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Season Snapshot 1980-81 at a glance

1980-81 Iowa Men's Basketball

21-7
Overall
13-5
Big Ten
#8
Peak AP rank
Lute Olson
Head coach

By the Numbers

Points per game
74.8
#64 nationally
Power rating
+18.0
Simple Rating System — #8 nationally

Memorable Games

Highest score
112
vs Nevada on Dec 9
Best defensive game
held them to 47
vs Northern Illinois (61-47)
Closest game
1-point loss
vs Michigan State (70-71)
Biggest win
by 43
vs Detroit Mercy (98-55)

Rankings & Streaks

Peak AP rank
#8
best ranking during the season
Longest win streak
8
consecutive wins during the season
Home record
11-2
at Carver / Kinnick / home court
Road record
8-4
true road games (excludes neutral sites)

Season Defining Games ranked wins, overtime battles, and heartbreakers

Beat #9 Michigan

73 vs 58
at Michigan · Jan 17, 1981
Signature road win against a ranked opponent

Signature Wins

RANKED WIN

Beat #16 Indiana

78 vs 65
home vs Indiana · Feb 19, 1981
Took down #16 at home
RANKED WIN

Beat #18 Illinois

72 vs 66
home vs Illinois · Feb 7, 1981
Took down #18 at home
BLOWOUT WIN

Beat Drake

90 vs 68
at Drake · Dec 13, 1980
Wire-to-wire control — won by 22

Heartbreakers & Tough Tests

HEARTBREAKER

Lost by 2 to Ohio State

56 vs 58
home vs Ohio State · Jan 8, 1981
Lost by just 2 in the final minutes
HEARTBREAKER

Lost by 1 to Michigan State

70 vs 71
at Michigan State · Mar 5, 1981
Lost by just 1 in the final minutes
TOUGH LOSS

Lost to Wichita State

56 vs 60
vs Wichita State (neutral) · Mar 15, 1981
Stinging 4-point setback
Updated Jun 1, 5:30 AM