1980-81 Kentucky Wildcats basketball — schedule and results
The 1980-81 Kentucky Wildcats went 22-6 (15-3 in the SEC) under head coach Joe B. Hall. The team peaked at #1 in the AP poll. Simple Rating System: 18.59.
Hoopsipedia's log holds 28 games from this season: 15–0 at home, 7–3 on the road, and 0–3 on neutral courts. The Wildcats scored 72.9 points per game and allowed 62.9 (+10.0 per game). Their longest winning streak ran 6 games, from Nov 29, 1980 to Dec 20, 1980. The most lopsided win was 102–48 over Florida Gators on Jan 21, 1981; the heaviest defeat was 87–71 at Tennessee Volunteers on Feb 7, 1981. The tightest finish was a 1-point win against Tennessee Volunteers (48–47). 1 game went to overtime.
Among Kentucky Wildcats' 116 recorded seasons, 1980-81's .786 winning percentage ranks 55th. Previous season: 1979-80 Wildcats (29–6). Next season: 1981-82 Wildcats (22–8).
Game-by-game results (28 games)
Game recaps
1980-11-29: Kentucky Wildcats beat East Tennessee State 62–57. Sam Bowie led the winners with 15 points. Andrew Motley had 15 for East Tennessee State. George Underwood grabbed 17 rebounds.
1980-12-03: Kentucky Wildcats beat Ohio State 70–64. Sam Bowie led the winners with 19 points. Herb Williams had 21 for Ohio State.
1980-12-06: Kentucky Wildcats edged Indiana 68–66. Fred Cowan led the winners with 14 points. Isiah Thomas had 20 for Indiana.
1980-12-13: Kentucky Wildcats beat Kansas 87–73 as Sam Bowie scored a team-high 29. Tony Guy had 26 for Kansas. Sam Bowie grabbed 16 rebounds.
1980-12-19: Kentucky Wildcats routed Alaska Anchorage 91–56. Charles Hurt led the winners with 16 points. Al Collins had 12 for Alaska Anchorage.
1980-12-20: Kentucky Wildcats beat Alabama Birmingham 61–53. Sam Bowie led the winners with 25 points. Oliver Robinson had 12 for Alabama Birmingham.
1980-12-27: Behind Kelly Tripucka's 30 points, Notre Dame defeated Kentucky Wildcats 67–61. Sam Bowie had 18 for Kentucky Wildcats.
1980-12-30: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Maine 100–54 as Derrick Hord scored a team-high 24. Rick Carlisle (*) had 17 for Maine.
1981-01-03: Kentucky Wildcats handled Georgia 76–62. Fred Cowan led the winners with 22 points. Dominique Wilkins had 18 for Georgia.
1981-01-07: Behind Fred Cowan's 17 points, Kentucky Wildcats pulled away from Auburn 79–66. Byron Henson had 20 for Auburn.
1981-01-10: Kentucky Wildcats edged Tennessee 48–47. Derrick Hord led the winners with 16 points. Gary Carter had 15 for Tennessee.
1981-01-14: Behind Sam Bowie's 18 points, Kentucky Wildcats defeated Mississippi 64–55. Carlos Clark had 21 for Mississippi.
1981-01-17: Behind Eddie Adams's 20 points, Alabama defeated Kentucky Wildcats 59–55. Fred Cowan had 14 for Kentucky Wildcats.
1981-01-19: Louisiana State handled Kentucky Wildcats 81–67. Willie Sims led the winners with 22 points. Sam Bowie had 22 for Kentucky Wildcats.
1981-01-21: Kentucky Wildcats routed Florida 102–48. Sam Bowie led the winners with 29 points. Vernon Delancy had 12 for Florida.
1981-01-24: Kentucky Wildcats handled Vanderbilt 78–64. Dirk Minniefield led the winners with 18 points. Charles Davis had 23 for Vanderbilt. Charles Davis grabbed 15 rebounds.
1981-01-28: Kentucky Wildcats got past Mississippi State 71–64 as Sam Bowie scored a team-high 27. Jeff Malone had 25 for Mississippi State.
1981-01-31: Behind Sam Bowie's 18 points, Kentucky Wildcats held off Georgia 71–68. Dominique Wilkins had 32 for Georgia.
1981-02-04: Kentucky Wildcats blew out Auburn 102–74 as Sam Bowie scored a team-high 23. Earl Banks had 15 for Auburn.
1981-02-07: Behind Dale Ellis's 22 points, Tennessee pulled away from Kentucky Wildcats 87–71. Sam Bowie had 26 for Kentucky Wildcats.
1981-02-11: Kentucky Wildcats got past Mississippi 62–55 as Sam Bowie scored a team-high 25. Elston Turner had 19 for Mississippi.
1981-02-14: Kentucky Wildcats beat Alabama 77–62 as Sam Bowie scored a team-high 21. Ken Johnson had 21 for Alabama.
1981-02-18: Behind Chuck Verderber's 16 points, Kentucky Wildcats pulled away from Florida 69–56. Ronnie Williams had 18 for Florida.
1981-02-21: Behind Sam Bowie's 19 points, Kentucky Wildcats rolled past Vanderbilt 80–48. Hutch Jones had 14 for Vanderbilt. Sam Bowie grabbed 15 rebounds.
1981-02-25: Kentucky Wildcats beat Mississippi State 78–74. Dirk Minniefield led the winners with 20 points. Jeff Malone had 22 for Mississippi State.
1981-03-01: Kentucky Wildcats survived Louisiana State 73–71 as Sam Bowie scored a team-high 11. Howard Carter had 24 for Louisiana State.
1981-03-05: Behind Al Miller's 17 points, Vanderbilt defeated Kentucky Wildcats 60–55. Charles Hurt had 12 for Kentucky Wildcats.
1981-03-15: Alabama Birmingham got past Kentucky Wildcats 69–62 as Oliver Robinson scored a team-high 18. Chuck Verderber had 16 for Kentucky Wildcats.
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