1980-81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball — schedule and results

The 1980-81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish went 23-6 under head coach Digger Phelps. The team peaked at #4 in the AP poll. Simple Rating System: 13.27.

Hoopsipedia's log holds 28 games from this season: 16–1 at home, 4–4 on the road, and 2–1 on neutral courts. The Dame Fighting Irish scored 71.8 points per game and allowed 62.9 (+8.9 per game). Their longest winning streak ran 8 games, from Jan 17, 1981 to Feb 4, 1981. The most lopsided win was 96–65 at Villanova Wildcats on Jan 6, 1981; the heaviest defeat was 94–81 at UCLA Bruins on Nov 29, 1980. The tightest finish was a 1-point win against La Salle Explorers (60–59).

Among Notre Dame Fighting Irish's 118 recorded seasons, 1980-81's .793 winning percentage ranks 22nd. Previous season: 1979-80 Dame Fighting Irish (22–6). Next season: 1981-82 Dame Fighting Irish (10–17).

Game-by-game results (28 games)

Date	Opponent	Result	Arena
1980-11-29	at UCLA Bruins	L 81–94	Pauley Pavilion
1980-12-02	vs Montana State Bobcats	W 87–68	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1980-12-04	vs TCU Horned Frogs	W 79–63	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1980-12-09	vs Indiana Hoosiers	W 68–64	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1980-12-22	vs Valparaiso Beacons	W 69–56	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1980-12-27	neutral Kentucky Wildcats	W 67–61	Freedom Hall
1981-01-04	at Davidson Wildcats	W 87–67	Johnston Gym
1981-01-06	at Villanova Wildcats	W 96–65	Villanova Field House
1981-01-10	at Marquette Golden Eagles	L 52–54	MECCA Arena
1981-01-13	at San Francisco Dons	L 63–66	War Memorial Gymnasium
1981-01-17	vs Hofstra Pride	W 65–55	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-01-19	vs Fordham Rams	W 67–61	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-01-21	vs San Francisco Dons	W 80–75	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-01-24	at Maryland Terrapins	W 73–70	Cole Fieldhouse
1981-01-27	vs Cornell Big Red	W 80–58	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-01-31	vs South Carolina Gamecocks	W 94–84	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-02	vs Saint Mary's Gaels	W 94–63	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-04	vs La Salle Explorers	W 60–59	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-08	vs UCLA Bruins	L 50–51	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-10	vs Boston University Terriers	W 89–63	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-14	at NC State Wolfpack	W 71–55	Reynolds Coliseum
1981-02-16	vs Fairfield Stags	W 57–55	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-22	vs Virginia Cavaliers	W 57–56	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-26	vs Saint Francis Red Flash	W 87–71	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-02-28	vs Dayton Flyers	W 70–57	Purcell Pavilion at the Joyce Center
1981-03-08	at DePaul Blue Demons	L 64–74	Rosemont Horizon
1981-03-14	neutral James Madison Dukes	W 54–45	Providence Civic Center
1981-03-19	neutral BYU Cougars	L 50–51	The Omni

Game recaps

1980-11-29: Behind Sanders's 24 points, UCLA Bruins pulled away from Notre Dame Fighting Irish 94–81. Paxson had 21 for Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

1980-12-27: Behind Kelly Tripucka's 30 points, Notre Dame defeated Kentucky Wildcats 67–61. Sam Bowie had 18 for Kentucky Wildcats.

1981-02-08: UCLA Bruins survived Notre Dame Fighting Irish 51–50 as Mike Sanders scored a team-high 17. Kelly Tripucka had 18 for Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

1981-02-22: Notre Dame Fighting Irish edged Virginia Cavaliers 57–56. Tripucka, Kelly led the winners with 15 points. Raker, Lee had 14 for Virginia Cavaliers.

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1980-81 Notre Dame Fighting Irish basketball — schedule and results

Game-by-game results (28 games)

Game recaps

All-time wins

On this day

AP Top 25

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NCAA Tournament Bracket

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