadium = Las Vegas Convention Center
| site_cityst = Las Vegas, Nevada
| gamename =
| score = 97–70
| overtime =
| attend = 6,393
| record = 23–5
}}
|-
!colspan=9 style={{NCAA color cell|Wyoming Cowboys}}| NCAA tournament
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 12, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 17
| seed = 5 W
| opponent = Howard
| opprank =
| oppseed = 12 W
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, California
| gamename = First round
| score = 78–43{{cite news |title=Stone-Cold Howard Gets Baptism by Fire |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1981/03/14/stone-cold-howard-gets-baptism-by-fire/9efa4e4c-8073-4eb2-b33b-7c8695e35993/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 14, 1981 |access-date=April 30, 2023}}
| overtime =
| attend = 12,045
| record = 24–5
}}
{{CBB schedule entry
| date = Mar 14, 1981
| time =
| nonconf = yes
| away =
| neutral = yes
| rank = 17
| seed = 5 W
| opponent = Illinois
| opprank = 19
| oppseed = 4 W
| site_stadium = Pauley Pavilion
| site_cityst = Los Angeles, California
| gamename = Second round
| score = 65–67{{cite news |title=Illinois 67, Wyoming 65 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/15/sports/kansas-state-wins-by-50-48.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 15, 1981 |access-date=February 25, 2023}}
| overtime =
| attend = 12,340
| record = 24–6
}}
{{CBB schedule end
| rank =
| poll = AP Poll
| timezone =
| region = W
| regionname = West
| notes =
}}
{{cite web |title=1980-81 Men's Basketball Schedule |url=https://gowyo.com/sports/mens-basketball/schedule/1980-81 |publisher=University of Wyoming Athletics |access-date=February 25, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MBB1/B/Men's%20Basketball_Men's_Division%20I_1981_811_University%20of%20Wyoming.pdf|title=1980-1981 Wyoming Cowboys Men's Basketball Stats|website=NCAA Career Statistics}}
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=877–878|year=2009|isbn=978-0-345-51392-2}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Wyoming Cowboys basketball navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1980-81 Wyoming Cowboys Basketball Team}}
Category:Wyoming Cowboys basketball seasons