ITH Super Happy Fun Time Top 10 List: Don Schlundt

by Alex Bozich in Commentary | August 6th, 2008

The ballots have been counted and it’s time for Inside the Hall’s countdown of the greatest Indiana players of all-time. Today: No. 9: Don Schlundt.

Years at Indiana: 1951-1955

The numbers: 2,192 points (23.3 career average), 860 rebounds (9.1 career average); 826 free throws made (school record)

Career highs: 47 points (Two occasions vs. Ohio State, January 18, 1954 and March 5, 1955); 25 free throws made (vs. Ohio State, March 5, 1955)

Notable achievements: Led IU in scoring four straight seasons; First team All-Big Ten (1953, 1954, 1955); All-American (1953, 1954, 1955); Big Ten MVP (1953); Indiana Hall of Fame (1982 inductee); Indiana team MVP (1953, 1954, 1955); Big Ten champion (1953 and 1954); National champion (1953)

The case for Schlundt: The late Schlundt, who passed away in 1985 after a battle with cancer, held the career scoring record until Steve Alford surpassed him during the 1986-1987 season. The South Bend native scored 30 points in Indiana’s 69-68 win over Kansas in the 1953 NCAA Championship game.

Tags: Don Schlundt

JohnM

Too, too low. Don Schlundt broke the Big Ten's career scoring record as a sophomore and held it for 15 years, per the Big Ten's website. He was IU's all-time scoring leader for 34 years, until Steve Alford passed him in 1987. Certainly, part of Schlundt's ascent was based on rule changes and the fact that he played just before freshman ineligibility was imposed. Still, his 23.3 points per game is higher than that of any other 1000 point scorer at IU. Throw in the fact that he won a NCAA title and was IU's leading scorer in the championship game, I'm almost embarrassed that I didn't have him #1. No wa he's #9.

Marlyse (Schlundt) Spicer

I never knew that and I'm his daughter. Just happened to type in his name on the search tonight...thank you for bringing a smile to my face.

Rob Lattimer

I graduated from Washington Clay in 1959-my older brother, Dick, was the manager of the team Don played on there-I remember Don's parents taking me to the Ohio State game when he scored 47 points! He was truly a star and a very humble one at that-you can be proud of what he stood for and the manner in which he performed!

jgongora86

Man, three time all american, whens the last time we had one of those?

DJW

If anyone is interested in the true greatness of Don Schlundt, they should read the book "Mac's Boys", a book dedicated to Branch McCraken's legacy and the I.U. 1953 Nat. Champions. The book surmises Schlundt's carrer at IU along with several others on that team like Slick Leonard.

The book presents some interesting facts about McCraken and John Wooden (close friends growing up on adjacent farms near Martinsdale) and the early history of Indiana H. S. basketball and how it eventually developed as a premier recruiting ground for many of the great players and coaches shortly after WWII and evetully into the 50's and 60's.

Oustanding book for IU fans who may want to truly researh and appreciate the history of IU and it's emergence onto the national basketball scene during a very transitional period
of college basketball in the US.

JerryCT

Thanks to you I read it . Very good perspective on the old times. Schlundt is probablt #1 if you want to split hairs

Hoosiergirl

One of those "Old time" players you don't hear a whole bunch about, but as they say: The numbers don't lie. That is pretty incredible

ITH Super Happy Fun Time Top 10 List: Don Schlundt

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