Now in its 28th year, the Big Ten Tournament remains the nut IU basketball cannot crack.
It was the event legendary former IU coach Bob Knight never wanted, and since it began in 1998, neither he nor any of his successors at Indiana have raised the championship trophy on Sunday.
Going into this week’s Big Ten Tournament action in Indianapolis, current head coach Mike Woodson has the best winning percentage in the event among the seven coaches who have led the Hoosiers in a league tournament game. Here’s how that sorts out:
– Mike Woodson (4-3, .571)
– Mike Davis (7-6, .539)
– Tom Crean (4-9, .308)
– Bob Knight (1-3, .250)
– Archie Miller (1-3, .250)
– Kelvin Sampson (0-1, .000)
– Dan Dakich (0-1, .000)
Indiana is one of eleven current Big Ten teams that haven’t won the tournament title. Of course four of them (UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington) haven’t had a chance. Michigan State has won it the most times with six titles, followed by Ohio State and Illinois, with four apiece.
The Hoosiers have only made the final once, way back in 2001 when they lost to Iowa. They made the semifinals seven times (2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2013, 2022, 2023) but lost in six of those appearances including two of the last three years.
All-time IU is 17-26 in the event, good for just the tenth best winning percentage (.395) in the conference.
Here are some more Indiana facts and records at the Big Ten Tournament:
- Most wins against: Illinois and Penn State — 3 apiece
- Most losses to: Illinois — 6
- All tournament players: Tom Coverdale (2001, 2003), Kirk Haston (2001), Jared Jeffries (2001), Cody Zeller (2013), Trayce Jackson-Davis (2022, 2023)
- Most points in a game: Trayce Jackson-Davis, 31 vs. Iowa in 2022
- Most rebounds in a game: Trayce Jackson-Davis, 17 vs. Nebraska in 2020
- Most assists in a game: Ryan Tapak, 11 vs. Ohio State in 2004
- Most threes in a game: Devonte Green, 8 vs. Ohio State in 2019
- Most blocks in a game: Jeff Newton, 7 vs. Iowa in 2002
- Most steals in a game: Dane Fife, 5 vs. Michigan State in 2002
- Most points in a tournament: Trayce Jackson-Davis, 76 in 2022
- Most rebounds in a tournament: Tracye Jackson-Davis, 25 in 2022
- Most assists in a tournament: Xavier Johnson, 22 in 2022
- Most blocks in a tournament: George Leach, 8 in 2003
- Most steals in a tournament: Tom Coverdale, 7 in 2002
- Most threes in a tournament: Tom Coverdale, 9 in 2003
Is Indiana going to break through this year? BetOnline gives the Hoosiers 40/1 odds to win the Big Ten Tournament.
No. 8 seed Oregon (23-8) and No. 9 Indiana (19-12) tip at Noon ET Thursday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
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