This offseason series continues, and now it’s time to take a look back at one of the Big Ten’s most historic programs. The program that brought out coaching characters like the late Bobby Knight, to superstar players who became the face of NBA teams. Without further delay, here is the All-Time Indiana Hoosiers roster.
All-Time Indiana Hoosiers Basketball Roster
Point Guards
Leading off the team is a really strong trio of point guards. These guys define what it means to be a Hoosier. The first is Basketball Hall of Famer and leader of the ‘Motor City Bad Boys’, Isiah Thomas. This hard-nosed Chicago native joined Bob Knight’s Indiana team during the 1979-80 season. He quickly became undeniable as he played and started 29 games as a freshman. A Big Ten Championship win in his freshman season helped the Hoosiers prepare for a historic 1980-81 season. Thomas quickly turned into the best player as Indiana rose to the top of the College Basketball world, winning the 1981 NCAA Championship. For his hard work and determination, Isiah earned NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
He left the Hoosiers after that season for the NBA, and after hearing his name called second by the Detroit Pistons, he continued to prove he was one of the best point guards ever, winning back-to-back NBA Championships in 1989 and 1990. He finished his Indiana career with an average of 15.4 points and 5.7 assists per game.
Like Isiah, the next point guard, Quinn Buckner, defined the role in his time in the Cream and Crimson. Buckner (1972-1976) was a stud on the court for the Hoosiers. A four-time Big Ten Champion, he helped lead Indiana to a National Championship in 1975-1976, when the Hoosiers famously went unblemished on the court as they finished undefeated at 32-0. A very special team that has never been matched in the vast history of Men’s college basketball. That wasn’t his only feat in his final season of collegiate basketball, as he also captained Team USA to an Olympic Gold Medal. A career average of 10 points per game, along with 4.5 assists, helped Buckner showcase his leadership on the floor.
The final spot of the point guards could have gone to a handful of players, including Keith Smart or Damon Bailey. But for this All-Time Indiana Hoosiers roster, the most recent floor general the team had was Yogi Ferrell. Ferrell got the chance to play alongside two very successful Hoosiers during the Tom Crean era. Yogi (2012-2016) didn’t get a national title like his counterparts at this position, but he left his mark in Bloomington, finishing his career with an average of 14.5 points per game. Not to mention, he left Indiana as the all-time assist leader with 633, which is 15th all-time in Big Ten history.
Shooting Guards
The two-guard spot has plenty of firepower for this All-Time Indiana Hoosier basketball roster. Why not start with some of the historic names who all eventually went into coaching? Steve Alford defined the term “shooter.” Too bad he only had one season collegiately with the three-point line. He could have been the most prolific shooter of the 1980s. A two-time Consensus All-American, three-time All-Big Ten, and an NCAA Champion, Alford was as clutch a scorer as any for Indiana (1983-1987). His 2,438 career points are still 6th all-time in Big Ten History. The current head coach of the Nevada Wolfpack was born to be an All-Time Hoosier.
Randy Wittman is another former Indiana shooting guard who built himself a great legacy. Wittman spent five seasons in Bloomington from 1978-1983, a really strong era in the history of the Big Ten. For his contributions to Indiana basketball, Randy left as a Consensus All-American and All-Big Ten player during his final season, after winning a NCAA Title as a sophomore in 1981. Not only did he score over 1,500 points in his career, but he also had over 400 rebounds and 400 assists.
Mike Woodson sure didn’t end his coaching tenure with his alma mater in the best of ways, but his playing days at Indiana won’t be forgotten. Woodson was simply a scorer. Heck, he was near the top of the Big Ten twice during his playing career. He finished first in the Big Ten in scoring during the 1977-78 season and was second in ’78-79 as well. That’s alongside the likes of Purdue’s Joe Barry Caroll and other great legends in Big Ten History. His only unfortunate part was that he missed the undefeated National Championship team by a year, along with the 1981 championship as well.
Victor Oladipo put his name into the mainstream after not making much noise in his first season at Indiana. Oladipo spent three seasons in Bloomington (2010-2013), leaving after winning the Big Ten, finishing All-Big Ten twice, and being the defensive player of the year in 2012-13. He added the Rupp Trophy that season, along with All-American honors. He was the second pick of the 2013 NBA Draft. Injuries ultimately derailed a very promising NBA career for Victor.
