1980–81 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team

1980–81 Idaho Vandals men's basketball
ConferenceBig Sky Conference
Record25–4 (12–2 Big Sky)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaKibbie Dome
1980–81 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Idaho 12 2   .857 25 4   .862
Montana 11 3   .786 19 9   .679
Montana State 11 3   .786 16 11   .593
Idaho State 6 8   .429 12 14   .462
Nevada 5 9   .357 11 15   .423
Weber State 5 9   .357 8 19   .296
Boise State 4 10   .286 7 19   .269
Northern Arizona 2 12   .143 8 17   .320
Big Sky Conference tournament winner

The 1980–81 Idaho Vandals men's basketball team represented the University of Idaho during the 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Vandals were led by third-year head coach Don Monson and played their home games on campus at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho.

Idaho won its first eleven games (including road wins at Nebraska, Washington State, and Gonzaga), went 23–3 in the regular season, and won the Big Sky Conference regular season championship, their first conference title in 58 years.

The Vandals' 12–2 conference record earned them the host position for the conference tournament (top four teams of the eight), which they won. Seeded seventh in the West region of the 48-team NCAA tournament, they traveled to El Paso, Texas. In the first round, Idaho lost by one point in overtime to Pittsburgh; they ended at 25–4 (.862), with most of the key players returning.