Indiana Basketball: Ranking all 5 National Championship teams
By Alec Lasley
5. 1940 National Championship Team
While this was the first title for the Indiana basketball program, this was one that could have never happened, and wouldn’t have in this day’s game.
After finishing second in the Big Ten that year, to Purdue, it was the Boilermakers who received a bid to the then eight-team tournament. The Hoosiers’ season was over, but Purdue decided to forgo the automatic bid, thus giving it to Indiana.
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It was just the second national tournament at that time and Indiana made the most of its unexpected chance to play for the title.
Finishing 20-3 on the season, the Hoosiers took down Kansas and legendary coach Phog Allen in the Championship game, 60-42.
Indiana was led by Marv Huffman, named to the first-team All-American team, throughout that season.
It was the first title for the Hoosiers and set the tone for the future of the program.