Kristian Ferrell
The Indiana Hoosiers have won five NCAA Championships in men's basketball, with the first two occurring under coach Branch McCracken in 1940 and 1953, and the latter three under Bob Knight in 1976, 1981, and 1987. The Hoosiers' five NCAA Championships tie them for fourth place with Duke, behind North Carolina, UCLA, and Kentucky. In addition to their five NCAA Championships, the Hoosiers have won 22 Big Ten Conference Championships, seven regular-season conference championships, and one WNIT title in the 2017-18 season.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total number of NCAA national championships won | 5 |
| Year of first NCAA national championship win | 1940 |
| Year of second NCAA national championship win | 1953 |
| Year of third NCAA national championship win | 1976 |
| Year of fourth NCAA national championship win | 1981 |
| Year of fifth NCAA national championship win | 1987 |
| Number of Big Ten Conference Championships won | 22 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament appearances | 41 |
| Number of Final Four appearances | 8 |
| Number of Sweet Sixteen appearances | 22 |
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What You'll Learn
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball history
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has a rich history spanning over a century. The team first played Purdue on March 2, 1901, in Bloomington, marking the beginning of a longstanding rivalry. Over the years, the Hoosiers have achieved numerous accolades and built a legacy of success, becoming one of the most well-known and valuable collegiate basketball programs in the country.
The Hoosiers' basketball history is closely associated with several iconic coaches, including Everett Dean, Branch McCracken, and Bob Knight. Everett Dean, a former standout player who brought IU its first All-America honours in 1921, became the head coach in 1924. Under Dean's leadership, the Hoosiers won their first-ever share of the Big Ten Conference title in 1926, followed by additional conference championships in 1928 and 1936.
Branch McCracken, a former player under Dean, took over as head coach in 1938. McCracken led the Hoosiers to unprecedented success, winning their first NCAA national championship in 1940. The team, led by All-American Marvin Huffman, set a record at the time with 20 wins and a 20-3 season. McCracken's tenure also witnessed the recruitment of Bill Garrett, the first African American player in Big Ten varsity basketball history, in 1948.
The Hoosiers continued their winning streak, claiming another NCAA championship in 1953 under McCracken's guidance. This victory solidified Indiana's dominance, as they defeated reigning champions Kansas by a single point. The team was led by Bobby Leonard, Dick Farley, and three-time All-American Don Schlundt.
Following McCracken's successful coaching tenure, his longtime assistant Lou Watson took over as head coach from 1965 to 1971. The 1966-67 team, known as the "Cardiac Kids," won the Big Ten championship and delivered numerous thrilling finishes.
The Hoosiers went on to win three more NCAA Championships in 1976, 1981, and 1987, with the 1976 squad remaining the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion. These latter three victories were achieved under the leadership of head coach Bob Knight.
In addition to their five NCAA Championships, the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has accumulated numerous other achievements. They have won the regular-season conference championship 22 times (or 24 times according to one source), the Big Ten Conference Championship 22 times, and have appeared in the AP Poll 580 times. The Hoosiers are known for their passionate fan base and have consistently ranked in the top 15 nationally in men's basketball attendance.
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Indiana's first national championship
The Indiana Hoosiers have won 24 NCAA national championships and one Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championship, in addition to 145 NCAA individual national championships. The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball programme representing Indiana University.
Indiana won its first NCAA national championship in 1940, becoming the first team from the East Regional to win the tournament. The Hoosiers beat Kansas 60-42 in the title game, led by 12 points from Most Outstanding Player Marvin Huffman. This was the first of three consecutive years that Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium would host the championship game. The 1939-40 NCAA title team, led by All-American Marvin Huffman, took Indiana to unprecedented success: an NCAA title and a record (at the time) 20 wins. The 20–3 record by that team would not be bettered for another 13 years.
The Hoosiers' first great head coach, Everett Dean, was at first a standout player who garnered IU's first All-America honours in 1921. In 1924, Dean signed on as the full-time head coach of his alma mater. Under Dean, the Hoosiers elevated their play to new heights, winning their first-ever share of the Big Ten Conference title in 1926, defeating Wisconsin 35–20. The Hoosiers also won conference championships in 1928 and 1936. Four All-Americans helped lead the Hoosiers in this era: Jim Strickland, Branch McCracken (later coach), Vern Huffman, and Ken Gunning. Dean coached Indiana until 1938 and was succeeded by Branch McCracken, who led the Hoosiers to their first national championship in 1940.
