| Mode: | Basketball |
| Year: | 1980–81 |
| Team: | Michigan Wolverines |
| Conference: | Big Ten Conference |
| Short Conf: | Big Ten |
| Record: | 19–11 |
| Conf Record: | 8–10 |
| Captain: | Paul Heuerman |
| Captain2: | Thad Garner |
| Asst Coach2: | Tom Kempf |
| Bowl Result: | Quarterfinals |
The 1980–81 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team represented the University of Michigan in intercollegiate college basketball during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team played its home games in the Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. Under the direction of first-year head coach Bill Frieder, the team finished tied for sixth in the Big Ten Conference.[1] The team earned an invitation to the 1981 National Invitation Tournament.[2] Although the team was ranked in the Associated Press Top Twenty Poll for eleven of the sixteen weeks reaching a peak at number nine, it began and finished the season unranked[3] and it also ended the season unranked in the final UPI Coaches' Poll.[4] The team was led by All-American Mike McGee.[5] The team set the current Big Ten conference record by playing in six overtime games.[6] That season McGee also set the current conference record for career field goals attempted (2077).[7] McGee set several other records, which have since been broken: career points (2439, broken in 1989 by Glen Rice),[7] career points (conference games only) (1503, broken in 1995),[8] single-season field goals made (309, broken in 1986)[7] and career field goals made (1010, broken in 1993).[7] Mark Bodnar became the first Michigan Wolverines player on record to total 13 assists in a game on December 13, 1980, against the, eclipsing Mark Henry's 1970 total of 12. No Wolverine would surpass 13 assists in a game until Gary Grant twice recorded 14 in December 1987.[9] The team's field goal percentage of 51.1 was a school record that lasted four years.[10] McGee's 3941 minutes and 34.3 minutes per game stood as school records until 1987 and 1984 respectively. Marty Bodnar earned first team Academic All-American honors, while Mark Bodnar was a third team selection.[11] Paul Heuerman and Thad Garner served as team captains, while McGee earned team MVP.[12] McGee ended his career with a school record 112 starts. The record would last for six years.[13]
In the 32-team National Invitation Tournament, Michigan advanced to the elite eight round by defeating the Duquesne Dukes 74 - 58 and 80 - 68 before losing to Syracuse Orange 91 - 76.
Seven players from this team were selected in the NBA draft.[14] [15] [16] [17]
| Year | Round | Pick | Overall | Player | NBA Club | |
| 1 | 19 | 19 | Los Angeles Lakers | |||
| 1981 | 3 | 23 | 69 | John Johnson | Boston Celtics | |
| 1981 | 5 | 20 | 112 | Paul Heuerman | Phoenix Suns | |
| 7 | 3 | 141 | Thad Gardner | Utah Jazz | ||
| 10 | 7 | 213 | Ike Person | Detroit Pistons | ||
| 1 | 12 | 12 | Cleveland Cavaliers | |||
| 1984 | 10 | 19 | 225 | Dan Pelekoudas | Detroit Pistons |