Indiana State Sycamores basketball is the NCAA Division I men's basketball program of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana. They currently compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The team last played in the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament in 2011. The Sycamores' first season was 1896, making them the oldest basketball team in the NCAA along with Bucknell, Minnesota, Washington and Yale; however, the records from 1896 to 1899 have been lost over time. The Sycamores boast two College Players of the Year, 14 All-Americans, 41 1,000-point scorers, and 1,590+ victories. In addition, the Sycamores have 28 postseason appearances (7 NCAA, 5 NIT, 2 CBI, 1 CIT, 12 NAIA, and the 1936 Olympic Trials) with six national championship appearances (2 NCAA, 1 NIT and 3 NAIA). Seven Sycamores were members of the 1951 Pan-American Games gold medal-winning team. The Sycamores' most memorable season was 1978–79, when unanimous National Player of the Year Larry Bird led an undefeated team to its first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament appearance, as well as the AP and UPI national titles. However, it lost the national title game versus the Magic Johnson-led Michigan State team; and ended the season with a record of 33–1. Their performance was the deepest run by a first-time participant in the Division I tournament, and one of only three times that a first-time team has advanced as far as the Final Four (UNCC in 1977 and Georgia in 1983). They would not have another postseason appearance until 2000. The Sycamores were the national runner-up in the NCAA College Division (now Division II) in 1968; they won the NAIA national championship in 1950, had NAIA Finals appearances in 1946 and 1948 and NAIA National semifinals appearances in 1949 and 1953. Most recently, the Sycamores were the 2024 NIT National Finalist. Over the decades, the Sycamores were led by All-Americans, Duane Klueh, Dick Atha, Lenny Rzeszewski, Butch Wade and Jerry Newsom. As the program transitioned from NAIA to the NCAA, one final NAIA highlight was Ray Goddard leading the entire nation (all collegiate divisions), in FT percentage (91.2%) during the 1961–62 season. Former Head Coaches include the legendary John Wooden, Purdue All-American Dave Schellhase, Indiana coaching legend Glenn M. Curtis and well-known college coaches such as Bob King, Royce Waltman, Tates Locke and Ron Greene. Former assistants include collegiate head coaches such as Rick Ray (Mississippi State, Southeast Missouri), Rob Flaska (Centenary), Jim Saia (Cal State-Los Angeles), Stan Gouard (Univ of Southern Indiana) and Benjy Taylor (North Central, Hawai'i and Tuskegee), Thad Matta (Butler, Xavier, Ohio State), Kareem Richardson (Missouri-Kansas City), Phil Hopkins (Western Carolina), Mel Garland (IUPUI), and NBA Great Mel Daniels. The Indiana State Sycamores men's basketball team currently play their home games at Hulman Center II (9,000).

Postseason

Division I NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in four NCAA Division I Tournaments. Their combined record is 5–4.

NIT results

The Sycamores have appeared in five National Invitation Tournaments (NIT). Their combined record is 5–5.

CBI results

The Sycamores have received two College Basketball Invitational (CBI) berths. Their combined record is 1–2.

CIT results

The Sycamores appeared in one CollegeInsider.com Tournament (CIT). Their record is 0–1.

Division II NCAA tournament results

The Sycamores have appeared in three NCAA Division II basketball tournaments. Their combined record is 5–4. They hosted the Great Lakes Regional during the 1966-67 Tournament.

NAIA Tournament results

The Sycamores appeared in the NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament 12 times. They reached the NAIA Final Four five times. The Sycamores combined NAIA Tournament record is 25–12. Indiana State is the only team to finish as the National Runner-Up in the NAIA and both the NCAA DI and DII tournaments. Indiana State won 7 NAIA District 21 titles (1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1959, 1962 and 1963)

1936 Olympic trials

Coach Wally Marks' 1935–36 Sycamores gained national attention when they participated in the first national post-season collegiate basketball tournament. The winning team would earn the right to name five players to represent the United States in the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, the first Games to feature the American sport of basketball. By earning the bid, the Sycamores joined a select group of college teams hand-picked by the Amateur Athletic Union, the U.S. governing organization. The Olympic team members were selected from the best AAU teams and winners of the national collegiate tournament conducted in eight regional districts. The Sycamores earned a bid and advanced to the district finals and were pitted against Coach Jim Kelly's DePaul Blue Demons, at the Chicago Armory, DePaul's home court. Despite vaulting to a 10–0 lead, maintaining a 16–10 halftime advantage and outscoring the hosts from the field, Marks' cagers lost on a long shot in the waning moments of the game, 29–28.

1951 Pan American Games

The 1949–50 squad won the NAIA 1950 National Championship. Subsequently, Coach John Longfellow and eight Sycamore players were invited to represent the United States in the inaugural (1951) Pan American Games, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sycamores Roger Adkins, Dick Atha, Richard Babcock, Bob Gilbert, Tom Kern, Gene Lambdin, Ed Longfellow, and Cliff Murray represented the United States and Indiana State University. The United States defeated the national teams of Ecuador (74–32), Cuba (77–55), Panama (90–55) and Brazil (69–42) to reach the championship game against Argentina. The Americans defeated the hosts, (57–51), for the gold medal.

