1980 Kentucky Basketball: Bounceback & Heartbreak

After winning the national championship in 1978, Kentucky had an uncharacteristic setback in 1979, missing the NCAA Tournament field entirely. While the bracket was considerably smaller than is the case today (40 teams in ’79, expanded to 48 for this season), an early NIT exit wasn’t going to cut it in Lexington. The 1980 Kentucky basketball team bounced back, captured a conference title, and looked poised for more before a crushing March loss ended the year.

Kyle Macy was the senior leader. The 6’3” guard averaged 15 points/5 assists per game. The Wildcats needed interior help though, and the arrival of freshman Sam Bowie did the trick. The 7’1” center would become infamous in NBA history, as the player chosen one spot ahead of Michael Jordan in the 1984 draft. Although that does serve to underscore how valuable Bowie was to his college team, and he averaged 13 points/8 rebounds per game his first year in Lexington.

Fred Cowan and LaVon Williams were reliable forwards, combining to average 21 points/11 rebounds per game. In spite of the tough year in 1979, the arrival of Bowie and the ‘Cats reputation had them ranked #2 in the preseason polls.

The season tipped off in Springfield, MA, home of the Basketball Hall of Fame, with a game against third-ranked Duke. It was a matchup that was both retrospective—a rematch of the ’78 NCAA final—and foreshadowing of this March. Kentucky dropped an 82-76 overtime decision.

A road trip for The Great Alaska Shootout brought needed medicine. The Wildcats beat NCAA-bound opponents in Bradley and Iona and won the eight-team tournament. They were up to 6-1 when they hosted #11 Indiana, who would eventually win the Big Ten title. The Wildcats beat the Hoosiers 69-58.

Kentucky went to the Atlanta Omni to play Georgia in an early SEC game and won 95-68. The Wildcats then closed the calendar year with high-profile games against Purdue and Notre Dame.

The Boilermakers were ranked #9, had Joe Barry Carroll at center, and were headed for the Final Four. Kentucky pulled out a 61-60 win. The Irish were ranked #3 and would ultimately be a 4-seed in the NCAA bracket. Kentucky won 86-80. They were back to #2 in the country as January arrived and the SEC schedule got going in earnest.

A narrow 67-65 home win over mediocre Auburn was followed by a tough 49-47 road loss to an NCAA Tournament squad in Tennessee. After beating Ole Miss, the Wildcats lost to Alabama. At 2-2 in league play, they were struggling.

Beating Vanderbilt in a high-octane 106-90 game helped, and was part of a four-game winning streak. That set up a Monday night home game with LSU in the final week of January. The Tigers were ranked #10 and would be the ‘Cats prime competition for SEC honors. Kentucky lost, 65-60.

Another two-point win over Auburn closed the month. Kentucky was 8-3 in the conference, although they were still ranked #3 nationally. And the first Saturday of February got them back in track in the SEC. They beat Tennessee 83-75 and ripped off seven straight wins. That stretch included a non-conference road test at UNLV—one which the Wildcats passed with a 74-69 win.

They were up to 14-3 in the conference and the regular season finale would be at LSU on February 24. This Sunday showcase would settle the SEC title. In an overtime thriller, the Wildcats pulled out a 76-74 win. They were SEC champs.

Kentucky was also angling for a #1 seed, and to be situated in the Mideast Regional, where Lexington would host the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight. Putting teams on their home floor was a routine occurrence for the NCAA Tournament in this era and the ‘Cats were hoping some home cookin’ would help them reach Indianapolis and the Final Four.

The conference tournament was held in Birmingham. Kentucky opened against Auburn and finally beat the Tigers by more than a basket, winning the quarterfinal 69-61. The Wildcats caught a bracket break when Tennessee lost, and Kentucky took advantage with a 70-67 win over Ole Miss. Alas, the third game with LSU did not go their way—another thriller, but this time it was an 80-78 loss.

Even so, the NCAA Selection Committee smiled on the SEC. Both Kentucky and LSU got #1 seeds, and the Wildcats were given their desired position in the Mideast Regional. Moreover, the opening weekend was hosted by Bowling Green. Kentucky could reach the Final Four without ever leaving the state.

With 48 teams in the field, the top four seeds in each regional got byes into the Round of 32. Kentucky ended up playing Florida State—the same opponent they had vanquished in this round in the title run of 1978.

The Wildcats put on an impressive display of oppressive defense and rebounding dominance. They forced 22 turnovers and controlled the glass to the tune of a 52-30 edge. It was more than enough to make up for allowing FSU to shoot 57 percent from the floor. In a foul-laden game where both sides were whistled a combined 61 times, Kentucky was up 49-27 by halftime and cruised to a 97-78 win. They were headed home to Rupp Arena.

Duke was waiting. And the season would end as it had begun. While Cowan had a big game with 26 points, no one else scored more than six. The defensive softness from the Florida State game carried over, and the Blue Devils shot 55 percent. Kentucky still hit the boards and held a decisive 31-20 advantage, so it was a tight battle all the way. But a 55-54 loss ended the dream.

No season that ends in the Sweet 16 will ever be considered a success in Big Blue Country, but this was still a bounceback year for Kentucky basketball. It was part of a six-year run where they made the regionals four times. But it would be 1984 before the ‘Cats returned to the Final Four, and a much longer wait to 1996 before they won it all again.