Hoosiers' May Madness: Basketball's Unlikely Heroes

may indiana basketball

The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has a rich history, with five NCAA Championships (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987) and 22 Big Ten Conference championships under their belt. In recent years, however, their performance has been less impressive, with only three appearances in the Sweet 16 since 2002. In 2025, the Hoosiers were in the news due to speculation about the replacement for their outgoing coach, Mike Woodson. One of the top candidates was Dusty May, a former student manager with the Hoosiers and the current head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. May had led Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023 and had a successful run with Michigan, but he expressed happiness with his current team, saying, I love being at Michigan.

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Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team

The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I college basketball. The Hoosiers compete in the Big Ten Conference and have won 22 Big Ten Conference Championships. They play their home games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on the Branch McCracken Court in Bloomington, Indiana.

The Hoosiers have a rich history in college basketball, having won five National Championships (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987). The first two championship wins came under coach Branch McCracken, and the latter three under Bob Knight. Indiana's 1976 team was the last undefeated NCAA men's basketball champion. The Hoosiers have also reached the Final Four on eight occasions, ranking them eighth on the all-time list.

Indiana's basketball team is known for its unique jersey design, featuring simple stripes without players' names. This tradition reflects the principle of putting the team above individual players, and the Hoosiers have never retired any jersey numbers. Calbert Cheaney, a standout player, holds the record for all-time leading scorer at Indiana University with 2,613 points.

In recent years, the Hoosiers have continued to recruit top players and compete at a high level. In 2025, they started their season with a dominant 98-47 exhibition win against Universidad de Bayamón in Puerto Rico. The team is actively pursuing highly-rated prospects for the 2026 season, including five-star players Anthony Thompson and Arafan Diane.

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IU basketball recruiting

The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represents Indiana University Bloomington in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Hoosiers have won five National Championships in men's basketball (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987), with 22 Big Ten Conference Championships. They have a strong history of recruiting and developing talented players, with 46 players claiming All-American status and a further 14 earning First-Team honours.

IU basketball has been very active in the 2026 recruiting cycle, offering scholarships to several highly-rated prospects. They have received a commitment from the class of 2026 4-star guard Prince-Alexander Moody, who stands at 6-foot-4. Other top players considering IU include 5-star wing Anthony Thompson, class of 2026 guard Jordan Smith, and big man Arafan Diane, who has IU among his 12 finalists.

IU basketball has also been busy filling out their 2025-26 roster, recently adding Serbian guard Aleksa Ristic. They have welcomed several recruits for official visits, including 4-star centre Luigi Suigo, 4-star forward Latrell Allmond, and 4-star shooting guard Prince-Alexander Moody.

The Hoosiers have a unique tradition of not displaying players' names on the back of their jerseys. This reflects their principle of prioritising the team over individual players. Additionally, IU does not retire jersey numbers, unlike many other college basketball programs.

IU basketball kicked off its three-game exhibition tour in Puerto Rico with a dominant 98-47 win against Universidad de Bayamón. The Hoosiers followed this with victories over Serbian team Mega Superbet and Universidad de Puerto Rico Bayamón. These games provided an opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate new recruits and finalise their roster for the upcoming season.

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Indiana basketball coaching candidates

Indiana's hunt for a new basketball coach has been ongoing since February 2025, when it was announced that head coach Mike Woodson would retire after the Hoosiers' final game of the 2024-25 season. The Hoosiers have won five national championships and reached eight Final Fours, but they have struggled to match this level of success in recent years.

Some of the top candidates for the position include Clemson's Brad Brownell and Drake's Ben McCollum. Brownell, a native of Evansville, Indiana, has had a successful career as a Division-I head coach since 2003, leading the Tigers to the Elite Eight last season and making four NCAA Tournament appearances. McCollum, in his first year as a Division-I head coach, has also impressed with his successful career in the Division-II ranks, winning four national championships and earning an NCAA Tournament berth this season.

