1980–81 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team

The 1980–81 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction of first-year head coach Bill Frieder, the team finished tied for sixth in the Big Ten Conference.[1] The team earned an invitation to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament.[2] Although the team was ranked in the Associated Press Top Twenty Poll for eleven of the sixteen weeks reaching a peak at number nine, it began and finished the season unranked[3] and it also ended the season unranked in the final UPI Coaches' Poll.[4] The team was led by All-American Mike McGee.[5] The team set the current Big Ten conference record by playing in six overtime games.[6] That season McGee also set the current conference record for career field goals attempted (2077).[7] McGee set several other records, which have since been broken: career points (2439, broken in 1989 by Glen Rice),[7] career points (conference games only) (1503, broken in 1995),[8] single-season field goals made (309, broken in 1986)[7] and career field goals made (1010, broken in 1993).[7] Mark Bodnar became the first Michigan Wolverines player on record to total 13 assists in a game on December 13, 1980, against the Dayton Flyers, eclipsing Mark Henry's 1970 total of 12. No Wolverine would surpass 13 assists in a game until Gary Grant twice recorded 14 in December 1987.[9] The team's field goal percentage of 51.1 was a school record that lasted four years.[10] McGee's 3941 minutes and 34.3 minutes per game stood as school records until 1987 and 1984 respectively.[11] Marty Bodnar earned first team Academic All-American honors, while Mark Bodnar was a third team selection.[12] Paul Heuerman and Thad Garner served as team captains, while McGee earned team MVP.[13] McGee ended his career with a school record 112 starts. The record would last for six years.[11]

1980–81 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
NIT, Quarterfinals
ConferenceBig Ten Conference
Record19–11 (8–10 Big Ten)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
MVPMike McGee
Captains
  • Paul Heuerman
  • Thad Garner
Home arenaCrisler Arena
Seasons
1980–81 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 9 Indiana 14 4   .778 26 9   .743
No. 13 Iowa 13 5   .722 21 7   .750
No. 19 Illinois 12 6   .667 21 8   .724
Purdue 10 8   .556 21 11   .656
Minnesota 9 9   .500 19 11   .633
Ohio State 9 9   .500 14 13   .519
Michigan 8 10   .444 19 11   .633
Michigan State 7 11   .389 13 14   .481
Wisconsin 5 13   .278 11 16   .407
Northwestern 3 15   .167 9 18   .333
Rankings from AP Poll

In the 32-team National Invitation Tournament, Michigan advanced to the elite eight round by defeating the Duquesne Dukes 74–58 and Toledo Rockets 80–68 before losing to Syracuse Orange 91–76.

Roster

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1980–81 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Hometown
G 30 Mark Bodnar 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Barberton, Ohio
G 24 Martin Bodnar 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) Sr Barberton, Ohio
F 15 Paul Heuerman 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Akron, Ohio
F 42 Joe James 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) So Youngstown, Ohio
G 34 Johnny Johnson 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Buffalo, New York
C 44 Tim McCormick 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Fr Clarkston, Michigan
F 40 Mike McGee 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 200 lb (91 kg) Sr Omaha, Nebraska
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
Week
PollPre1234567891011121314Final
AP Poll[3]181513121091617141318

See also

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  • NIT all-time team records
  • NIT bids by school and conference
  • NIT championships and semifinal appearances

Team players drafted into the NBA

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Seven players from this team were selected in the NBA draft.[14][15][16][17]

Year Round Pick Overall Player NBA Club
1981 1 19 19 Mike McGee Los Angeles Lakers
1981 3 23 69 John Johnson Boston Celtics
1981 5 20 112 Paul Heuerman Phoenix Suns
1982 7 3 141 Thad Gardner Utah Jazz
1983 10 7 213 Ike Person Detroit Pistons
1984 1 12 12 Tim McCormick Cleveland Cavaliers
1984 10 19 225 Dan Pelekoudas Detroit Pistons

References

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  1. ^ 2007-08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 198.
  2. ^ 2007-08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 183.
  3. ^ a b "Division I Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. pp. 68–83. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  4. ^ "Division I Records" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. p. 85. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  5. ^ "All-Time Accolades". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. pp. 4–7. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  6. ^ "Big Ten Basketball 2009-10 Media Guide". CBS Interactive. p. 32. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c d "Big Ten Basketball 2009-10 Media Guide". CBS Interactive. p. 26. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  8. ^ "Big Ten Basketball 2009-10 Media Guide". CBS Interactive. p. 39. Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved September 2, 2010.
  9. ^ 2007-08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. p. 176.
  10. ^ "All-Time Records". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. p. 10. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  11. ^ a b "All-Time Records". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. p. 20. Archived from the original on April 1, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  12. ^ 2007-08 Men's Basketball Media Guide. University of Michigan. 2007. pp. 144–7.
  13. ^ "All-Time Accolades". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original on September 1, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  14. ^ "1981 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  15. ^ "1982 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  16. ^ "1983 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.
  17. ^ "1984 NBA Draft". Basketball-reference.com. Retrieved April 25, 2014.