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The Hoosiers' five national titles
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has won five NCAA Championships. The Hoosiers' five NCAA Championships are tied for fourth with Duke (5), trailing North Carolina (6), UCLA (11), and Kentucky (8). The first two were won under coach Branch McCracken, and the latter three under Bob Knight.
The Hoosiers won their first NCAA national championship in 1940, becoming the first team from the East Regional to win the tournament. The Hoosiers beat Kansas 60-42 in the title game, led by 12 points from Most Outstanding Player Marvin Huffman. This was the first of three consecutive years that Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium would host the championship game.
In the 1951-52 season, Indiana went 16-6 (9-5 Big Ten), finishing fourth in the conference. The Hoosiers peaked at No. 4 in the AP Poll and they finished the season unranked. After the season, Indiana lost several players. However, they bounced back and won their second national championship at the 1953 NCAA tournament. The Hoosiers beat Kansas in the final, 69-68.
The Hoosiers won their third national championship in 1976, becoming the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion. They won their fourth and fifth championships in 1981 and 1987, respectively. In addition to their five NCAA Championships, the Hoosiers have won 22 Big Ten Conference Championships and have the best winning percentage in conference games at nearly 60%.
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The Hoosiers' Big Ten record
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has won five NCAA Championships (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987), with the first two led by coach Branch McCracken and the latter three by Bob Knight. The Hoosiers have also won 22 Big Ten Conference Championships and have the best winning percentage in conference games at nearly 60%.
The Hoosiers won their first-ever share of the Big Ten Conference title in 1926 under coach Everett Dean, defeating Wisconsin 35-20. They went on to win conference championships in 1928 and 1936. In 1940, the team achieved unprecedented success, winning an NCAA title and a record (at the time) of 20 wins. Led by All-American Marvin Huffman, the team's 20–3 record stood for 13 years until it was broken again by Indiana.
In the 1951-52 season, Indiana went 16-6 (9-5 Big Ten), finishing fourth in the conference. The following year, they won their second national championship at the 1953 NCAA tournament, beating Kansas 69-68. The Hoosiers also won the Big Ten that year. The team went on to win back-to-back conference championships in 1956–57 and 1957–58, led by two-time All-American Archie Dees.
In 1967, the Hoosiers won a Big Ten co-championship under coach John Pont, earning him unanimous national coach of the year honors. In 1976, the Indiana Hoosiers squad became the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champions. The Hoosiers women's basketball team was co-Big Ten champions in the 1982–83 season and won the Big Ten Tournament in 2001–02.
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The Hoosiers' head coaches
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has had 30 coaches in its 120-season history. The current head coach is Mike Woodson, who was hired in March 2021. Woodson played for the Hoosiers from 1979 to 1981 and was drafted by the New York Knicks as the 12th pick in the 1980 NBA draft. He later coached for seven different NBA franchises and worked as an assistant for the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Detroit Pistons, among others.
Woodson replaced Darian DeVries, who was hired in 2025 after just one season with the West Virginia Mountaineers. DeVries, in turn, replaced Woodson, who stepped down at the end of his fourth season in Bloomington. Before DeVries, Indiana had a string of notable coaches, including Bob Knight, who led the Hoosiers to three NCAA Championships, and Branch McCracken, who coached the team to two national titles. McCracken was IU's first great head coach, taking the team to new heights and winning the school's first-ever share of the Big Ten Conference title in 1926. He amassed 364 wins and 210 Big Ten wins during his 23-year tenure.
McCracken's teams won four regular-season Big Ten titles and went to the NCAA tournament four times. He was responsible for recruiting the first African American player in Big Ten varsity basketball history, Bill Garrett, in 1948. McCracken's successor was his longtime assistant and former lead scorer, Lou Watson, who coached Indiana from 1965 to 1971. Watson led the 1966-67 team, known as the "Cardiac Kids," to a Big Ten championship.
The Hoosiers' athletic program is best known for its basketball team, which has won five NCAA Championships, tying for fourth in history. The team has also won 22 Big Ten Conference Championships and has the best winning percentage in conference games at nearly 60%.
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Frequently asked questions
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has won 5 NCAA Championships in 1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987. They have also won 24 NCAA national championships and one Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) national championship, in addition to 145 NCAA individual national championships.
The Indiana Hoosiers won their first NCAA championship in 1940 under coach Branch McCracken.
The Indiana Hoosiers have won 22 Big Ten Conference Championships.
