1979–80 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team

American college basketball season March 2026 August 2023 basketball 1979–80 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo.svg 150 Independent 11 9 22–6 Digger Phelps 9th Danny Nee 4th Scott Thompson 3rd Tom McLaughlin 2nd Rich Branning Bill Hanzlik Joyce Center NCAA tournament Second round loss 84–87 OT vs. Missouri The 1979–80 Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball team represented the University of Notre Dame during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was coached by Digger Phelps and was ranked in the Associated Press poll for the entirety of the season. Preseason The Irish were ranked fifth in the preseason AP Poll, behind Indiana, Kentucky, Duke and Ohio State.Indiana no. 1 in preseason poll https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29084154/newspress/ The News-Press November 16, 1979 40 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 While they lost frontcourt contributors Bruce Flowers and Bill Laimbeer to graduation, they added a recruiting class ranked fourth nationally by the 1979–80 Street & Smith basketball yearbook. October 1979 1979–80 Official Basketball Yearbook 26, 73 Street & Smith's Official Yearbook New York City Condé Nast Publications The class included McDonald's All-Americans Tim Andree and John Paxson and highly regarded forward Bill Varner. Francisco Joel Many players succeeded after '79 game http://www.espn.com/college-sports/recruiting/basketball/mens/news/story?id=4015483 ESPN.com March 2, 2019 May 26, 2009Golden dome shines brightly for Varner https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29084496/the_pittsburgh_press/ Pittsburgh Press June 5, 1979 20 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Key returning players were 1979 All-American Kelly Tripucka and future National Basketball Association (NBA) players Tracy Jackson, Bill Hanzlik and Orlando Woolridge. Woolridge was moved from forward to center to replace Flowers and Laimbeer.Goldaper Sam A Preview of the 20 Top College Basketball Teams November 25, 1979 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1979/11/25/archives/a-preview-of-the-20-top-college-basketball-teams-not-since-the.html March 3, 2019The Top 20 December 1, 1980 Sports Illustrated https://www.si.com/vault/1980/12/01/825187/the-top-20 March 3, 2019 Senior point guard Rich Branning was selected co-captain of the team with Hanzlik.Notre Dame's pied piper plays sweet Irish tune https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29085779/the_indianapolis_news/ Indianapolis News December 28, 1979 24 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Leading up to an Olympic year, Notre Dame played an exhibition game against the Soviet National Team, notching a surprising 86–76 win behind Tripucka's 35 points.Notre Dame 'outsmarts' Russians https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29084274/the_dispatch/ The Dispatch November 16, 1979 23 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Regular season The Irish suffered an early setback as senior co-captain Hanzlik missed several games with a dislocated finger,Bill Hanzlik to sit out UCLA tilt https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29086481/the_indianapolis_star/ Indianapolis Star December 11, 1979 31 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 but fared well, compiling a 6–0 record in his absence, including a marquee win against UCLA.Notre Dame-UCLA better than expected https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29086992/the_dispatch/ Indianapolis Star December 13, 1979 53 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 The Irish won the contest behind clutch free throws and defense from freshman John Paxson.Irish rookie sinks 4 free throws, UCLA https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29087226/detroit_free_press/ Detroit Free Press December 13, 1979 53 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 After the team's fast start, The Irish found themselves ranked third in the country and facing second-ranked Kentucky at Freedom Hall in Louisville. Despite the Wildcats missing starters Sam Bowie and Dirk Minniefield, the Irish lost the game 80–86.Bowie-less Kentucky impressed Irish coach https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29087775/the_paducah_sun/ The Paducah Sun December 31, 1979 15 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 A January loss to San Francisco left the Irish on a two-game losing streak.San Francisco center's about face stuns Notre Dame https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29088054/chillicothe_gazette/ Chillicothe Gazette January 9, 1980 17 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 The highlight of the Irish's season came on February 27, 1980, when they upset top-ranked DePaul 76–74 in double-overtime. The Irish were led by Kelly Tripucka's 28 points and the win was sealed by two free throws by Orlando Woolridge. The Irish were able to overcome a big scoring push by future NBA All-Stars Mark Aguirre (28 points) and Terry Cummings (16).Woolridge free throws spark Irish past DePaul https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29089903/the_pantagraph/ The Pantagraph February 28, 1980 11 