1981 Indiana Hoosiers: How Bob Knight's Team Conquered College Basketball Against All Odds

The 1980-1981 Indiana Hoosiers basketball team embodied the ultimate underdog story, overcoming significant challenges to claim the NCAA National Championship. Facing early-season injuries to key players like Randy Whitman and Mike Woodson, the team battled through a nine-loss season with remarkable resilience. Led by sophomore sensation Isaiah Thomas, who was named Final Four Most Outstanding Player, and supported by exceptional talents like Ted Kitchell, the Hoosiers peaked at the right moment. Under Bobby Knight's legendary coaching, they secured their second national title in dramatic fashion, defeating North Carolina in a memorable championship game. This victory occurred against the backdrop of President Reagan's assassination attempt, adding historical significance to their triumph. The team's journey symbolized perseverance, individual brilliance, and collective teamwork, cementing Indiana University's status as a basketball powerhouse and adding another legendary chapter to the program's rich history.

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Transcript

  All right. Welcome back everyone to this mini series version of Iconic Seasons. Last time we're talking about the foundation of the Indiana Dynasty built by Bob Knight, and we talked about the 1976 season. Today we're diving into the,  just the time after the 75, 76 that. We can all agree that that's  the pinnacle of IU basketball, maybe of college basketball, period.

It wasn't just that great team. We called it a phenomenon. This team was, I.  A team that was marked by resilience, individual brilliance, maybe more individual brilliance than even that great 75, 76 team. And of course, championship glory. I want to talk about the 19 80 81 Indiana Hoosiers. They embodied one of the characteristics that, again, is a theme that we see woven throughout all of these championship teams, and that's perseverance and what that really means. 

It was more of a rollercoaster though, and as we relive that iconic journey, I think you'll see that throughout the, the narrative here.  The season story comes off a Big 10 title in 79, 80, and expectations at this point were through the roof preseason polls even had them, number one to start the year,  the start of the season did nothing to dispel that number one ranking.

They started with four straight wins and big dreams.  Then as often happens, adversity strikes. They had a tough loss at Kentucky  and that was bad enough, but what really was the blow was again, the injury bug where Randy Whitman suffers a season ending foot stretch fracture.  And if that wasn't enough, Mike Woodson got sidelined with back surgery shortly after that. 

Just an absolute gut punch, lofty preseason, aspiration. Suddenly, base se the, you know, the most serious tests, you know, you just are, are in a spiral,  yet they refuse to fold. They had this depleted roster, but they battled through the Big 10 season, grinded out a seven and five conference record, and then something remarkable happened seven weeks after back surgery, seven weeks.

Mike Woodson makes his tri triumphant return against Iowa drills. His first three shots finishes with 20 points. Where's the minutes restriction here In a 66 55 victory, it was the kind of comeback moment that makes sports so special. I, I want to talk a little bit about Woody because he's caught so much fire, but he did what we had all asked to have a former player come back, a guy who'd had an amazing coaching legacy. 

I'm not sure he knew what he was stepping into, but he knew what  the fans were asking for and stepped into that. And while he may not have fulfilled the expectations that we all had, I certainly think his thoughts were in the right place and he certainly has given a lot to iu.  After this win, the team catches fire.

They reel off six wins, culminating in what may have been the greatest game ever played in Assembly Hall. The season finale against Ohio State with everything on the line, both of the teams were tied for the conference title. The arena was described as absolutely electric. Uh, Butch Carter calmly sinks two pressure packed free throws to force the overtime, and there was just destiny in the air. 

Indiana prevails claiming a second straight Big 10 championship, and just an amazing regular season finale.  The journey there though, was far from over, despite entering the NCAA tournament with nine losses, the team had something brewing. We just hit a, a groove where everybody was in sync. Uh, we just knew what we had to do from the role players to, to the starters.

And it was something out of a movie, I would say, the way we played together.  But during that time, yes, we, we had the most losses at nine and we weren't really favored. Do much, uh, LSU and, uh, Virginia and North Carolina were definitely more of the favorites to heavy favorites. We were just a team that kind of scratched and clawed and we got on a roll so everybody was aware of us, but not really paying that much attention to us, and that's what made the whole, uh, experience that much more rewarding.

Determinant run began with a statement against Maryland 99 64, where they shot 65% from the field and all five starters hit double figures.  It wasn't just a win, it was a warning. And I think you can see that sometimes early in the NCAA tournament when a team makes a statement that they're there for a reason. 

They carried the momentum through to the Midwest Regional, which is at home at Assembly Hall, always nice dispatched UAB and dismantled St. Joseph's 78 46  game. That game was so one-sided that the starters lounged on the bench with three minutes left on the clock, just grinning.  The team was peaking at the right moment, which is often what's needed in the NCAA tournament heading out to Philadelphia, there was an air of confidence, but also  a,  let's say, weight of responsibility that,  uh, we, we put ourselves into a position to win. 

And, uh, I'll never forget leaving Bloomington  that the day we left the picture of the National Championship trophy was.  In  our locker room, in each of our lockers, just a picture of it. And  then one of the greatest speeches that, that I ever heard  as we left Bloomington that day, but there's a big board in the locker room that's probably  oh nine feet by five feet.

And Coach Knight walked up to the board and, and he said,  this board represents all the players who've ever played college basketball.  And  he takes a marker and he puts a dot on the board  and he says that DOT represents all the players who've ever played college basketball that won a national championship. 

He said, you are trying to become part of the dot. And he said, that's why you come to play basketball at Indiana University. And the final four in Philadelphia matched them against LSU, the fourth ranked SEC championships. The first half was a battle with LSU holding a slim three point lead at the break.

