| November 29, 1980 | vs Loyola Marymount | W 98-65 |
| December 6, 1980 | vs TCU Horned Frogs | W 87-55 |
| December 10, 1980 | vs Missouri Tigers | W 84-62 |
| December 13, 1980 | vs Marquette Golden Eagles | W 69-68 |
| December 19, 1980 | vs BYU Cougars | L 75-80 |
| December 20, 1980 | vs Iona Gaels | W 106-84 |
| December 26, 1980 | vs Ohio | W 84-54 |
| December 27, 1980 | vs Oklahoma Sooners | W 93-63 |
| January 8, 1981 | vs Northwestern Wildcats | W 88-64 |
| January 10, 1981 | vs Indiana Hoosiers | L 61-78 |
| January 15, 1981 | vs Purdue Boilermakers | W 87-65 |
| January 17, 1981 | vs Minnesota Golden Gophers | W 80-76 |
| January 22, 1981 | vs Michigan Wolverines | L 76-80 |
| January 24, 1981 | vs Wisconsin Badgers | L 45-54 |
| January 29, 1981 | vs Michigan State Spartans | W 71-70 |
| January 31, 1981 | vs Iowa Hawkeyes | W 79-66 |
| February 5, 1981 | vs Ohio State Buckeyes | W 82-63 |
| February 7, 1981 | vs Iowa Hawkeyes | L 66-72 |
| February 12, 1981 | vs Wisconsin Badgers | W 84-65 |
| February 14, 1981 | vs Ohio State Buckeyes | W 63-57 |
| February 19, 1981 | vs Michigan Wolverines | W 67-64 |
| February 21, 1981 | vs Michigan State Spartans | W 82-62 |
| February 26, 1981 | vs Minnesota Golden Gophers | L 59-76 |
| February 28, 1981 | vs Purdue Boilermakers | W 81-70 |
| March 5, 1981 | vs Indiana Hoosiers | L 66-69 |
| March 7, 1981 | vs Northwestern Wildcats | W 98-76 |
| March 14, 1981 | vs Wyoming | W 67-65 |
| March 19, 1981 | vs Kansas State Wildcats | L 52-57 |