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Irish do unto DePaul as they have others https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29089651/the_decatur_daily_review/ Decatur Daily Review February 28, 1980 13 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 A regular-season finale 62–54 win at Dayton raised the Irish's record to 22–5.Notre Dame bounces Dayton with late surge https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29088468/the_cincinnati_enquirer/ The Cincinnati Enquirer March 2, 1980 33 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Roster 1979 Notre Dame Fighting Irish y Tim Andree y 53 C 6 10 230 Fr Farmington, Michigan Rich Branning 12 G 6 3 180 Sr Huntington Beach, California Bill Hanzlik 42 G 6 7 200 Sr Beloit, Wisconsin y Kevin Hawkins 22 F 6 5 200 Jr Los Angeles, California Tim Healy 11 G 6 1 180 Sr Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Tracy Jackson 30 F 6 6 210 Jr Silver Spring, Maryland y Mike Mitchell 15 G 6 2 175 So San Bruno, California John Paxson 23 G 6 2 180 Fr Kettering, Ohio y Gilbert Salinas 55 C 6 11 215 Jr San Antonio, Texas Kelly Tripucka 44 F 6 6 230 Jr Essex Fells, New Jersey y Orlando Woolridge 32 C 6 9 215 Jr Mansfield, Louisiana y Digger Phelps Danny Nee Scott Thompson Tom McLaughlin NCAA tournament Notre Dame was selected for the 1980 NCAA tournament and were the 4 seed in the Midwest Region, slated to play the winner of a first-round game between Missouri and San Jose State in Lincoln, Nebraska.Tourney a matter of momentum https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29088847/the_south_bend_tribune/ South Bend Tribune March 4, 1980 26 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Fifth-seeded Missouri upset the Irish 87–84 in overtime behind senior Mark Dressler's 32 points, wasting a 29-point effort by Tracy Jackson.Missouri stuns Irish in overtime https://www.newspapers.com/clip/29089226/the_kokomo_tribune/ Kokomo Tribune March 9, 1980 22 Newspapers.com March 3, 2019 Schedule December 1 5 Valparaiso 92–66 1–0 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN December 3 5 Iowa State 87–77 2–0 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN December 5 4 yes Northwestern 73–56 3–0 Welsh-Ryan Arena Evanston, Illinois December 8 4 Saint Louis 93–66 4–0 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN December 11 4 7 UCLA 77–74 5–0 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN December 13 4 7 (Div II) St. Joseph's (IN) 79–58 6–0 0-0 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN December 22 4 Fairfield 69–59 7–0 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN December 29 3 2 Kentucky 80–86 7–1 Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky January 8 7 yes San Francisco 59–67 7–2 War Memorial Gymnasium San Francisco, CA January 10 7 yes Tulane 79–59 8–2 Avron B. Fogelman Arena New Orleans, Louisiana January 13 7 yes TCU 85–68 9–2 Hemisphere Arena San Antonio, Texas January 15 8 Villanova 70–69 10–2 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN January 19 8 yes UCLA 80–73 11–2 Pauley Pavilion Los Angeles, California January 23 8 Canisius 84–63 12–2 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN January 26 8 15 Maryland 64–63 13–2 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN January 30 8 yes La Salle 64–63 13–3 Palestra Philadelphia, Pennsylvania February 2 8 Davidson 105–71 14–3 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN February 4 8 Navy 67–53 15–3 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN February 6 9 Manhattan 93–49 16–3 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN February 9 9 North Carolina State 55–63 16–4 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN February 11 9 San Francisco 78–66 17–4 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN February 13 12 yes Fordham 86–76 18–4 Rose Hill Gymnasium Bronx, NY February 16 12 yes South Carolina 90–66 19–4 Carolina Coliseum Columbia, SC February 20 10 yes Xavier 85–72 20–4 Riverfront Coliseum Cincinnati, OH February 24 10 Marquette 74–77 20–5 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN February 27 14 1 DePaul 76–74 21–5 Joyce Center Notre Dame, IN March 1 14 yes Dayton 62–54 22–5 UD Arena Dayton, OH |- !colspan=12 style=Notre Dame Fighting Irish| NCAA tournament March 8 4 9 yes 5 16 Missouri NCAA tournament second round 84–87 OT 22–6 Bob Devaney Sports Center Lincoln, NE 1979-80 Notre Dame Fighting Irish Schedule https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/schools/notre-dame/1980-schedule.html sports-reference.com January 6, 2019 Players selected in NBA drafts Year Round Pick Player NBA club 1980 1 20 Bill Hanzlik Seattle SuperSonics 1980 4 78 Rich Branning Indiana Pacers 1981 1 6 Orlando Woolridge Chicago Bulls 1981 1 12 Kelly Tripucka Detroit Pistons 1981 2 25 Tracy Jackson Boston Celtics 1981 8 167 Gilbert Salinas Atlanta Hawks 1983 1 19 John Paxson San Antonio Spurs 1983 5 98 Tim Andree Chicago Bulls 1983 9 202 Bill Varner Milwaukee Buckshttps://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/draft.fcgi?college=notredame Notre Dame draft history at basketball-reference.com March 3, 2019 References Notre Dame Notre Dame Notre Dame Fighting Irish Notre Dame Fighting Irish Category:Notre Dame Fighting Irish men's basketball seasons