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Top 40 Indiana basketball players of all-time: #40 Christian Watford

By Connor O’Keefe

Former Indiana University Hoosier Head Coach Bobby Knight makes his first public appearance at IU Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in years, during a game between the IU Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers, at IU, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.Cent02 797efrf5dn4jrz4ljxc Original
Former Indiana University Hoosier Head Coach Bobby Knight makes his first public appearance at IU Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall in years, during a game between the IU Hoosiers and the Purdue Boilermakers, at IU, Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020.Cent02 797efrf5dn4jrz4ljxc Original /
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We are now 40 days away from Indiana basketball tipping off the 2022-23 season against Morehead State on Monday, November 7th at Assembly Hall. Our 40-day countdown will consist of the top 40 Hoosier basketball players of all-time.

Now hang with me on this, as we are going to take into consideration single season performances, along with career numbers as part of the Indiana basketball program and where they rank in certain categories. Yes, this is an opinion piece based on player ability and talent, but impact on the program as a whole is a way to earn your spot on my top 40 all-time list.

Top 40 Indiana basketball players of all-time

Indiana basketball
Mar 24, 2013; Dayton, OH, USA; Temple Owls guard/forward Scootie Randall (33) is boxed out by Indiana Hoosiers forward Christian Watford (2) and guard Nkereuwem Okoro (11) in the second half during the third round of the 2013 NCAA tournament at University of Dayton Arena. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports /

Indiana basketball career stats: 13.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.2 3PM, 42.3 3P%

The most memorable moment in Christian Watford‘s basketball career was the iconic “Wat Shot” against #1 Kentucky, where Watford knocked down the game-winning buzzer-beater three-pointer to give then-unranked Indiana a historic 73-72 win over top-ranked Kentucky and Anthony Davis. What most people don’t remember is that Watford was the leading scorer in that game with 20 points, more than Anthony Davis (6 points), Cody Zeller (11 points), and Victor Oladipo (13 points).

It’s interesting to think about such an important moment in Indiana basketball history, but that’s not all Christian Watford did at IU. Watford ranks in the top 10 in the following categories:

Games played – 132 (tied for 5th)
Minutes played – 3,759 (9th)
Free throws made – 504 (3rd)
Free throws attempted – 616 (3rd)
Free throw percentage – 81.8 pct (6th)
Offensive rebounds – 191 (8th)
Defensive rebounds – 586 (1st)
Total rebounds – 777 (10th)
Points – 1,730 (10th)

If a guy can go to school for four years and rank in the top 10 in nine pretty important statistical categories, he absolutely belongs on a top 40 list of all-time players in Indiana basketball history. In his four-year career, Watford registered 14 20+ point games and 22 games with three or more three-pointers made.

Who will be #39 on my all-time Indiana basketball players list as we get closer to tip-off for the 2022-23 season? Check back tomorrow!

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