Eric Gordon only spent one season in Indiana (2007-08), but it was enough. He was the best player in the Big Ten that season, and he was just a freshman. He led the Big Ten in scoring and earned not just Freshman of the Year, but was also All-Big Ten. Gordon continues to showcase his shooting in the NBA to this day with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Small Forwards
The first of the small forwards on this roster, you have to go way back. Dick Van Arsdale was a household name during the early 1960s or Indiana. Under Coach Branch McCraken, Van Arsdale showcased his natural scoring ability, despite the Hoosiers not having much success as a team. In a way, today’s Indiana Basketball team feels like it’s in a similar situation. Dick was an All-American coming out of high school. He couldn’t play as a freshman, so it’s tough to say if he could’ve done even more during that time. He was a great scorer for the era, as he finished his Indiana career with 1,240 points along with 719 rebounds. Van Arsdale was also a pretty good free-throw shooter, at nearly 80 percent for his career. He shot 507 free throws during his three seasons, making 402 of those shots.
The all-time leading scorer in Indiana Hoosiers basketball history has his place right at home on this All-Time team. Calbert Cheaney was a scoring machine during his Indiana days. A four-year player from 1989-1993, Cheaney was a high point in a time when the Hoosiers had a bit of a renaissance during the early 90s. Cheaney not only left Indiana with 2,613 career points, but he was also a National Player of the Year, winning both the Wooden Award and Naismith Award during the 1992-93 season. He was a two-time Big Ten Champion and also helped Indiana reach the Final Four in 1992.
Three All-Big Ten Selections and leaving as the all-time leading scorer led to Cheaney’s selection at sixth overall in the 1993 NBA Draft. He is also the all-time scoring leader in the Big Ten. That alone is crazy. His mark still holds to this day, further cementing his rightful place on the All-Time Indiana Hoosiers roster.
Power Forwards
To start the power forwards, look no further than the most prolific one-year player in Indiana history. George McGinnis was something else. His lone playing season during the 1970-71 season was prolific. In an era when you couldn’t play as a freshman, George dazzled as a sophomore. He became the first sophomore ever to lead the Big Ten in scoring and rebounding. He averaged 30 points and 14.7 rebounds during that season. That output landed him on the All-Big Ten honor list, along with All-American honors. Man, if he had Bob Knight as his coach, who knows what McGinnis could have done? His lone season was the year before Knight was hired at Indiana. His prolific season led to a great NBA career, where he was a three-time All-Star, and his famed No. 30 hangs in the rafters in Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Indiana Pacers.
Out went McGinnis and in came Scott May. The power forward factory that Indiana became during the 1970s was special. May got to do what George didn’t. He was a National Player of the Year award winner, and he led the Hoosiers to the highest of highs with the 1976 undefeated National Championship. Alongside Buckner and other future pro, Kent Benson, May thrived that season, leading the team with 23.5 points and 7.7 rebounds. After a stellar Indiana career, May was the second-overall pick in the 1976 NBA Draft. Despite the high selection, his NBA career only lasted seven seasons, with his best being his rookie campaign. Still, May was one of the best players to ever suit up for Bob Knight.
The final piece of the power forward puzzle goes to Alan Henderson. Getting two seasons to play alongside Cheaney gave Henderson the confidence to turn into a very productive power forward. A double-digit scorer in all four of his college seasons. Henderson took it to another level as a senior in 1994-95, finishing with 23.5 points per game along with just under 10 rebounds per game. That led to his selection as a First-Team All-Big Ten that season. He left Indiana as the top rebounder in Indiana history with 1,091 rebounds. That mark stood for nearly 20 years until it was topped during the 2022-23 season.
Centers
Cody Zeller comes from quite the basketball family, and it was only natural that he stayed home and played for the Hoosiers from 2011-2013. Sure, he only played two seasons in Bloomington, but he was arguably the face of Indiana basketball at that time. He even got on the cover of Sports Illustrated. From being a high-school All-American to becoming one of the most productive centers in the Big Ten during his two seasons, Zeller bagged the awards in his two seasons. He made the All-Big Ten Freshman team and was named the top freshman in the conference in 2011-12 after averaging 15.6 points and 6.6 rebounds.
Zeller returned for his sophomore campaign, and Indiana fans were treated to a great season, as the Hoosiers won the Big Ten Regular Season Championship and Zeller ended the season as a consensus All-American. Zeller then heard his name called inside the top five of the 2013 NBA Draft. Despite only two seasons with Indiana basketball, Zeller finished with over 1,000 points and 500 rebounds for his career.
The other big man for this All-Time Indiana Hoosiers roster is Trayce Jackson-Davis (2019-2023). The son of former NBA player Dale Davis, Trayce was born to be a star. He was exactly that during his four-year Hoosier career. A freshman during the season that saw the NCAA Tournament canceled, Davis didn’t let that hold him back from finishing a stellar four-year career at the collegiate level. TJD ended his Indiana career as a Consensus All-American and a four-time All-Big Ten Player. He finished his Hoosier career as the all-time leading rebounder and shot blocker. Not to mention, he sits third in All-Time Scoring. Currently a member of the Golden State Warriors, Jackson-Davis more than earned his place on this team.
Check Out The Rest of the Series:
All-Time Illinois Basketball Roster
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