Indiana University’s 1976 Unbeaten National Championship Men’s Basketball Honored at the Final Four in Indianapolis The 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers were the last undefeated team to win an NCAA Division 1 national championship. That Hoosiers team went 32-0, beating seven ranked teams, won a Big Ten Championship, and beat Michigan, 86-68, in the title game. On Monday inside Lucas Oil Stadium, 10 members from that undefeated team spoke at a press conference ahead of the national championship game between Michigan and UConn. Those 10 members included Jim Wisman, Scott Eells, Rich Valavicius, Jim Roberson, Jim Crews, Bobby Wilkerson, Quinn Buckner, Tom Abernethy, Scott May, and Kent Benson. Bob Knight’s son, Pat Knight was also in attendance for the press conference.
“Coach Knight is really the heart and soul of our group and we certainly miss him,” Abernethy said. “These guys all contributed in their own way, we did it as a team, and we stayed alive for 32 games without a loss.” The members from Indiana’s undefeated team were asked how meaningful it is to still be the last undefeated team 50 years later. The 1976 Final Four most outstanding player was Indiana center Kent Benson, and he shared his sentiment on what that season means to this day. “It goes back to our championship game at halftime,” Benson said. “One of the comments coach Knight made was, over the next 20 minutes, boys, you have an opportunity to make history. At the time, we didn’t think it was so prophetic, but being here 20, 30, 40, 50 years later, that statement was so prophetic and we just thank god for the opportunity to play together as a team, and that’s what we were.” Bobby Wilkerson started in the championship game against Michigan, and averaged 7.8 points-per-game during Indiana’s undefeated season.
“It means a lot because we worked so hard at the time,” Wilkerson said. “It means more now than it did at the time. To the families and all the players, we’ve all lost someone, but the love that they started with us is still here with us.” Jim Crews was a senior the year IU won the 1976 championship, and he reflected on what that season has meant for him over the years. “When you talk about a team, you talk about being able to bring a group of talented individuals together who use their god given talents and abilities,” Crews said. “And at the same time, put aside their own personal agendas for the success of the team, knowing that when the team wins, everybody wins. I believe that’s why we came into Indiana University.” The members from the 1976 undefeated team will be honored at halftime of the 2026 NCAA national championship game.
Eastern Greene HS and IU Graduate Dusty May Coaches Michigan to the Men’s Basketball National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium Michigan beat UConn, 69-63, to win its first national championship since 1989. Indiana native and Michigan head coach Dusty May won his first national championship as a head coach. “It’s a surreal moment,” Michigan head coach Dusty May said. “It doesn’t feel real. It still doesn’t feel real because you watch this as a kid, and I go to bed early so staying up for ‘One Shining Moment,’ it’s been a tough task for me over the years. To see that and think back of all the years that you just want to be a part of something greater than yourself and for this to come to fruition, it doesn’t seem real.”
Elliot Cadeau led the Wolverines with 19 points. Morez Johnson Jr. had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Cadeau was named the Final Four’s most outstanding player. “It means the world to me,” Cadeau said. “I’m just so proud of myself, where I came from. Last year I was really down on myself, a lot of people doubted me, and I’m just so proud of myself for me to be able to say I was the most outstanding player and win a National Championship at the same time.” Michigan shot just 2-15 from three, but were able to prevail with the victory. The Wolverines held UConn to just 31% shooting from the floor and 27% from three.
“What stuck out and really brought us together was how unselfish we were eventually in those moments and our defensive toughness,” Michigan senior forward Yaxel Lendeborg said. “Whenever offense isn’t rolling, we find a way to make plays with our defense and make it lead to quick offense.” “Everybody on this team is extremely talented, and for us to be able to sacrifice something for ourselves, a lot of us could be somewhere else doing more than what we’ve done this season, but I think it just shows that this team is super selfless, and I’ve never been around such a talented group of guys that are willing to take a lesser role for somebody next to them,” Michigan freshman guard Trey McKenney said. “I’m just really grateful to be around this team, and I’m going to cherish this moment for the rest of my life.” Michigan is the first Big Ten team to win the national championship since 2000.
