Powered by:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA
Contains commercial content
The Grueling Truth - Where Legends Speak / Top 10 Indiana Hoosier Freshmen seasons

Top 10 Indiana Hoosier Freshmen seasons

Publish Date: 09/03/2023
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

Greatest Freshmen seasons in Hoosier history!

This list is mainly from the early to mid-70s until now because Freshmen were not eligible to play before then except with exceptions like a war in the case of Don Schlundt.

10) A.J. Guyton

He became only the second first-year Hoosier to record 400 points, 100 assists and 100 rebounds – joining Isiah, not bad for somebody who was supposed to be a backup to Michael Lewis.

Video: A.J. Guyton Game winnner vs Temple

A.J. Guyton Game winnner vs Temple

9) Alan Henderson

The only guy on this list to compete on a Final Four team, Henderson provided stellar inside support for senior Eric Anderson. Henderson’s 238 rebounds are still an IU freshman record.

Video: Ex-Hoosiers and NBA star Alan Henderson feels blessed

Ex-Hoosiers and NBA star Alan Henderson feels blessed

8) Jay Edwards

Edwards’.536 three-point shooting percentage remains a national freshman record and the third highest of any player in Indiana history. His 36 points and eight threes against Minnesota remain IU freshman single-game records; however, these were deducted due to a 30-day midseason academic suspension. Edwards was one of the greatest shooters in Hoosier history.

Video: Jay Edwards buzzer beater

Jay Edwards buzzer beater

7) Steve Alford

Alford’s.592 shooting percentage wasn’t based on a small sample size either. He made 289 shots, including many crucial ones, when faced with tough games like against top-ranked North Carolina in the Sweet 16, where he scorched them for 27 points, while Dan Dakich held Michael Jordan to 14 points. I am kidding of course as fouling out is what held Jordan to 14 points; Alford drug the Hoosiers across the finish line.

Video: Big Ten Icons: Steve Alford 1

Big Ten Icons: Steve Alford 1

6) Mike Woodson

Woodson’s Hoosier team struggled in Woodson’s first year, finishing 14-13 after losing the core of its roster that lost one game in the previous two seasons. Nonetheless, it wasn’t Woodson’s fault; with 18.5 PPG, 6.7 RPG,.521 field-goal percentage, and.792 free-throw percentage for a freshman, Woodson had one of IU history’s strongest all-around seasons ever – particularly impressive for someone so young!

Video: Mike Woodson's Passion for Hoosier Basketball | Indiana Basketball | The Journey

Mike Woodson’s Passion for Hoosier Basketball | Indiana Basketball | The Journey

5) Don Schlundt

The Korean War created a rare opportunity for freshmen to play one season, and 6’9″ Schlundt took advantage of it. Nicknamed “Ox,” the big man scored 17.1 points per game and crushed fifth-ranked Kansas State for 28 points in only his sixth collegiate game – never looking back.

Rebounds weren’t tracked until Schlundt’s final season, but given his height advantage over most opponents it’s likely he could have easily averaged close to a double-double.

Β 

4) Eric Gordon

Gordon scored 669 points, the 10th-highest total in Indiana University history. No rookie in IU history has come close to matching Gordon’s feat – no rookie has come within 100 points of it since.

Gordon’s 20.9 PPG put in rare air as a Hoosier, averaging more than 20 in cream and crimson during a single season. After spending considerable time at the foul line, Gordon drained 231 free throws – good enough for third place all-time in Hoosier history behind only two seasons from Don Schlundt.

The point is, Gordon scored a lot of points. While volume played an important role in his impressive totals (Gordon shot 43 percent from the floor), all of Gordon’s efforts could not save his team from turmoil after Kelvin Sampson’s departure.

Video: Eric Gordon HIGHLIGHTS 2007 -2008 SEASON

Eric Gordon HIGHLIGHTS 2007 -2008 SEASON

3) Cody Zeller

Cody Zeller gave Indiana the much-needed inside presence, the missing piece on a team that boasted plenty of perimeter threats. He set the pace from day one, scoringΒ  27 minutes points against Stony Brook to lead his teammates’ charge.

Zeller finished second among rookies in points, rebounds, steals, field goals, free throws, and attempted. Furthermore, his.623 field-goal percentage was the second best recorded at Indiana University — surpassing only Matt Nover’s.628 from the 1992-93 season.

Tom Crean’s third IU team only managed 27 wins, one less than his initial three teams combined. Few IU teams have made such an astonishing improvement from year to year as this one. Zeller served as the catalyst on and off the court, leading offense and defense improvements that few other IU players have seen.

Video: Cody Zeller 2012-2013 Highlights

Cody Zeller 2012-2013 Highlights

2) Calbert Cheany

Many firsts mark Calbert Cheaney’s Indiana career.

The Indiana media guide hails him as Bob Knight’s first-ever left-handed player.

He became the first Indiana freshman to start their career opener and scored 20 points.

He finished his career atop the all-time Big Ten scoring list.

As a freshman, Cheaney wasn’t expected to do it all. Coming off an injury that interrupted part of his senior season and joining a class with two McDonald’s All-Americans, he was seen as more of a supporting actor. But Cheaney proved himself more than capable.

Cheaney would average 17.1 points per game, grabbing 4.6 rebounds per night and shoot 57 per cent from the floor; yet his teammates Greg and Pat Graham could only muster up half of Cheaney’s average combined.

