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Top 40 Indiana basketball players of all-time: #40 – #30

By Connor O’Keefe

Nov 12, 2021; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) during player introductions prior to the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Xavier Daniels/Indiana Athletics-USA TODAY NETWORK
Nov 12, 2021; Bloomington, IN, USA; Indiana Hoosiers forward Trayce Jackson-Davis (23) during player introductions prior to the game against the Northern Illinois Huskies at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. Mandatory Credit: Xavier Daniels/Indiana Athletics-USA TODAY NETWORK /
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Keith Smart gets ready to score on the fast break as Illinois State’s Derrick Sanders tried to catch the IU guard, Dec. 1986. /

Indiana basketball career stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, 51.8 FG%

While his numbers don’t jump off the page, Keith Smart is definitely one of the top 30 greatest Indiana basketball players of all-time. For starters, as a freshman, Smart ranked in the top five in minutes played per game (26.0), points per game (11.2), rebounds per game (2.9), assists per game (3.2), steals per game (0.9), and free throw percentage (84.1 pct) on the 1986-87 Indiana basketball team, who were crowned the champions over Syracuse.

Oh, and the obvious reason; Smart hit the game-winning jump shot (below) to give Bob Knight and the Hoosiers their last NCAA Championship banner in 1987. He recorded 21 points that game on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and was the second-leading scorer behind Steve Alford (23 points). For his impressive play, Smart was named the 1987 Final Four Most Outstanding Player along with the honors of being named to the All-Tournament team for averaging 16.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in six games.

The Top 40 Indiana basketball players of all-time countdown has now hit less than 30 days and numbers 29 through 21 will be revealed on Wednesday, October 12th.

Next. Hoosiers hold steady as 3-seed in ESPN Bracketology update. dark

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