Other potential candidates mentioned include Texas A&M's Williams, who has a strong blend of Power Four experience and program-building expertise, and Iowa State's T.J. Otzelberger, who has turned around the Cyclones' program and is on pace for his fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance. Baylor's Scott Drew, who attended Butler and coached at Valparaiso for a decade, has also been mentioned, although he has never appeared eager to leave Baylor.

Former coach Brad Stevens, currently serving as the Boston Celtics' president of basketball operations, has been discussed as a potential candidate. However, it is unclear if he would return to coaching, especially at the college level. Stevens had a successful tenure as the Celtics' head coach from 2013-2021, leading them to the playoffs in their final seven seasons and winning the NBA championship in the 2023-24 season.

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Indiana basketball spending

Indiana University's basketball team, the Indiana Hoosiers, has a rich history in the sport, with five NCAA Championships (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, and 1987) and 22 Big Ten Conference Championships under their belt. The Hoosiers play at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on the Branch McCracken Court in Bloomington, Indiana, and their success on the court has been accompanied by significant spending and investment.

In recent years, Indiana's basketball program has seen an increase in spending, with reported men's basketball expenses of $11.4 million in 2015 and $12.2 million in 2016. The Hoosiers' spending has been notable in several areas, including coaching salaries, game expenses, and guarantees. In 2017, IU reported more than $5 million in "coaching salaries, benefits, and bonuses," surpassing most other programs in the Big Ten. The same year, they also reported the highest amount in guarantees at $1.62 million, and their seven-figure game expenses totaled over $1.3 million.

Indiana University's athletic director, Fred Glass, has expressed his ambition for the basketball program to become a perennial contender. He is willing to allocate the necessary resources to achieve this goal, as evidenced by his statement: "I’m unapologetic in terms of my ambition for Indiana University basketball, and I’m willing to put my money where my mouth is." Glass's expectations are high, aiming for the team to "perennially contend for and win multiple Big Ten championships, regularly go deep in the NCAA tournament, and win our next national championship — and more after that.”

The Hoosiers' spending is supported by substantial revenues. In 2017, Indiana University reported revenues of over $100 million, including gains from media rights, NCAA distributions, and conference distributions. This financial backdrop enables the athletic department to allocate significant funds to the basketball program, contributing to its success and competitiveness.

For the 2025-26 season, Indiana basketball is expected to pay out more than $500,000 for non-conference guarantee games, with costs ranging from $105,000 to $115,000 per game. However, these expenses will be offset by agreements to play against prominent teams like Louisville and participating in multi-team events, such as a game against Marquette at the United Center. These strategic decisions ensure that Indiana basketball maintains a strong presence in the highly competitive world of college basketball.

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Indiana basketball jerseys

The official Indiana University Athletics Store offers a range of Indiana Hoosiers jerseys for adults, including the Adidas Men's Basketball Crimson Student-Athlete Jersey, retailing for $120. The Adidas Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Jersey is also available in crimson and is priced at $120. For a more personalised option, the Indiana Hoosiers Personalised Crimson Jersey is available for $100.

In addition to the official athletics store, there are other retailers that offer Indiana basketball jerseys and apparel. Fanatics, for example, carries officially licensed Indiana basketball gear, including jerseys, t-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts. Their collection allows fans to show their team spirit and look like members of the Indiana Hoosiers.

Frequently asked questions

Indiana Hoosiers.

Indiana University fielded its first men's basketball team in the 1900-01 season, posting a 1-4 ledger under coach James H. Horne.

Indiana University has won five National Championships in men's basketball (1940, 1953, 1976, 1981, 1987).

The Indiana Hoosiers play their home games at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall on the Branch McCracken Court in Bloomington, Indiana, on the Indiana University Bloomington campus.

Indiana Hoosiers basketball game results and schedules can be found on websites such as Sofascore and Inside the Hall.

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