1980–81 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team

1980–81 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball
ConferenceWest Coast Athletic Conference
Record19–8 (9–5 WCAC)
Head coach
Assistant coachJay Hillock
Home arenaKennedy Pavilion
Seasons
1980–81 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
San Francisco 11 – 3   .786 23 – 7   .767
Pepperdine 11 – 3   .786 16 – 11   .593
Gonzaga 9 – 5   .643 19 – 8   .704
Portland 7 – 7   .500 17 – 10   .630
Santa Clara 7 – 7   .500 14 – 13   .519
Loyola Marymount 5 – 9   .357 9 – 19   .321
San Diego 3 – 11   .214 10 – 16   .385
Saint Mary's 3 – 11   .214 9 – 18   .333
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1980–81 Gonzaga Bulldogs men's basketball team represented Gonzaga University in the West Coast Athletic Conference (WCAC) during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by 3rd season with head coach Dan Fitzgerald, the Bulldogs were 19–8 (.704) overall (9–5 in WCAC, 3rd),[1][2] and played their home games on campus at Kennedy Pavilion in Spokane, Washington.

A loss in the finale to Portland likely cost Gonzaga a berth in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).[3][4] A 1980 graduate of Gonzaga Prep, point guard John Stockton was a freshman this season.[5]

After the season, athletic director Fitzgerald stepped down as head coach and promoted assistant coach Jay Hillock. Four years later, Fitzgerald returned as head coach,[6][7] and led the Zags for an additional twelve seasons (fifteen total).

References

  1. ^ "College basketball standings". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). March 9, 1981. p. 3C.
  2. ^ "1980-81 Gonzaga Bulldogs Roster and Stats - College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com". College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com.
  3. ^ Blanchette, John (March 9, 1981). "Zags get the word on NIT -- it's 'No'". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 15.
  4. ^ "Pilots upend Gonzaga in finale". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). March 9, 1981. p. 23.
  5. ^ "Hot shooting Gonzaga zips". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). November 29, 1980. p. 13.
  6. ^ Blanchette, John (April 4, 1985). "'I'm just looking for a change'". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. C1.
  7. ^ Blanchette, John (November 22, 1985). "Zags need some perspective". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 28.


Stub icon

This college basketball season article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.