SACRAMENTO, CA ---- Sacramento Kings Head Coach Keith Smart along with former Indiana University players Steve Alford, Kent Benson, Scott May, and Isiah Thomas will be recognized by Indiana University and the NCAA at halftime of Tuesday’s No. 14 Ohio State at No. 2 Indiana game. They were chosen among the top players ever to play in the NCAA Tournament in conjunction with the event’s 75th anniversary.
“It’s a great honor for myself, my family, and also the University for having the chance to play in the NCAA Tournament and for also having a chance to win it,” Smart said. “It’s a honor to be recognized as a top player, not only for me, but for my teammates because we all shared being on a national championship team and playing for Indiana.”
From a season of perfection to 'the shot', the history of the NCAA Tournament cannot be told without a chapter devoted to Indiana Men's Basketball. For the first time, the NCAA named the top 75 All-Time March Madness Players, 25 All-Time March Madness Teams and 35 All-Time March Madness Moments as part of the season-long celebration of 75 Years of March Madness.
Players:
Scott May, F, 1975-76
Kent Benson, C, 1975-76 - 1976 Most Outstanding Player
Isiah Thomas, G, 1980-81 - 1981 Most Outstanding Player
Steve Alford, G, 1984-87
Keith Smart, G, 1987-88 - 1987 Most Outstanding Player
Teams:
1975-76 Indiana - 32-0
Moments:
1976 - Indiana wins title - perfectly.
Since Bob Knight's Hoosiers won the title 36 years ago, only two teams have even entered the NCAA tournament unbeaten, let alone won the whole thing.
1987 - Indiana's Smart shocks Syracuse.
In the same year the movie Hoosiers came out, Indiana Hoosier Keith Smart scored 12 of his team's final 15 points, including a 16-footer in the final seconds, as Indiana shocked Syracuse in the national final.