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The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has had many successful seasons throughout its history, with five national championships and eight Final Four appearances. The team's success has been defined by its many talented players and coaches, including Everett Dean, Branch McCracken, Bob Knight, and Isiah Thomas. The 1976 Indiana Hoosiers are considered the greatest team in program history and one of the greatest in college basketball, with an undefeated season. The 1987 championship team, led by coach Bob Knight, showcased heart and grit, with Steve Alford as the star player. The 2011-2012 season was also notable, with a 15-game win improvement, considered one of the most remarkable rebuilding projects in NCAA basketball history.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Best year | 1976 |
| Head Coach | Bob Knight |
| Player MVP | Steve Alford |
| Star Player | Scott May |
| Number of National Championships | 5 |
| Number of Final Four Appearances | 8 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances | 42 |
| Number of Wins | 1,950 |
| Number of Losses | 1,130 |
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What You'll Learn
IU's first great head coach
Indiana University's (IU) first great head coach in men's basketball was Everett Dean. Dean was initially a standout player who earned IU's first All-America honours in 1921. He then went on to become the head coach, although it is unclear when he took on this role.
In more recent times, Darian DeVries was named the 31st head coach of IU's men's basketball programme in 2025. DeVries has had success in improving struggling basketball programmes, including at Drake University, where he achieved a 39.1% improvement in win percentage compared to the six years prior to his arrival.
Some other notable IU basketball coaches include Branch McCracken, who led the team to two NCAA championships, Bob Knight, who coached the Hoosiers to the 1987 championship, and Tom Crean, who led the team to success in the 2011-2012 season after taking over a depleted team.
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The 1976 Indiana Hoosiers
The 1976 team was hungry for a championship after the bad luck of sports denied them the year before. The 1975 team, led by coach Bob Knight, was undefeated in the regular season until All-American power forward Scott May broke his arm late in the season. Indiana then lost a close game to Kentucky in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament.
In the 1975-76 season, Indiana held off Notre Dame in a three-point win and went to overtime to beat Kentucky. St. John's, coached by future Hall of Famer Lou Carnesecca, also took the Hoosiers to the wire. Indiana's defence held Marquette, ranked second nationally, to 37% shooting, winning 65-56. In the Saturday semi-finals, Indiana ended the era of UCLA dominance with a 65-51 win. In the final, Michigan led at half-time, but Indiana hung 57 points on the board after intermission, winning 86-68.
The Hoosiers have a rich basketball history. They fielded their first men's basketball team in the 1900-01 season, posting a 1-4 ledger under coach James H. Horne. In 1917, Indiana began playing their games at the Men's Gymnasium, becoming the first facility in the country to use glass backboards. In 1939-40, the Hoosiers won the NCAA title, led by All-American Marvin Huffman, and set a record of 20 wins. In 1948, coach Branch McCracken recruited Bill Garrett, the first African American player in Big Ten varsity basketball history. Indiana won back-to-back conference championships in 1956-57 and 1957-58, led by two-time All-American Archie Dees. In 1960, McCracken successfully recruited twins Dick and Tom Van Arsdale, who earned All-America honours in 1965.
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The 1987 championship team
The 1986–87 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. Their head coach was Bobby Knight, who was in his 16th year. The team played its home games in Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference. The team is noted for having achieved much success without much NBA talent. They finished the regular season with an overall record of 24–4 and a conference record of 15–3, finishing 1st in the Big Ten Conference. As Big Ten Conference co-champions with Purdue, IU was named a one-seed in the 1987 NCAA Tournament.
In the 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, 64 schools played in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 12, 1987, and ended with the championship game on March 30 in New Orleans, Louisiana. A total of 63 games were played. Indiana, coached by Bob Knight, won the national title with a 74–73 victory in the final game over Syracuse, coached by Jim Boeheim.
The Hoosiers' last national championship season may not be good enough for the top spot, but it might have been the most clutch team in program history. Near last-second shots propelled Indiana to tight victories over Michigan, Wisconsin (3 OT), Northwestern and Minnesota in conference play to claim a share of the Big Ten title.
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The 2011-2012 season
The Hoosiers' performance in the 2011-2012 season resulted in a 27-9 record overall and an 11-7 standing in Big Ten play. They advanced to the second round of the 2012 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament before being defeated by Wisconsin. The team received an at-large bid in the 2012 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, progressing to the Sweet Sixteen before falling to the eventual champions, Kentucky. The 2011-2012 season marked a significant turnaround for the programme, with a 15-game win improvement, the largest in the NCAA that season.
The success of the Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team in the 2011-2012 season was a testament to Coach Tom Crean's guidance and rebuilding efforts. The team's performance and achievements during this season are considered one of the most remarkable projects in NCAA basketball history, especially considering the challenges faced by the programme in previous years. The Hoosiers' wins over top-ranked opponents and their overall record in the 2011-2012 season contributed to their legacy and impact on college basketball.
The roster for the 2011-2012 season included notable players such as Jordan Hulls, Christian Watford, Victor Oladipo, and Cody Zeller, who played a crucial role in the team's success. The combination of talented players, effective coaching, and a strong work ethic contributed to the Hoosiers' impressive performance during this season, solidifying their place in the history of Indiana University basketball.
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IU's all-time leading rebounder
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team has had a long and illustrious history, with five national championship banners and a host of talented players. While the team's success has been largely measured by championship wins, there have been several standout performers who have left their mark on the program.
One such player is Trayce Jackson-Davis, who has been a stabilizing presence for the team. Jackson-Davis has been a key contributor, averaging roughly 266 rebounds per season throughout his career. If he had remained with the Hoosiers for his senior year, projections placed him as a potential leader in career rebounds, with a possible tally of 1,063 boards. This would have placed him behind only Alan Henderson (1,091 rebounds) and Walt Bellamy (1,087 rebounds) in the record books.
Prior to Jackson-Davis, Kent Benson was the standout rebounder for the Hoosiers, being the only other player to surpass 1,000 rebounds in his college career. Benson was a pivotal member of the 1976 Indiana Hoosiers, widely regarded as the greatest team in program history and the last NCAA Division I men's basketball team to go undefeated.
While Jackson-Davis and Benson are modern-day rebounding leaders, it is important to acknowledge the historical context of the team. The school's record book primarily covers the period from the 1950s onwards, as records prior to this era are often incomplete and inconsistent. Therefore, it is challenging to definitively state the all-time leading rebounder across the entire history of the program.
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Frequently asked questions
The 1976 Indiana Hoosiers are considered the greatest team in the history of college basketball. They remain the last NCAA Division I men’s basketball team to go undefeated.
This was a watershed season for IU basketball. The team earned wins over #1 ranked Kentucky, #2 ranked Ohio State, and #5 ranked Michigan State. This made Indiana the first Big 10 program to knock off the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the same season since 1991. The Hoosiers finished the season with a 27–9 record, 5th in the Big Ten.
The 1987 championship team was perhaps head coach Bob Knight’s masterpiece. It was a team void of elite NBA talent but made up for it with heart and grit. Steve Alford was the star, averaging 22.0 points per contest.