USA Basketball players (10)

Other national teams (2)

Arenas

Player of the year

National awards

National Player of the Year (2)

Oscar Robertson Trophy (1)

Naismith Award (1)

John R. Wooden Award (1)

Associated Press College Basketball Player of the Year (1)

Adolph Rupp Trophy (1)

Eastman Award (1)

Joe Lapchick Award (1)

The Sporting News (1)

Basketball Times (1)

Basketball Weekly (1)

Conference (6)

National tournament (3)

Retired numbers

Four Sycamore players have had their numbers retired by the school. Jerry Newsom is the latest, with his number 41 retired by the school on February 19, 2022.

All-Century Team

In 1899, basketball became a Sycamore tradition; in the first official game, State defeated the Terre Haute YMCA by a score of 20–17; in 1999, to recognize the first century of intercollegiate basketball, a panel selected the following All-Century Team. In addition, 'All-Decade' teams were selected for the following: The rosters and more information can be found in the Winter 1999 (Volume 3, Number 1) issue of the 'Indiana State University Alumni Magazine.

All-Americans (17)

• Les Reynolds – 1930 Helms Foundation • Duane Klueh – 1948 Helms Foundation • Lenny Rzeszewski – 1949 NAIB • Bob Royer – 1946, 1948, 1949 NAIB • Dick Atha – 1953 Helms Foundation • Butch Wade – 1965 AP, UPI • Jerry Newsom – 1966 UPI • Butch Wade – 1966 UPI • Jerry Newsom – 1968 Coaches, AP, UPI • Rick Williams – 1975 Basketball Weekly-Honorable Mention, Sporting News, Converse • Rick Williams – 1976 Basketball Weekly-Honorable Mention, Sporting News, Converse • Larry Bird – 1977 UPI-Third Team, AP-Honorable Mention • Larry Bird – 1978 AP, UPI, USBWA, The Sporting News, Basketball Weekly • Larry Bird – 1979 AP, UPI, USBWA, The Sporting News, Basketball Weekly • Carl Nicks - 1980 AP Honorable Mention • Robbie Avila - 2024 Lou Henson Mid-Major • Isaiah Swope - 2024 Lou Henson Mid-Major

CoSIDA Academic All-Americans (4)

NCAA Post-Graduate scholarship (2)

All-Conference (35)

Only players selected for the conference first team are displayed; for second team and honorable mention, please consult the Indiana State Men's basketball media guide at www.gosycamores.com

All-Indiana Intercollegiate Conference (2)

All-Indiana Collegiate Conference (18)

All-Midwestern Conference (3)

All-Missouri Valley Conference (13)

Career leaders

Scoring

Three-pointers

Rebounds

Assists

Steals

Blocked shots

Coaching leaders

The Sycamores have been led by 26 different Head Coaches through their history, the top 16 coaches; in terms of wins; are listed below. Leaders in BOLD

Coach of the Year

National (2)

Conference (9)

Sycamores in the professional leagues

Draft history

NBA Regular Draft NBDL Draft ABA Draft ABL Draft

Sycamores in the NBA

Fifteen former Sycamores have played in the NBA and its predecessors, the (NBL, the BAA), and the ABA. They are:

NBA, ABA, BAA, NBL, Champions

Sycamores in other professional leagues

35+ Indiana State players have played in foreign leagues; DeCarsta Webster and Brad Miley both won titles in Iceland, David Moss, Jayson Wells, and Djibril Kante have each won multiple championships in European and South American leagues

Basketball Hall(s) of Fame

Hall of Fame Sycamores Thirty-two former Sycamores players and coaches have been inducted into various Halls of Fame; they are:

Basketball Hall of Fame (3)

National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (2)

NAIA Hall of Fame (4)

National Small College Basketball Hall of Fame (2)

Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame (4)

In addition to the Conference Hall of Fame; the MVC selected an All-Centennial Team in honor of the Conference's 100th Anniversary; the Sycamores had three players named to that team; Larry Bird, Carl Nicks and John Sherman Williams.

Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame (40)

Source:

Indiana State University Hall of Fame (42)

Individuals Teams Larry Bird, Tom Crowder, Eric Curry, Alex Gilbert, Bob Heaton, Brad Miley, Carl Nicks, Rod McNelly, Rich Nemcek, Steve Reed, Bob Ritter, Leroy Staley, Scott Turner. Trainers: Bob Behnke, Rick Shaw. Head Coach: Bill Hodges. Assistant Coaches: Mel Daniels, Terry Thimlar. Graduate Assistant Coach: Danny King. Jim Berger, Richard Campbell, Dan Dimich, Bob Gilbert, Jim Hans, Buren Hooper, Max Hungerford, Bill Jagodzinski, Jerry Kunkel, Gene Lambdin, Ed Longfellow, Don McDonald, Dick Pattengale, Jim Powers, Jack Reece, Len Rzeszewski, John Scott, Clarence Walker. Managers: Stan Jacobs, John Sweet. Head Coach: John Longfellow. Assistant Coach: Max Andress. Daniel Chitwood, Michael Cooper, Ken Haas, Fred Hardman, Rodney Hervey, Steven Hollenbeck, Howard Humes, John McIntire, Richard Mason, Jerry Newsom, Gerald Novak, Mike Phillips, James Waldrip, Don Weirlich, Thomas Zellers. Head Coach: Gordon Stauffer. Assistant Coach: Melvin Garland.

Iowa High School Athletic Association Basketball Hall of Fame

In popular culture

During the Quantum Leap episode, The Leap Home: Part 1 – November 25, 1969 (1990); the father of lead character Dr. Samuel Beckett (Scott Bakula) remarks that while "Sam will likely end up at Harvard, I know he's still hoping for a basketball scholarship from Indiana State."