The 1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. Their head coach was Bobby Knight, who was in his 10th year. The team played its home games in Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference.
The Hoosiers finished the regular season with an overall record of 26–9 and a conference record of 14–4, finishing 1st in the Big Ten Conference. As Big Ten Conference Champions, IU was invited to participate in the 1981 NCAA Tournament as a #3 seed. The Hoosiers advanced to the championship game, where Bobby Knight and the Hoosiers won their fourth national title.
Roster
Schedule/results
!colspan=8 style=| Regular season
!colspan=8 style=| NCAA Tournament
Awards and honors Bob Knight, Big Ten Coach of the Year Isiah Thomas, NCAA Men's MOP Award Ray Tolbert, Big Ten Player of the Year
Team players drafted into the NBA 1981 1 2 Isiah Thomas Detroit Pistons 1981 1 18 Ray Tolbert New Jersey Nets 1981 5 115 Glen Grunwald Boston Celtics 1981 8 180 Steve Risley Phoenix Suns 1982 10 225 Landon Turner Boston Celtics 1983 1 22 Randy Wittman Washington Bullets 1983 2 40 Jim Thomas Indiana Pacers 1983 2 41 Ted Kitchel Milwaukee Bucks 1983 4 78 Steve Bouchie Detroit Pistons 1983 7 141 Tony Brown Indiana Pacers
Notes This was guard Isiah Thomas' sophomore season. Fresh off a national championship and the 1981 NCAA men's basketball tournament MVP, Thomas declared early for the 1981 NBA draft and was selected #2 overall by the Detroit Pistons. On July 25, 1981, forward Landon Turner was injured in a car crash and suffered a fractured spine and paralysis in both legs.
References