1980–81 James Madison Dukes men's basketball team

The 1980–81 James Madison Dukes men's basketball team represented James Madison University during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Dukes, led by ninth year head coach Lou Campanelli, played their home games at the on-campus Godwin Hall and were members of the southern division of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC).

1980–81 James Madison Dukes men's basketball
ECAC South tournament champions
NCAA Tournament East Region 10 Seed, Second Round
Conference	Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference
Division	South
Record	21–9 (10-2 ECAC)
Head coach	Lou Campanelli (9th season)
Home arena	Godwin Hall

1980–81 ECAC South men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
James Madison †	-	–	-		–			21	–	9		.700
Old Dominion	-	–	-		–			18	–	10		.643
St. Francis (PA)	-	–	-		–			17	–	10		.630
William & Mary	-	–	-		–			16	–	12		.571
Richmond	-	–	-		–			15	–	14		.517
Towson State	-	–	-		–			13	–	14		.481
George Mason	-	–	-		–			10	–	16		.385
Navy	-	–	-		–			9	–	16		.360
Robert Morris	-	–	-		–			9	–	18		.333
Baltimore	-	–	-		–			5	–	21		.192
Catholic University	-	–	-		–			4	–	20		.167
† 1981 ECAC South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

The 1980–81 Dukes won the 1981 ECAC South tournament by beating Richmond and therefore received an automatic bid to the 1981 NCAA Division I basketball tournament. This was the first team from James Madison to make the NCAA Division I tournament. As the tenth-seed in the East Region, the Dukes beat Georgetown before being beaten in the second round by Notre Dame.

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular Season
November 28, 1980		at St. John's	L 58-67	0-1	Alumni Hall  Jamaica, NY
November 29, 1980		vs. Weber State	W 49-47	1-1	Alumni Hall  Jamaica, NY
December 2, 1980		Salisbury State	W 74-54	2-1	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
December 6, 1980		West Virginia Tech	L 78-80	2-2	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
December 10, 1981		at Baltimore	W 87-62	3-2	Baltimore Civic Center  Baltimore, MD
December 13, 1980		Rider	W 70-52	4-2	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
December 19, 1980		vs. Texas A&M	L 47-51	4-3	Cassell Coliseum  Blacksburg, VA
December 20, 1980		vs. Pittsburgh	W 77-69	5-3	Cassell Coliseum  Blacksburg, VA
December 30, 1980		Virginia	L 52-53	5-4	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 3, 1981		at George Mason	W 54-37	6-4	GMU Fieldhouse  Fairfax, VA
January 7, 1981		North Carolina Wesleyan	W 97-57	7-4	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 10, 1981		Richmond	W 92-73	8-4	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 14, 1981		Baltimore	W 90-59	9-4	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 17, 1981		at William & Mary	L 42-44	9-5	William & Mary Hall  Williamsburg, VA
January 21, 1981		Old Dominion Rivalry	L 63-65	9-6	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 24, 1981		George Mason	W 70-53	10-6	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 26, 1981		at VCU	L 49-50	10-7	Richmond Coliseum  Richmond, VA
January 28, 1981		Navy	W 73-55	11-7	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
January 31, 1981		Charleston Southern	W 77-52	12-7	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
February 4, 1981		at Towson State	W 73-58	13-7	Towson Center  Towson, MD
February 7, 1981		William & Mary	W 72-60	14-7	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
February 12, 1981		VCU	L 57-58	14-8	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
February 18, 1981		at Old Dominion Rivalry	W 73-65	15-8	Norfolk Scope  Norfolk, VA
February 21, 1981		Shippensburg	W 77-68	16-8	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
February 25, 1981		Towson State	W 85-53	17-8	Godwin Hall  Harrisonburg, VA
February 28, 1981		at Richmond	W 69-63	18-8	Robins Center  Richmond, VA
ECAC South tournament
March 6, 1981	No. (2)	vs. (3) William & Mary	W 44-42	19-8	Hampton Coliseum  Hampton, VA
March 7, 1981	No. (2)	vs. (5) Richmond	W 69-60	20-8	Hampton Coliseum  Hampton, VA
NCAA Tournament
March 12, 1981	No. (10 E)	vs. (7 E) Georgetown	W 61-55	21-8	Providence Civic Center  Providence, RI
March 14, 1981	No. (10 E)	vs. No. 7 (2 E) Notre Dame	L 45-54	21-9	Providence Civic Center  Providence, RI
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Eastern Time.

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