Adding to the tension, sophomore sensation, Isaiah Thomas had picked up three fouls, but the second half belonged to Indiana, Landon Turner and Jim Thomas fueled a decisive run that turned a close game into a comfortable 67 49 victory, sending the Hoosiers to the championship game.  Now leading up to the final against North Carolina, the media spotlight focused on the coaching matchup.

The legendary Dean Smith versus the fiery Bobby Knight. A clash.  A clash of basketball royalty. But the morning of March 30th, 1981, championship Day brought shocking news that transcended sports President Ronald Reagan had been shot in an assassination attempt.  The Hoosiers played  the Hoosiers, players learned about it, watching television in their hotel rooms amid the national uncertainty, the NCAA deliberated and ultimately decided the game would go on. 

Coach Knight and his staff masterfully kept the team focused despite the shocking distraction. When the ball finally tipped that night, North Carolina jumped out to an early lead. The situation looked even more precarious when Ted Kitchell picked up three quick fouls. But Jim Thomas provided crucial minutes off the bench studying the ship.

Indiana trailed most of the first half until as the buzzer sounded junior. Randy Whitman sank an unforgettable corner shot to give the Hoosiers their first lead.  That shot changed everything. In the second half, Indiana took control rolling to Decisive Victory and claiming the National Championship Coach Knight's second title and Indiana's fourth overall. 

Isaiah Thomas put up on the clock. So who's your fan? Start to scream again. Here come the reserves off the bench. Jimmy Thomas, whip ball Isaiah, he lost the handle. It picked up by North Carolina down to 15 Braddock Fires. It is no good. We match tap no good again, battles. Circuit puts it up and end. We're down to nine seconds.

Go  now. Whitman inbound,  it's over.  Indiana wins the National Championship for 1981.  Unbelievable. As the players out of a four are jumping up and down, hugging one another, WHI just tossed the ball up in the air after he got it  and Indiana Max won the National Championship for the second time under Bobby Knight.

And the fourth time of the school history. Unbelievable. Donna's, the only way you can describe this basketball team, they were seven and five in December. But boy, have they been dynamite as they have come down the stretch. And here in the tournament, this has been the closest they've, they've, uh, come to losing 13 points every game.

Prior to this was even more back in Bloomington, more than 10,000 delirious fans welcomed their champions home in an epic celebration.  The stars who made it happen. This championship season was fueled by exceptional players. Three. Stand out above the rest.  First was sophomore guard, Isaiah Thomas. He had played on that team that was mentioned at the beginning of this with Woody, and he cites that game that Woodson had in Iowa and his comeback game as one of his favorite games of his long and storied career.

Just witnessing that. So pretty interesting. He was an absolutely dazzling talent, and his leadership was undeniable. He was named the most outstanding player of the Final Four, and showed that rare ability to elevate his game when the stakes were the highest. Lightning speed, magic ball handling Kyrie level.

And scoring touch made him a nightmare for De Defenders.  Then there was Ted Kitchell. He was super versatile, score, rebound, defend. Definitely the heart and soul of this team. His performance against Illinois was one of the most efficient college basketball history, like Bill Walton, level 13 for 13 from the field, 18 for 18, from the free throw line for 40 points.

That is in the zone.  Even when Foul trouble limited his minutes in the championship game, he still had a presence. And that's kind of important when you go through that adversity. How do you still make it feel like you're there?  And of course, you can't forget about Whitman. We mentioned at the start of this that that early season injury the previous year.

The stress fracture in his foot. He still came back and was uh, un unbelievable. Just clutch shooting throughout the campaign, especially a buzzer beater at the end of the first half in that national championship game,  just ice in his veins beyond the individuals. Stats. There are some things that highlight why this team's iconic.

They captured their second consecutive Big 10 championship and proved their dominance, wasn't just a one year wonder. They demolished Marilyn in that opening round, showcasing their firepower. That 65% from the field is something that I'm sure Bob Knight dreamed of, uh, many nights before and many nights after.

Uh, again, you had, uh, Kiels Perfect night. 13 for 13. 18 for 18 from the free throw line that is perfection right there. You, you're always gonna  fall just short of that. After that,  uh, before their first round matchup against the tar pins, lefty Driesell  didn't know some of the key Hoosier players. Maybe he's en entering the end of his career there.

Uh, Chuck Franz on the Indiana team recalled overhearing him asking his as assistance, which one is Tolbert and which one is Turner that gave the Hoosiers some extra motivation. We're gonna crush these guys, and that's just what they did.  Jim Thomas, who was also a key contributor, contributor,  had a premonition months before their championship run.

Uh, he dreamed about seeing a caption in Sports Illustrated. About the other Thomas referring to himself along Isaiah. Uh, the dream made a little sense after they won the title and Sports Illustrated featured both Thomas' on the All Final Four team.  Sometimes you can make dreams come true.  It's definitely a legacy cementing moment for the the Hoosiers.

It's not just about one season of success, it solidifies Bob Knight's legacy as one of the basketball's greatest coaches. The second national title, it cements Indiana status as a blue blood program and absolutely a name synonymous with excellence in tradition. It's a blend of adversity, individual brilliance, and that team spirit that we continue to mention and remains one of the most cherished chapters in Indiana basketball's history. 

So what's next? We're gonna talk more about perseverance, talent and teamwork. And our iconic mini series, iconic season's mini series here isn't quite over. We're gonna talk about the shot next. Of course, we've got a longer series on that 19 80 17, but we'll hit on a little bit. There's always more to unearth with that, that season, which is my favorite of the runs, maybe because I remember it the most, but this Cinderella story absolutely defied the odds and left that indelible mark on college basketball history.

I know you won't wanna miss the, that one until then, you keep, keep Dr. Low and your eyes. Eyes up.