1979–80 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 1979–80 Wisconsin Badgers Basketball Wisconsin Badgers logo.svg Big Ten Conference Big Ten 15–14 7–11 Bill Cofield 4th UW Fieldhouse The 1979–80 Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball team represented the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The head coach was Bill Cofield, coaching his fourth season with the Badgers. The team played their home games at the UW Fieldhouse in Madison, Wisconsin and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Guard Wes Matthews was the team's leading scorer with 549 points in 28 games. Other statistical leaders included forward Joe Chrnelich with 209 rebounds and Danny Hastings with 72 assists.1979-80 Wisconsin Badgers Roster and Stats Sports Reference LLC SR/CBB March 31, 2019 https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wisconsin/1980.html Late in the season, coach Cofield suspended Matthews for arguing with a coach, a decision that was believed to have cost the Badgers an invitation to play in the National Invitation Tournament. Cofield said of his decision: "The young man had to be taught a lesson. While we may have had a shot at postseason play, the basketball program at Wisconsin is more important than whether we win or lose a game."Absence of two starting guards may have cost Badgers NIT berth Wausau Daily Herald March 3, 1980 23 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35848393/absence_of_two_starting_guards_may_have/ Newspapers.com Roster 1979 Wisconsin Badgers y Joe Chrnelich 50 F 6 7 210 Sr Milwaukee, Wisconsin Arnold Gaines 10 G 6 4 195 Sr Baltimore, Maryland Claude Gregory 35 F 6 8 210 Jr Washington, D. C. y Dan Hastings 21 G 6 4 185 Jr Drexel Hill, PA Steve Jacobson 14 G 6 1 185 So Pardeeville, Wisconsin Robert Jenkins 32 G 6 3 187 Sr Milwaukee, Wisconsin Mike Kreklow 30 F 6 6 190 Fr Neenah, Wisconsin Wes Matthews 11 G 6 1 165 Jr Bridgeport, Connecticut y Mark Newberg 44 C 6 11 225 Sr La Crosse, Wisconsin Bill Cofield Bo Ryan Schedule November 30 yes Oklahoma City 99–92 1–0 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI December 1 yes East Tennessee State 68–56 2–0 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI December 5 yes ESPN yes DePaul 77–90 2–1 Alumni Hall Chicago, IL December 8 yes Alabama 62–66 2–2 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI December 12 yes Eastern Michigan 69–57 3–2 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI December 15 yes yes Marquette 57–56 4–2 MECCA Arena Milwaukee, WI December 22 yes Cleveland State 103–78 5–2 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI December 23 yes Morgan State 94–42 6–2 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI December 27 yes yes Nebraska 82–83 6–3 Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, Hawaii December 28 yes yes Nevada 86–61 7–3 Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, Hawaii December 28 yes yes Army 78–54 8–3 Neal S. Blaisdell Center Honolulu, Hawaii January 3 Northwestern 75–66 9–3 1–0 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI January 5 Indiana 52–50 10–3 2–0 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI January 10 yes Minnesota 76–82 10–4 2–1 Williams Arena Minneapolis, MN January 12 yes Iowa 65–66 10–5 2–2 Iowa Field House Iowa City, Iowa January 15 yes Michigan State 61–62 10–6 2–3 Jenison Field House East Lansing, MI January 19 Illinois 64–69 10–7 2–4 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI January 24 Purdue 60–73Purdue outlasts Wisconsin, deceitful Badger fans News-Journal January 25, 1980 17 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35845985/purdue_outlasts_wisconsin_deceitful/ Newspapers.com 10–8 2–5 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI January 26 4 Ohio State 72–71Wisconsin badgers Bucks The Daily Sentinel January 27, 1980 26 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35846044/wisconsin_badgers_bucks/ Newspapers.com 11–8 3–5 St. John Arena Columbus, OH January 31 Michigan 69–73 11–9 3–6 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI February 2 Ohio State 70–67Badgers again baffle Buckeyes, 70-67 The Des Moines Register February 3, 1980 3D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35846100/badgers_again_baffle_buckeyes_7067/ Newspapers.com 12–9 4–6 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI February 7 yes Illinois 50–67 12–10 4–7 Assembly Hall Champaign, IL February 9 yes Michigan 59–68 12–11 4–8 Crisler Arena Ann Arbor, MI February 14 Michigan State 80–66 13–11 5–8 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI February 16 yes Purdue 61–69Boilers save the day on clutch free throws Journal and Courier February 17, 1980 D1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35848179/boilers_save_the_day_on_clutch_free/ Newspapers.com 13–12 5–9 Mackey Arena West Lafayette, Indiana February 21 Iowa 62–58 14–12 6–9 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI February 23 Minnesota 70–55 15–12 7–9 Wisconsin Field House Madison, WI February 28 yes Indiana 52–61 15–13 7–10 Assembly Hall Bloomington, Indiana March 1 yes Northwestern 50–53 15–14 7–11 Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, IL https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/wisconsin/1980-schedule.html 1979–80 Wisconsin Badgers Schedule and Results College Basketball at Sports-Reference.comhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/wis/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/2013-14-RecordBook.pdf Wisconsin Record Book 2019-06-06 2014-03-23 https://web.archive.org/web/20140323220008/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/wis/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2013-14/misc_non_event/2013-14-RecordBook.pdf dead Team players drafted into the NBA Wisconsin Badgers Round Pick Player NBA club 1 14 Wes Matthews Washington Bullets 4 82 Joe Chrnelich New York Knicks References Wisconsin Category:Wisconsin Badgers men's basketball seasons Badge Badge