The 1979–80 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's basketball team represented the University of Minnesota as a member of the Big Ten Conference during the 1979–80 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. Led by head coach Jim Dutcher, the Gophers finished fourth in the Big Ten conference with a record of 10–8, reached the championship game of the 1980 NIT, and finished with an overall record of 21–11.