Indiana college basketball championships: Complete history

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 Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium would host the championship game.

Duquesne and Southern California also participated in the national semifinals in 1940.

Kansas' Howard Engleman was the tournament's leading scorer with 39 points.

1940 NCAA tournament: Bracket

Click or tap here for a printable bracket.

Thirteen years after Branch McCracken led Indiana to its first national championship, the Hoosiers nearly went undefeated in conference play, going 17-1 in conference play, before winning four games in the NCAA tournament to take home their second title.

Here's everything you need to know about Indiana's 1953 national championship team.

Coach: Branch McCracken
Conference: Big Ten
Record: 23-3 (17-1)
Conference Finish: 1st

player	games	FG	FGA	FG%	points	rebounds
Don Schlundt	26	7.9	18.3	.432	25.4	8.5
Bobby Leonard	26	6.3	19.3	.326	16.3	3.6
Dick Farley	26	3.6	8.2	.443	10.1	5.7
Burke Scott	26	2.9	7.9	.369	8.0	3.0
Charley Kraak	26	2.4	6.8	.356	7.2	9.0
Dick White	22	1.8	5.8	.313	5.6	3.5
Paul Poff	13	1.1	3.5	.311	3.1	1.2
Phil Byers	23	1.1	3.1	.347	2.7	0.9
Jack Wright	3	0.7	3.7	.182	2.7	0.7
Jim DeaKyne	20	1.0	4.4	.230	2.3	1.5
Goethe Chambers	2	0.5	0.5	1.000	1.0	0.0
Ron Taylor	2	0.5	1.0	.500	1.0	1.0
Jim Schooley	16	0.2	0.9	.214	0.8	1.9
Don Henry	–––	–––	–––	–––	–––	–––
Lou Scott	–––	–––	–––	–––	–––	–––

 

Dec. 1, 1952 – Indiana 95, Valparaiso 56

"Coach Branch McCracken's veteran Indiana outfit used a speedy, balanced attack in crushing Valpo," reported the United Press. "All 10 Hoosiers who saw action broke into the scoring column and six of them connected for 10 or more points. Guards Burke Scott and Bob Leonard were the Hoosier hot shots with 16 points each, but Valpo's Jim Howard took scoring honors with 17 points."

Dec. 6, 1952 – Notre Dame 71, Indiana 70

"Jack Stephens, Notre Dame's sofomore [sic] forward from Chicago, dribbled the length of floor and his layup shot with two seconds to go beat Indiana 71 to 70 tonight in the Irish fieldhouse," reported the Chicago Tribune. "With 1 minute 45 seconds remaining, Indiana led, 69 to 65. A hook shot by Dick Wise, Notre Dame reserve center, made it 69 to 67. Then Indiana's Bob Leonard made a free throw and Indiana had a three point advantage with 38 seconds left."

Dec. 13, 1952 – Kansas State 82, Indiana 80

"A long desperation shot from about thirty-five feet out by Jack Carby, who had been demoted from the first string before tonight's game, gave Kansas State a thrilling 82 to 80 basketball victory over Indiana," reported The Kansas City Star. "For the Manhattan Wildcats it was their twenty-third straight victory on the home court since they bowed 52-58 to this same Indiana team two years ago."

Dec. 20, 1952 – Indiana 88, Michigan 60

"Paced by six-foot-nine sophomore Center Don Schlundt, they peppered the net for 41 points in the first period, while Michigan collected just 18," reported the United Press. "Schlundt sat out the second and fourth stanzas. But Coach Branch McCracken sent him in again in the third and he chalked up 11 more to give him 24 for the night and scoring honors for the entire ball game."

Dec. 22, 1952 – Indiana 91, Iowa 72

"Led by big Bob Leonard, who riddled Iowa with long shots, the Hoosiers never were headed as they raced to their second conference victory," reported the AP. "Don Schlundt, Indiana's 6 foot, 9 inch center, put his team ahead with a tip-in after 30 seconds of play, and Iowa never could take the lead, though they tried the count a few seconds later on Deacon Davis' 15-footer."

Jan. 3, 1953 – Indiana 91, Michigan 88

"Indiana, paced by Center Don Schlundt's 39 points, remained undefeated in Big Ten play with a 91 to 88 victory over an aroused Michigan team tonight," reported the Chicago Tribune. "Schlundt, 6 feet 10 inches, hit 11 baskets in 22 shots and made 17 free throws in 20 attempts before fouling out with 1 minute 50 seconds to go."

