1973 NCAA Final Four Indiana vs UCLA

Bob Knight's success at Indiana came even earlier than expected, and in 1973, the Hoosiers nearly shocked Bill Walton and UCLA.

No one dominated college basketball like John Wooden and UCLA in the 1960s and '70s. And when Wooden's Bruins met Indiana on March 24, 1973 in the national semifinals, the Hoosiers and their young coach — the 32-year-old Bob Knight — were expected to be just another blip on the radar on their march to another title.

After all, UCLA had won six straight national championships and the Bruins were in the midst of what turned out to be an 88-game winning streak, an NCAA record that almost surely will never be broken.

UCLA's dominance was expected, and a trip to the Final Four was an annual rite of passage for Wooden and the Bruins. Indiana was ahead of the curve in Knight's second year in Bloomington, led by seniors Steve Downing and John Ritter, getting a boost from sophomore newcomers Steve Green and John Laskowski and a huge burst of energy from freshmen guards Quinn Buckner and Jim Crews. That was the first year freshmen were allowed to play, so all four of those guys were playing their first college seasons.

The unbeaten Bruins led by 6-foot-11 junior center Bill Walton dominated early, jumping out to a 40-22 lead and the rout was on. But the Hoosiers kept on fighting and the duel between Walton and Downing ranks right up there as one of the best one-on-one battles in tournament history.

Downing was doing damage despite picking up three fouls in the first half. Knight kept him in the game anyway — he had no choice with no one else who could guard Walton — and the Hoosiers kept picking away. Late in the second half, the Hoosiers' run had gotten them to within two points.

With five minutes to go, the storyline seemed obvious as to how this one was going to turn out. Walton and Downing both had four fouls, and whichever team could keep its star of the floor was going to have a huge edge.

As it turned out, that would be UCLA, as Downing was whistled for his fifth foul on what Indiana fans have said for years was the worst call in IU basketball history.No one saw any contact at the time, and even the grainy highlights don't show anything.

With Downing out, UCLA made one more big run and pulled away down the stretch, winning 70-59. The final score is deceiving, because this game was much closer than that.

Downing had 26 points that night, and Walton had just 14. He won the individual battle, but Walton and the Bruins won the war.

Getting an early taste of the Final Four was a huge thing for Indiana, because it set the stage for the greatness that would follow for Indiana through the 1975 and 1976 seasons.

"Making that kind of tournament run early in our careers was really important down the road,'' John Laskowski said. "By the time 1975 rolled around, we had all played together for a long time and we built a great bond.''

in 2023 50 years later 1973 players remembered game:

IU trailed by 18 at halftime, fought back to within 2 points on a second consecutive basket by Ritter with 5:51 remaining, but ultimately lost, 70-59.

A major turning point, an irritant that remains stuck in the conscience of IU’s players and fans even today, occurred with 9:24 left. Walton drove to the basket, and as described by an Indianapolis Star reporter, “ran right over Downing” for what would have been his fifth foul. Downing was called for the foul, however, his fourth, and then fouled out with 7:57 left. He finished with 26 points in 25 minutes. Walton finished with 14 points, 17 rebounds and nine assists.

Downing: I think about that all the time, but only at this time of the year (around Final Four weekend). It was a bad call.

Buckner: It was a bad call.The loss to UCLA brought about a lot of what-ifs—not only regarding the controversial foul call, but regarding the players IU could have had on the team. Two freshmen who would become three-year starters and first-round picks in the NBA draft were on campus but academically ineligible. Most likely Scott May and Bobby Wilkerson would have made a difference.

And then there was George McGinnis. Or, rather, there wasn’t George McGinnis. A high school teammate of Downing’s, he had averaged 30 points and 15 rebounds as a sophomore in Watson’s freewheeling system and then signed with the Pacers. He obviously would have been a major factor if he had stayed two more years and played against UCLA. He obviously made a practical decision, though. A month later he would be named finals MVP after leading the Pacers to their third ABA championship.

Ritter: George told me he was watching that (UCLA) game and thinking, Maybe I might have made a difference.

Everyone in unison: Maybe?

Ritter: George said it was the only time he regretted going pro.

Crews: He only would have wanted to come for that week, though.

Laskowski: (laughing) No, he didn’t want to be there the rest of the time.

Ritter: George was smart. He didn’t want any part of Bobby Knight.