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Indiana Hoosiers' Perfect Season 1975-76
No NCAA Division I team has completed an undefeated season since the 76 Indiana Hoosiers posted its 32- 0 record. And maybe no team tried harder for perfection, than Indiana and coach Knight.
The day before the first practice of the 1975-76 basketball season, Indiana Coach Bob Knight gathered his players and raised the bar to the sky. Even more remarkable than the challenge he issued -- that nothing short of an undefeated season would do -- was their reaction.
They had no reaction.
The Hoosiers had come frustratingly close the previous season, winning 31 in a row before a two-point loss to Kentucky deep in the NCAA tournament. The defeat gnawed at them throughout the spring and summer, and they were desperate for another chance. So when Knight stood before them and talked about perfection, they did not flinch.
"And much to their credit," Knight said last fall, "they did what I thought they could do." No one has done it since.
Below you can find a rundown of most of the games from the perfect season of '76
| 1975-76 Roster: Quinn Buckner (21),Tom Abernethy (33), Kent Benson (54), Bobby Wilkerson (20), Scott May (42), Kent Benson (54), Jim Crews (45), Mark Haymore (22), Radford, Wilkerson, Valavicius, Wisman, Roberson, Eells, Bender | |
| Pre Season -- Whites 44 41 - 85
Reds 43 40 - 83
Errors: Reds: 24, Whites 22.
Blocked shots: Reds (Wilkerson 2, Haymore 1). |
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| SCORE BY HALVES Florida State 20-39 59 Indiana 47-36 83 |
Errors: Florida State 27, Indiana 24 Blocked shots: Florida State 3 (Grady, 2, Perkins 1); Indiana 1 (Valavicius). Steals: Florida State 8 (Thompson 3, Warren 2, Grady 1, Smalls 1, Davis 1); Indiana 11 (Wilkerson 3, Buckner 3, Abernethy 3, May 1, Benson 1, Radford 1, Wisman 1). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Florida State 26-60 .433 7-13 .538 Indiana 35-70 .500 13-18 .722 Attendance: 17,526 Officials: Robert Showalter and Bill Henderson |
| SCORE BY HALVES Indiana 29-34 63 Notre Dame 34-36 60 |
Errors: Notre Dame 19, Indiana 12. Steals: Notre Dame 5 (Flowers 2, Dantley, 1, Martin 1, Carpenter 1); Indiana 5 (Benson 1, Buckner 1, Crews 1, May 1, Wilkerson 1). Blocked shots: Notre Dame 3 (Batton 1, Dantley 1, Martin 1); Indiana 2 (Benson). Technical fouls: Indiana 2 (bench, Wilkerson); Notre Dame 2 (bench 2). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 21-57 .368 21-34 .618 Notre Dame 24-61 .393 12-16 .750 Officials: Phil Robinson, George Solomon and Richard Weiler. Attendance: 17,639. |
| SCORE BY PERIODS Indiana 34-30-13 77 Kentucky 32-32-4 68 |
SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 32-68 .471 13-23 .565 Kentucky 29-75 .387 10-14 .714 Errors: Indiana 11, Kentucky 14 Attendance: 16,615 Officials: Jim Bain and Burrell Crowell
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Virginia Tech 34-40 74 Indiana 54-45 101 |
Errors: Virginia Tech 28, Indiana 21 Steals: Virginia Tech 5 (Davis, 1, Thieneman 1, Cooke 1, McKee 1, Ashford, 1); Indiana 13 (Buckner 1, Abernethy 1, May 2, Benson, 1, Wilkerson 1, Radford 1, Valavicius 1, Bender 1). Blocked shots: Virginia Tech 1 (Collins). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Virginia Tech 27-58 .464 20-27 741 Indiana 42-44 .636 17-25 .680 Officials: Charles Fouty and Mike Mathis Attendance: 14,641 |