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Jan. 5, 1953 – Indiana 69, Michigan State 62

"That Michigan State's 1953 basketball team is to be a pushover for nobody in the Big Ten was a known fact today," wrote the Lansing State Journal's George Alderton. "The Spartans proved it last night, giving Indiana a hard time of it before yielding, 69 to 62. Fighting the rangy, capable and well-manned Indiana university squad every step of the route, State's squad succumbed to a third period drive by the Hoosiers but out-scored them the rest of the route."

Jan. 10, 1953 – Indiana 66, Minnesota 63

"Minnesota came within 28 seconds of winning its first basketball game over Indiana here in eight years Saturday night before 10,000 rabid Hoosier fans," wrote the Star Tribune's Sid Hartman. "...Before guard Burke Scott hit two field goals in the last 28 seconds, however, it looked like Minnesota was going to hand Indiana its first conference loss in five games."

Jan. 12, 1953 – Indiana 88, Ohio State 68

"Ohio State's Paul Ebert scored 22 points to emerge victorious in his scoring duel with Indiana's son Don Schlundt, but the Buckeye's [sic] were dumped by league-leading Indiana, 88-68, in a Big Ten basketball game here last night," reported the AP. "Schlundt was removed late in the third period after his fourth personal foul and ended up with a 15-point total."

Jan. 17, 1953 – Indiana 74, Illinois 70 (2OT)

"In a basketball classic here tonight that twice afforded a gripping study in still life, Indiana's field house turned from a copy of Madame Toussand's Waxworks into a bedlam of jumping jacks as the Hoosiers finally won in two overtime periods from Illinois 74-70," wrote The Courier-Journal's Tommy Fitzgerald. "Six free throws brought Indiana's victory in the second overtime to keep its Big Ten leadership against the challenge of second-place Illinois. The Hoosiers now lead by two games."

Jan. 19, 1953 – Indiana 88, Purdue 75

"Don Schlundt hit five field goals and 16 of 20 free throws Monday night for almost one-third of Indiana's points in an 88-75 victory over Purdue," reported the AP. "It was the eighth straight league victory for Indiana's Big Ten leaders, rated No. 2 nationally in The Associated Press poll. Indiana hit 42 of 54 free throws, breaking the Big Ten record of 40 made by Wisconsin at Minnesota two weeks ago."

Feb. 2, 1953 – Indiana 105, Butler 70

"A two-week recess apparently did not rust the effectiveness of Indiana, the Big 10 basketball leader, or its top contender, Illinois," reported the AP. "Returning to the floor Monday night for the first time since January 19, the Hoosiers — atop the Big 10 with eight victories in eight games — stomped Butler 105-70."

Feb. 7, 1953 – Indiana 88, Northwestern 84

"Indiana's Hoosiers continued atop the Big Ten Conference basketball race last night, fighting off a desperate fourth-quarter Northwestern comeback for an 88-84 victory," reported the AP. "The Hoosiers, rated No. 2 in the nation in the AP poll, narrowly escaped humiliation by the seventh-place Wildcats. Leading 44-30 at the half and 69-54 at the end of the third period, Indiana cooled suddenly at the offset of the final quarter."

Feb. 9, 1953 – Indiana 66, Wisconsin 48

"Indiana, hindered by Wisconsin's tight zone defense and its own mediocre shooting, still had enough Monday night to fashion an easy 66-48 victory to remain undefeated in ten Big Ten basketball games," reported the AP. "The Hoosiers ... now have the longest winning streak they ever have compiled in league competition."

Feb. 14, 1953 – Indiana 65, Michigan State 50

"Indiana University's basketball team, sparked by the 30-point firing of Don Schlundt, raced to a 65-50 conquest of Michigan State here last night for the Hoosiers' 11th straight Big Ten triumph," wrote The Indianapolis Star's Bob Stranahan. "Only during the first half were the Spartans really in the ball game against Branch McCracken's smooth-working outfit. That was largely due to Indiana's streak of coldness more than Spartan proficiency."

Feb. 16, 1953 – Indiana 72, Wisconsin 70

"Wisconsin gave Indiana a scare in the closing minutes," reported the AP. "Without the services of starting Forwards Tony Stracka and Dick Cable, who had fouled out, the Badgers broke through Hoosier stalling tactics to cut six points from the visitors' comfortable advantage."

