Knight Time Rewind: December 5, 1938

ON THIS DAY: On this day in 1938, a new era in Indiana University basketball begins with a newly appointed “sheriff” and a blowout victory over Ball State. After a successful stint as the head coach of Ball State, where he compiled a 93-41 record, Branch McCracken became the head coach at IU in June after Everett Dean stepped down in April to take the head coaching position at Stanford University. In his debut with the Hoosiers, McCracken would lead his alma mater to a 54-28 rout over his former team in the Field House.

I don’t have anything in my collection from this game, but the item featured here has some interesting parallels. This is a page taken out of a Ball State yearbook between 1936 and 1938 (haven’t figured out what year…yet). It’s signed by both Branch McCracken and John Magnabosco, both of whom were All-Americans in their respective sports in their time at Indiana University.

Go Hoosiers…and beat the Wolverines!