Close Menu
The Daily Hoosier
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • BTN releases “Indiana Classic” replay of IU football’s emotional 2007 win over Purdue
    • IU football 2025 opponent overview: Week 14 — Purdue
    • IU basketball recruiting Q&A: Latrell Allmond recaps Indiana visit, next steps
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 5-star forward Miikka Muurinen
    • Spring highlights: Class of 2027 in-state 4-stars Jason Gardner, Jr. and Isaiah Hill
    • The top-10 IU football seasons of all-time: No. 5 — 1910
    • CBS panel says Curt Cignetti has best job security in Big Ten, No. 10 coach in nation says PFF
    • David Pollack on IU football: “I don’t think they’re going anywhere”
    • Sign Up
    • About/Support
    • Jobs
    • Tickets
      • IUBB Tickets (Stubhub)
      • IUFB Tickets (Stubhub)
    • Shop
      • Official IU Store
      • IU Adidas Store
      • Amazon: Support TDH
      • IU Memorabilia
      • IU Press (Books)
      • The Daily Hoosier T-Shirt
    • Radio/Podcasts
      • East 17th Street
    • Pro IU
      • IUBB NBA
      • IUFB NFL
      • IUBASE MLB
    • Forum
      • Disqus Forum
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    The Daily HoosierThe Daily Hoosier
    Thursday, July 10
    • IU Basketball
      • Latest IU Basketball News
      • 2025-26 IU Basketball Roster
      • DeVries’ new staff
      • Future Schedules
      • Scholarship Chart
      • Big Ten Coming and Going
      • IU Basketball 2024-25 Schedule
      • 2024-25 Big Ten Standings
      • 24-25 IU Basketball Stats
      • Rankings & Bracketology
      • IU Basketball Media Guide
    • IU Football
      • Latest IU Football News
      • Roster updates by position
      • 2025 scholarship tracker
      • 2025 Schedule
      • Current roster
      • Curt Cignetti’s staff
      • Future opponents through 2032
      • 2024 B1G Standings
      • 2024 IUFB Stats
      • IU Football 2024 Record Book
    • IU Recruiting
      • IU Basketball Recruiting News
      • IU Football Recruiting News
      • IUBB 2026-28 Prospects
      • Recruit Interviews
      • Recruit Highlights
      • IU Football Recruiting Commits
    • IU Women’s Basketball
      • IU Women’s Basketball News
      • 24-25 Schedule
      • Big Ten Standings
    • IU Men’s Soccer
      • 2024 Schedule
      • Indiana Men’s Soccer: Program History
    • More Hoosiers
      • Fan and Business NIL options
      • IU Baseball
        • Baseball Schedule
        • Statistics
        • Big Ten Standings
      • IU Swim & Dive
      • IU Olympic Results
    • Hoosier History
      • March Madness Classics
      • Basketball History
      • Football History
    The Daily Hoosier

    Indiana 1987 National Champion Daryl Thomas Passes Away

    Mike SchumannBy Mike SchumannMarch 28, 2018 IU Basketball 2 Comments
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    On the anniversary of a memorable 1987 Final Four win over UNLV, the Indiana University men’s basketball family has lost one of its champions that played in that game.

    Daryl Thomas passed away this morning due to an apparent heart attack.  Thomas was 52 years old.  A Chicago native, he was coaching high school basketball at Montini Catholic in Lombard, Illinois.

    The Indiana University men’s basketball program tweeted out this message as a tribute to Thomas:

    The Indiana men's basketball family is devastated to learn of the passing of 1987 National Champion Daryl Thomas. Our prayers go out to his family, friends, teammates and coaches and all others who he had an impact on throughout his life. pic.twitter.com/kVvZeDLGLJ

    — Indiana Basketball (@IndianaMBB) March 28, 2018

    Thomas was key player on the IU 1987 National Championship team.  In what was his senior year with the Hoosiers, he averaged 15.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, earning All-Big Ten honors.  Perhaps overshadowed by a big game from Steve Alford, and Keith Smart’s legendary last second shot, Thomas scored 20 points in the 1987 title game win over Syracuse.

    As you can see in this video of Smart’s final shot, Thomas had the assist on the play, and he showed a great deal of composure in the waning seconds to calmly deliver the ball and set the screen for the national championship game winner.

    Thomas was a 1,000 point scorer at Indiana.  For his career he finished with 1,095 points, good for 47th all-time in program history.  For his career he shot 54.1% from the field which stands as the 9th best all-time.

    Former IU head coach Bob Knight released this statement on his former player:

    “Ever since that 1987 championship game, I’ve always called that the greatest single play I ever had a kid make: giving up the ball and setting the screen that got the man open for the shot that won a national championship.”

    “That was Daryl — absolutely unselfish.”

    “His attitude and his play on the court are what I always remember about him — that and how really great a kid he was. He had wonderful parents. I just feel sick about hearing this and very bad for his family, his team and everyone around him.”

    You can follow us on Twitter:  @daily_hoosier

    Find us on Facebook:  thedailyhoosier

    Related

    bob knight daryl thomas keith smart Steve Alford
    Mike Schumann

    Keep Reading

    Serbian guard Aleksa Ristic signs with Indiana men’s basketball

    National analyst Jon Rothstein predicts IU basketball will finish No. 15 in Big Ten

    Former Hoosiers in action for opening weekend of NBA Summer League

    Latest Hoosier News
    • BTN releases “Indiana Classic” replay of IU football’s emotional 2007 win over Purdue
    • IU football 2025 opponent overview: Week 14 — Purdue
    • IU basketball recruiting Q&A: Latrell Allmond recaps Indiana visit, next steps
    • IU basketball recruiting: Hoosiers offer 2026 5-star forward Miikka Muurinen
    • Spring highlights: Class of 2027 in-state 4-stars Jason Gardner, Jr. and Isaiah Hill
    • The top-10 IU football seasons of all-time: No. 5 — 1910
    • CBS panel says Curt Cignetti has best job security in Big Ten, No. 10 coach in nation says PFF
    Sign Up



    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    © 2025 The Daily Hoosier, LLC.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Ad Blocker Enabled!
    Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please support us by disabling your Ad Blocker.