| SCORE BY HALVES Wisconsin 30-31 61 Indiana 62-52 114 |
Errors: Wisconsin 34, Indiana 20. Blocked shots: Wisconsin 1 (Rudd), Indiana 7 (Abernethy 3, Benson, Haymore, May, Wilkerson). Steals: Wisconsin 8 (Colbert 3, B. Smith 2, J. Smith 2, Johnson 11; Indiana 20 (Wilkerson 6, Benson 3, May 3, Abernethy 2, Buckner 2, Radford 2, Roberson, Valavicius). Technical fouls: Wisconsin coach Powless; Indiana coach Knight 2. SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Wisconsin 22-63 .349 17-27 .630 Indiana 47-82 .573 20-26 .769 Officials: Orlando Palesse, Ed Maracich, Ken Kulic. Attendance: 17,587. |
| SCORE BY HALVES Michigan State 37-33 70 Indiana 46-39 85 |
Errors: Michigan State 17, Indiana. Blocked shots: Indiana 5 (Benson 3, Buckner, Crews). Steals: Michigan State 5 (Furlow, Kelser, White, Wiley, Wilson); Indiana 8 (Benson 2, Buckner 2, Wisman 2, Radford, Wilkerson). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Michigan State 23-54 .426 24-33 .727 Indiana 36-74 .406 13-23 .565 Officials: Art White, Gary Muncy and Carel Cosby Attendance: 17,681 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES Illinois 27-21 48 Indiana 26-32 58 |
Errors: Illinois 22, Indiana 18. Blocked shots: Illinois 6 (Adams 3, Ferdinand, Leighty, Washington); Indiana 2 (Benson). Steals: Illinois 5 (Lubin 2, Adams, Leighty, Matthews); Indiana 12 (Abernethy 3, Benson 3, Buckner 3, Crews, May, Radford). Technical foul: Illinois bench. SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Illinois 22-39 .564 4-11 .364 Indiana 20-50 .400 18-22 .818 Officials: Orlando Palesse, Ed Maracich and Ken Kulick. Attendance: 17,759 (capacity).
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| SCORE BY HALVES February 17, 1976 Indiana 35-39 74 Purdue 39-32 71 |
Errors: Indiana 11, Purdue 12. Blocked shots: Indiana 1 (Benson); Purdue 4 (Walls 2, Scheffler 2). Steals: Indiana 5 (Wilkerson 2, Abernethy 2, May); Purdue 6 (Scheffler 2, Sichting 2, Parker, Macy ) Goaltending: Indiana 1 (Benson, offense). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 32-66 .485 10-15 .667 Purdue 20-62 .452 15-20 .750 Officials: Jerry Menz, Bob Showalter and Bob Brodbeck Attendance: 14,123 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES February 24, 1976 Iowa 36-45 81 Indiana 49-52 101 |
Errors: Iowa 23, Indiana 19. Blocked shots: Iowa 3 (Haberecht); Indiana 1 (Benson). Steals: Iowa 4 (Frost, King, Mays, Thompson); Indiana 10 (Abernethy 2, Buckner 2, May 2, Radford 2, Eells, Wilkerson). Technical fouls: Iowa coach Olson 2. SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Iowa 20-52 .538 25-34 .735 Indiana 44-79 .557 13-4 .813 Officials: Jim Bain, Malcolm Hemphill and Rollo Vallern Attendance: 17,691 (capacity).
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| SCORE BY HALVES February 27, 1976 Indiana 39-57 96 Wisconsin 26-41 67 |
Errors: Indiana 15, Wisconsin 11. Blocked shots: Indiana 2 (Benson, Wilkerson); Wisconsin 4 (Johnson 3, Pearson). Steals: Indiana 6 (Buckner 3, May 2, Wilkerson); Wisconsin 3 (Koehler; Pearson, Piacenza). Technical fouls: Wisconsin 2 (bench, Johnson.) SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 39-75 .520 10-26 .692 Wisconsin 29-90 .322 9-17 .529 Officials: Jerry Menz, Bob Brodbeck and Bob Showalter. Attendance: 9,343.