Indiana University Women’s Basketball Signs Iowa State Transfer Alisa Williams Indiana women’s basketball head coach Teri Moren has announced the addition of Alisa Williams (AH-lisa) for the 2026-27 roster. A graduate transfer from Iowa State, Williams has one year of eligibility remaining. In two seasons with Iowa State, the 6-2 forward played in 67 games and shot 51.9 percent from the floor while averaging 4.0 points and 2.9 rebounds. In 2025-26, Williams played in all 32 games for the Cyclones, making a pair of starts while averaging 4.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game while shooting 53.9 percent from the floor. She missed the 2023-24 season after transferring from LSU where she played in 20 games as a true freshman (2022-23). A native of Denton, Texas, Williams graduated from Broswell High where she led them to a 35-3 record as a senior and advanced to the Class 6A Region I championship. She averaged 17.8 points and 7.0 rebounds per game over her junior and senior seasons.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball’s Jasai Miles to Enter the Transfer Portal Indiana wing Jasai Miles is entering the transfer portal according to multiple reports. In his lone season in Bloomington, Miles appeared in 26 games off the bench for IU after transferring in from North Florida. He averaged 1.6 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 9.5 minutes per game for the Hoosiers. Miles shot 34.1% (14-of-41) from the floor, 24.0% (6-of-25) from the 3-point line, and 50.0% (7-of-14) from the free throw line. Miles is the second IU player to enter the portal, following Jason Drake.
Indiana University Men’s Basketball’s Josh Harris to Enter the Transfer Portal Indiana forward Josh Harris is entering the transfer portal according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-8 Harris did not play in his lone season with IU due to an injury suffered in the fall. Harris transferred to IU from North Florida a year ago. At least three players from the 2025-26 IU basketball team will now enter the portal, as Harris follows Jason Drake and Jasai Miles. The portal officially opened on April 7.
Taylor University Cheerleader Kenzie Buck Named Third-Team NAIA All-American On the heels of completing a historic season with an 11th-place finish at the NAIA National Championships, Taylor’s competitive cheer program notched yet another accolade with Kenzie Buck being named to the NAIA All-American Team. Buck is the second NAIA All-American in the six-year history of the TU cheer program, following J. Michael Pierce II (2022-2023) in garnering the prestigious honor. Buck was one of 56 student-athletes from the NAIA to earn All-American honors, being recognized as a Third-Team All-American for the highest honor in TU’s history. The All-American nod follows Buck being selected as the Crossroads League Athlete of the Year and as a First-Team All-CL standout. In addition to being TU cheer’s highest-rated All-American and first-ever CL Athlete of the Year, Buck helped the Trojans to their first-ever Crossroads League Championship and first-ever appearance at NAIA Nationals. Along the way, Buck helped Taylor post the first, second, fourth, eighth and ninth-best team scores in program history during the historic 2025-2026 campaign.
Taylor University Men’s Lacrosse Player Lucas Pacer Earns Weekly Recognition from WHAC For the second time this season, Lucas Pacer has been named the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference Men’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week, as announced by the WHAC league office on Monday. Pacer led the defensive unit for No. 9 Taylor in its contests with top-ranked Madonna and unranked Lawrence Tech by tallying 18 ground balls and forcing four turnovers. In TU’s win over LTU, Pacer matched a program record with 13 ground balls and also caused a trio of turnovers to help the Purple and Gray to an 18-10 victory.
The senior currently leads the WHAC and ranks No. 3 in the NAIA with 31 ground balls this season, while ranking No. 3 in the WHAC and No. 11 nationally with 72 ground balls. With 31 caused turnovers, Pacer now owns TU’s single-season record, while his 72 ground balls rank No. 3 in Taylor history. Those marks have also helped Pacer surge to the top of TU’s all-time charts with 87 caused turnovers and 236 ground balls over his four-year career. The WHAC Player-of-the-Week honor is the second for Pacer in his career, with both coming in the past month, while his honor is the fifth weekly nod for TU lacrosse this season. Taylor Athletics now boasts 57 WHAC, Crossroads League or MSFA Player-of-the-Week honors during the 2025-2026 season. Pacer and No. 9 Taylor (7-5, 3-4 WHAC) will continue their standout season this evening with a 7:00 pm start at No. 7 Indiana Tech (6-5, 4-2 WHAC).