Top 40 Indiana basketball players of all-time: #35 Uwe Blab

Five weeks away from the tip-off of the 2022-23 season for Indiana basketball, we recognize the No. 35 best Hoosier hoops player of all-time. There have been many tall and lengthy Hoosiers that have come through Bloomington, but not many of those players have put together great Indiana basketball careers like this big man in the 1980’s.

Top 40 Indiana basketball players of all-time

Indiana basketball career stats: 11.5 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 1.7 BLK, 54.3 FG%

Uwe Blab didn’t do much offensively for the Indiana basketball program until his senior season. Though he played very well in the 1984 NCAA Tournament, especially against Michael Jordan and the North Carolina Tar Heels (highlights below). His most impressive asset was his defense and blocking ability, especially when he blocked Michael Jordan on back-to-back possessions.

In his last four NCAA Tournament games, Blab averaged 14.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, and shot 52.2 percent. Unfortunately, in his senior season, where he averaged 16.0 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks, the Hoosiers went just 19-14 and 7-11 in conference play, missing the 1985 NCAA Tournament.

Blab started 20+ games for Indiana basketball and Bob Knight in only his junior and senior seasons, yet he ranks in the top 10 all-time in the following statistical categories in school history:

Field goal percentage – 54.3 % (5th)
Total blocks – 196 (4th)
Blocks per game – 1.7 (7th)

After his four-year career at IU, the 7-foot-1 center played just five seasons in the NBA, started a total of 34 games and averaged just 2.1 points per game. Though he was drafted 17th overall in the 1985 NBA Draft, Blab did not amount to his full potential. He made a lasting impact on Indiana basketball, leading them to a Big Ten championship title in 1983 and an Elite Eight in 1984.

Which all-time IUBB player comes in at #34 on my all-time Indiana basketball players list as we get closer to tip-off for the 2022-23 season? Check back tomorrow!