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| SCORE BY HALVES March 2, 1976 Indiana 45-31 76 Northwestern 29-34 63 |
Errors: Indiana 17, Northwestern 17 Blocked shots: Indiana 3 (Radford 2, Benson); Northwestern 3 (Wallace). Steals: Indiana 9 (Buckner 3, Abernethy 2, Radford 2, May, Wilkerson); Northwestern 6 (Wallace 3, McKinney 2, Boesen). Technical fouls: Northwestern bench 3. SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 30-64 .469 16-29 .516 Northwestern 37-64 .422 9-14 .643 Officials: Orlando Palesse, Ed Maracich and Ken Kulick. Attendance: 7,098 (capacity).
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| SCORE BY HALVES March 7, 1976 Ohio State 23-44 67 Indiana 52-44 96 |
Errors: Ohio State 21, Indiana 20 Blocked shots: Ohio State 1 (Cline); Indiana 4 (Benson 2, Abernethy, Roberson) Steals: Ohio State 10 (Poole 3, Bayless 2, Daugherty 2, Wood 2, Cline); Indiana 14 (Buckner 6, Benson 3, May 2, Abernethy, Crews, Wilkerson). Technical foul: Benson. SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Ohio State 27-66 .409 13-10 .684 Indiana 43-85 .506 10-17 .588 Officials: Carel Cosby, Gary Muncy and Art White Attendance: 17,756 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES March 14, 1976 St. John's 37-33 70 Indiana 44-46 90 |
Errors: St. John's 20, Indiana 17 Blocked shots: St. John's 2 (Johnson); Indiana 2 (Abernethy, Benson). Steals: St. John's 9 (Alagia 3, Johnson 2, Smith 2, Robertson, Williams); Indiana 6 (Buckner 2, Wilkerson 2, Benson, May). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. St. John's 33-71 .464 4-7 .571 Indiana 37-71 .521 16-18 .899 Officials: Bob Harrold and Booker Turner Attendance: 11,345 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES March 19, 1976 Indiana 37-37 74 Alabama 29-40 69 |
Errors: Indiana 20, Alabama 14 Blocked shots: Indiana 1 (Benson), Alabama 4 (Douglas 2, Dunn, King). Steals: Indiana 2 (Buckner, Radford), Alabama 4 (Murray 2, Dunn 2) SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 29-60 . 483 16-24 .667 Alabama 31-69 . 449 7-14 .500 Officials: Irv Brown and Booker Turner Attendance: 14,150 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES March 21, 1976 Indiana 36 29 65 Marquette 35 21 56 |
Errors: Indiana 19, Marquette 12 Blocked shots: Indiana 1 (Benson), Marquette 3 (Tatum, Whitehead, Walton). Steals: Marquette 1 (Toone). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 37-47 .574 11-15 .733 Marquette 25-66 .379 6-9 .667 Officials: Jack Ditty and Irv Brown Attendance: 14,150 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES Indiana 34-31 65 UCLA 26-25 51 |
Errors: Indiana 16, UCLA 14 Steals: Indiana 7 (Wilkerson 2, May 2, Abernethy, Buckner, Crews); UCLA 5 (Townsend, 2, Johnson, Holland, Smith). Blocked shots: Indiana 1 (Wilkerson), UCLA 2 (Greenwood). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 26-99 .441 13-21 .679 UCLA 21-61 .344 9-13 .692 Officials: Irv Brown and Jim Bain Attendance: 17,340 (capacity)
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| SCORE BY HALVES: March 30, 1976 Indiana 29-57 86 Michigan 35-33 68 |
Errors: Indiana 13, Michigan 19 Blocked shots: Indiana 2 (Benson, Buckner); Michigan 3 (Hardy 3, Hubbard). Steals: Indiana 10 (Buckner 5, May 2, Abernethy, Benson, Valavicius); Michigan 9 (Grote 3, Staton 2, Britt, Green, Robinson, Staten). SHOOTING FG Pct. FT Pct. Indiana 32-61 .525 22-28 .786 Michigan 37-67 .674 14-19 .737 Officials: Irv Brown and Bob Wortman Attendance: 17,540 (capacity) |
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