Feb. 21, 1953 – Indiana 81, Ohio State 67

"There was no stopping the red-hot Hoosiers as they claked up their 13th straight league victory and 17th in a row over two seasons to stay in front of defending champion Illinois by at least two games," reported the AP. "The Buckeyes, losing their eighth league test against six wins, led only once — shortly before the first period ended when Merrill Hatfield sank a one-hander and hit a free throw. But Dick Farley hit a basket for the Hoosiers for a 21-all first-period tie."

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Feb. 23, 1953 – Indiana 113, Purdue 78

"Records fell like rain in this highest-scoring of all the traditional battles between the Hoosiers and Boilermakers," wrote The Indianapolis Star's Bob Stranahan. "Don Schlundt accounted for three of them. His 31 points brought his total to 367 for 14 games and that broke the record of Chuck Darling of Iowa for a similar number of contests. Darling had 364."

Feb. 28, 1953 – Indiana 91, Illinois 79

"Indiana's Hoosiers wrapped up the Big Ten basketball championship with ease Saturday night, beating the only remaining hopeful, Illinois, 91-79 as the brilliant Don Schlundt paced the victory with 33 points," reported the AP. "The win was Indiana's 15th straight in Big Ten play and assured it of sole claim to the title even though the Hoosiers have three games remaining."

March 2, 1953 – Indiana 90, Northwestern 88 (OT)

"Just as a chain is no stronger than its weakest link, there comes a time when a basketball team is no stronger than its reserve strength," wrote The Indianapolis News' Ray Marquette. "This theory was proved here last night, as the Indiana University bench strength rose up to claw over a seemingly insurmountable closing flurry by Northwestern that had the Hoosiers clawing for purchase on the brink of losing their first of 16 Western Conference contests."

March 7, 1953 – Minnesota 65, Indiana 63

"A jump shot with three seconds to go gave Minnesota 65-63 upset victory over Indiana Saturday night, the first loss for the Hoosiers in Big Ten competition this year," reported the AP. "It was the first defeat in 18 games for the conference champions. A record crowd of 18,114 watched as forward Dick Farley gave Indiana a 63-63 tie with three minutes of play left."

March 9, 1953 – Indiana 68, Iowa 61

"Don Schlundt, Indiana's big sophomore scoring ace, dropped in 22 points in the less than three quarters he played to increase his Big Ten scoring record for one season to 459 points," reported the AP.

March 13, 1953 (NCAA tournament) – Indiana 82, DePaul 80

"The nation's top-ranked Indiana Hoosiers, saved by the bell in a preliminary battle with DePaul Friday night, take on confident Notre Dame tonight in the finals of the NCAA eastern regional basketball playoffs," reported the AP. "Branch McCracken, Indiana coach, was a worried man despite the victory. 'We made a lot of mistakes — too many mistakes,' he said, shaking his head sadly. 'It's fortunate you can make that many mistakes and still win in this kind of tournament.'"

March 14, 1953 (NCAA tournament) – Indiana 79, Notre Dame 66

"(Don) Schlundt's 41 points broke the former Chicago Stadium mark of 37 points by George Mikan of DePaul in 1945, 90 to 70," reported the AP. "Schlundt was a first-half terror to the Irish, counting 18 points in the opening quarter and 12 in the second period. His first half bag included 10 field goals and 10 free throws."

March 17, 1953 (NCAA tournament) – Indiana 80, LSU 67

"Burning up the nets with a .555 shooting percentage, Indiana's Hoosiers moved to within a game of the NCAA basketball title here Tuesday night with a 80 to 67 victory over Louisiana State," reported The Republic. "In downing the Tigers, IU took only 45 shots, the lowest number they have tried all season. They hit 25 of them."

March 18, 1953 (NCAA tournament) – Indiana 69, Kansas 68

"The Indiana Hoosiers, who matched Kansas in drive and hustle, sneaked by the Jayhawks last night, 69 to 68, to win the National Collegiate Athletic association's basketball championship," reported The Kansas City Times. "Bob Leonard's free throw with twenty-seven seconds to go was the clincher. This was one of the most hectic struggles in the 15-year history of the event and it took place before a capacity crowd of 10,500 in the Municipal Auditorium."