1979–80 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team

The 1979–80 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team represented the College of the Holy Cross during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by head coach George Blaney, played their home games at the Hart Center and were members of the East Coast Athletic Conference – North. They finished the season 19–11, 4–0 in ECAC-South play to finish in third place. They defeated Vermont, Maine, and Boston University to win the ECAC North tournament and earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. As No. 11 seed in the East region, they lost to Iona in the opening round, 84–78.

1979–80 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball
ECAC North tournament champions
NCAA tournament, first round
Conference	East Coast Athletic Conference
Record	19–11 (4–0 ECAC-N)
Head coach	George Blaney (8th season)
Home arena	Hart Center

1979–80 ECAC North men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Boston University	19	–	7		.731			21	–	9		.700
Northeastern	19	–	7		.731			19	–	8		.704
Holy Cross †	16	–	10		.615			19	–	11		.633
Rhode Island	14	–	12		.538			15	–	13		.536
Maine	14	–	12		.538			15	–	13		.536
Canisius	13	–	13		.500			13	–	14		.481
Vermont	4	–	4		.500			12	–	15		.444
Niagara	11	–	15		.423			11	–	16		.407
Colgate	8	–	17		.320			8	–	17		.320
New Hampshire	4	–	22		.154			4	–	22		.154
† 1980 ECAC North tournament winner

Roster

1979–80 Holy Cross Crusaders men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 15 Ron Perry 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) — Sr Catholic Memorial Boston, Massachusetts F 20 Garry Witts 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 185 lb (84 kg) Jr St. Joseph Metuchen, New Jersey	Head coach George Blaney (Holy Cross) Assistant coach(es) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	Site (attendance) city, state
Regular season
Dec 2, 1979*		Catholic	W 57–48	1–0	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Dec 4, 1979*		at Saint Peter's	L 62–73	1–1	Yanitelli Center  Jersey City, New Jersey
Dec 8, 1979*		at Yale	W 97–87	2–1	Payne Whitney Gymnasium  New Haven, Connecticut
Dec 15, 1979*		No. 3 Ohio State	L 63–79	2–2	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Dec 18, 1979*		Harvard	L 80–81	2–3	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Dec 22, 1979*		Canisius	W 89–79	3–3	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Dec 28, 1979*		Assumption Worcester County Classic	W 122–84	4–3	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Dec 29, 1979*		Hofstra Worcester County Classic	W 97–84	5–3	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Jan 5, 1980*		St. Francis Brooklyn	W 79–53	6–3	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Jan 9, 1980*		at Florida Southern	L 81–83	6–4	George W. Jenkins Field House  Lakeland, Florida
Jan 12, 1980*		at Providence	W 59–57	7–4	Providence Civic Center  Providence, Rhode Island
Jan 14, 1980*		at Duquesne	L 88–103	7–5	Civic Arena  Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jan 16, 1980*		at Vermont	W 76–71	8–5	Patrick Gym  Burlington, Vermont
Jan 19, 1980*		vs. Rhode Island	W 76–73	9–5	Boston Garden  Boston, Massachusetts
Jan 22, 1980*		vs. Fairfield	W 59–57	10–5	New Haven Coliseum  New Haven, Connecticut
Jan 26, 1980*		Iona	L 67–82	10–6	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Jan 29, 1980*		Dartmouth	W 101–69	11–6	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Feb 1, 1980*		vs. Massachusetts Colonial Classic	W 84–73	12–6	Boston Garden  Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 2, 1980*		vs. Boston College Colonial Classic	L 83–92	12–7	Boston Garden  Boston, Massachusetts
Feb 4, 1980*		at Manhattan	W 75–56	13–7	Draddy Gymnasium  Bronx, New York
Feb 7, 1980*		New Hampshire	W 97–86	14–7	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Feb 9, 1980*		at Boston College	W 72–69	15–7	Roberts Center  Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
Feb 16, 1980*		at Seton Hall	L 75–77	15–8	Walsh Gymnasium  South Orange, New Jersey
Feb 20, 1980*		Connecticut	L 70–88	15–9	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Feb 21, 1980*		Fordham	W 83–72	16–9	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Feb 23, 1980*		at Georgetown	L 78–105	16–10	McDonough Gymnasium  Washington, D.C.
ECAC North tournament
Feb 26, 1980*		Vermont Quarterfinals	W 90–74	17–10	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
Feb 28, 1980*		at Maine Semifinals	W 73–67	18–10	Alfond Arena  Orono, Maine
Mar 1, 1980*		Boston University Championship game	W 81–75	19–10	Hart Recreation Center  Worcester, Massachusetts
NCAA tournament
Mar 7, 1980*	(11 E)	vs. (6 E) No. 19 Iona First round	L 78–84	19–11	Providence Civic Center  Providence, Rhode Island
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. E=East. All times are in Eastern Time..