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The Love Story of Indiana and Basketball

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“The cradle of basketball.” That’s how Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of basketball, described Indiana after watching a game at the Hoosier. You can’t think of any higher praise than this. The two go together. In other states of the United States, it’s just basketball, but in Indiana, it’s madness.

How it All Started

You can trace it back to late 1894 when Nicholas Mckay brought basketball to his hometown of Crawfordville, Indiana, and it spread like wildfire. From being a new winter activity, it slowly gained traction when local competitions came about. These regional competitions caught the attention of several newspapers as the turnout to watch boys play basketball was tremendous.

An excerpt from one of the papers covering the tournament read, “If the turnout tonight is any indication, this sport has the potential to be something.” Gregg Hiland, the president and CEO of the Greater Indianapolis YMCA, would later say that the above line was one of the greatest understatements in sports because the events that followed transformed basketball in Indiana and made it its home.

High School Caught the Fever

The popularity of high school tournaments in 1911 gave basketball in Indiana a big boost. The first IHSAA tournament saw the Crawfordsville High School team crowned champions, but what was even more telling were the events of 1954. A tiny Milan High School shocked the state by beating basketball powerhouse Muncie Central to win the Indiana State championship as a result of a last-second shot by Bobby Plump. This historic moment gave birth to the movie “Hoosiers,” which added more endearment to the History Huskers.

Fans began feeling the Hoosier Hysteria when Crispus Attucks High School set the court ablaze a year later. Led by Oscar Robertson, who later became an NBA legend, they won a state championship as America’s first all-Black state champion in any sport. 

Solid College Programs

Indiana has had success not only at the high school level but also at the collegiate and professional levels. In college basketball, Indiana is home to two of the most iconic programs in the country: Indiana University and Purdue University. The Indiana Hoosiers have won five NCAA championships, including three under legendary coach Bob Knight. In comparison, the Purdue Boilermakers have won two championships and consistently been top-ranked.

Professional Teams and Players

The Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever are heavyweights in the NBA and WNBA. The Pacers have won three ABA championships, one NBA conference championship, and five NBA Division Championships. Famous players from Indiana include Larry Bird, who was featured at Indiana State University and is a three-time NBA champion and MVP. Tamika Catchings is a former Indiana Fever player, a four-time Olympic gold medalist, and WNBA MVP. Other notable mentions include Paul Hoffman, Gordon Hayward, Courtney Lee, and Victor Oladipo.

The effect of Indiana’s love for basketball ripples through its culture and economy. College games and tournaments have created jobs and increased revenue for restaurants, hotels, and basketball-related businesses, leading to economic growth. It has also given the community a sense of togetherness and a passion for the young generation. In the words of legendary coach John Wooden, “Basketball is a way of life in Indiana, and it always will be.”

Written by Peterson Sorenson

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