Video: Calbert Cheaney Tribute

Calbert Cheaney Tribute

1) Isiah Thomas

Thomas showed his mettle as a freshman when injuries began to decimate the roster. Veteran stars Randy Wittman and Mike Woodson, along with Thomas’ classmate Indiana Mr Basketball Steve Bouchie, suffered early on. Wittman retired before Christmas, while Woodson came back to lead an incredible charge towards the Big Ten title; however, Thomas kept everything running smoothly in between.

Isiah averaged 14.6 points, four rebounds, 5.5 assists and more than two steals per game. His Sophomore season was even better…

Video: Isiah Thomas meets Bobby Knight

Isiah Thomas meets Bobby Knight

Read Also
Top 10 Indiana Hoosiers of the 1990s
Nover, even though he was not part of the large recruiting class ...
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
BetMGM Promo
State Of The League: Los Angeles Chargers
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We have been going ...
State Of The League: Denver Broncos
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We are going over ...
State Of The League: San Francisco 49ers
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We are going over ...
State Of The League: Tennessee Titans
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We are going over ...
State Of The League: Arizona Cardinals
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We are going over ...
State Of The League: Houston Texans
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We are going over ...
State Of The League: Jacksonville Jaguars
Training camp and the NFL preseason are here! We are going over ...
State Of The League: Detroit Lions
The NFL Draft and free agency is in our rearview mirrors. There ...
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Top Brands
Top Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
25 SCs extra free on first purchases + 2 SCs FREE to claim
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Latest News
NFL Week 13 Quarterback Power rankings: A New number one!
Goff's brave resilience has won him fans in ...
Top 10 Dirtiest Boxers of All Time
Dirty boxing was more prevalent in the early ...
Top 10 Left-Handed Pitchers in Baseball History
Two hundred eighty-eight victories, there are currently only ...
Betting Tips
11/29/2023 - 7:15 pm
Chapel Hill
Tip:
North Carolina to Cover
-1.50
FanDuel
11/26/2023 - 4:30 pm
Gainbridge
Tip:
Harvard to Cover
6.50
FanDuel
11/25/2023 - 12:00 pm
Michigan Sradium
Tip:
Ohio State to Cover
4.00
FanDuel
Our Latest YouTube Videos
Video: Indiana Basketball weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Harvard Preview and UCONN and Louisville Recaps!
Indiana Basketball weekly W/Steve Risley: IU/Harvard Preview and UCONN and Louisville Recaps!
Video: Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Army Preview and Florida Gulf Coast recap!
Indiana Basketball Weekly W/Steve Risley: Indiana vs Army Preview and Florida Gulf Coast recap!
Video: NFL *Betting* Show: Week 13 games picked against the spread*Make Monet*
NFL *Betting* Show: Week 13 games picked against the spread*Make Monet*
Sportsbook of the month
PointsBet - Get your Bonus Bet now!
-
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....
Top Online Casinos
Top Casinos Bonuses
Stake.us
Stake.us
Stake.us Review
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Review
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Review
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino
High5Casino Review
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Review
4.5/5
Stake.us
Stake.us Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Wow Vegas
Wow Vegas Bonus
30 SCs on 1st Purchase + 4.5 SCs FREE
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Sweeptastic
Sweeptastic Bonus
25 SCs extra free on first purchases + 2 SCs FREE to claim
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
High5Casino
High5Casino Bonus
$5 No Deposit + 250 GameCoins + 600 Diamonds
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Fortune Coins
Fortune Coins Bonus
1,000 ($10) No Deposit Free Coins + 360,000 Gold Coins
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
DraftKings
DraftKings
DraftKings Review
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel
FanDuel Review
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM
BetMGM Review
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365
Bet365 Review
4.5/5
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com
BetRivers.com Review
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 Instantly
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
FanDuel
FanDuel Bonus
Bet $5 Get $150 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
BetMGM
BetMGM Bonus
up to $1,500 back in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Bet365
Bet365 Bonus
$1000 in Bonus Bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Place your first cash bet up to $1,000, and if the bet loses, you will have your wager refunded in Bonus Bets. T&Cs, time limits and exclusions apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler 21+
Caesars
Caesars Bonus
100% up to $1000
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterAuthor IconJosh SchwartzSamuel TeetsSimon Briffa
+10
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Content Writer
Josh Schwartz
Josh Schwartz
Editor
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Simon Briffa
Simon Briffa
Sports Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Author Icon
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Author Icon
Malik Zorrok
Author
Author Icon
Buddy Gibbs
Author
Brian Coburn
Brian Coburn
Author
aukje
aukje
Author
Peter Bonahoom
Peter Bonahoom
Author
berina
berina
Author
Find out what the legends have to say about sports this week....

Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.

21+NCPG
Move to Top
Close
Players accepted in the US US Flag
Stake.us Exclusive Bonus
$25 No Deposit + 250,000 Gold Coins + 5% Rakeback
Promo Code
Copy
Visit Site
T&Cs apply, 18+
Payment Methods
Bitcoin
Litecoin
Ethereum
Dogecoin
Highlights
  • Exclusive promo code: TGTSOCIAL
  • Play Plinko, Hilo, Crash and more!
  • Get Stake Cash bonuses every day!
Stake Originals
Dice
Crash
Plinko
Mines
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Visit Site