Branch McCracken
Inducted:
1960
Player Stats
6'4"
Born
June 9, 1908
Monrovia, Indiana, U.S.
Died
June 4, 1970
Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Position
Center/Forward/Guard
College
Indiana University
Branch McCracken was one of the finest college basketball players of his era before becoming one of the sport's legendary coaches. Nicknamed "Big Bear" for his 6-foot-4 frame and fierce competitiveness, he led Indiana University in scoring for three consecutive seasons and earned First Team All-Big Ten honors three times.
As a senior in 1930, he set the Big Ten single-season scoring record with 147 points and was recognized as the Helms Foundation Player of the Year. After college, he briefly played professional basketball with teams such as the Indianapolis Kautskys before beginning his historic coaching career.
He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1960 as a player.
McCracken's Awards and Honor
- 3× First Team All-Big Ten
- 4x Big Ten Conference Regular Season Champion
- Indiana University Scoring Leader
- Helms Foundation Player of the Year (1930)
- Awarded the prestigious Big Ten Most Valuable Player honor in 1928
NBA Teams
Indiana (1927–1930)
NBA Records
Career /Tenor:
1927-1930
Games Played:
51
Points:
526
Points per game:
10.3
Field Goal (%):
25.8
Free Throw (%):
59.8