The greatest team in Ohio State history never to wear cleats—if not the greatest Buckeye team period. Coached by the legendary Fred Taylor, Ohio State’s 1959-1960 men’s basketball team is responsible for the school’s only basketball national championship after accumulating a 25-3 record and winning every NCAA Tournament game by more than 15 points, including an utter dismantling of California in the final 75-55.
All five starters—Jerry Lucas, John Havlicek, Mel Nowell, Larry Siegried and Joe Roberts—continued tearing up the hardwood in the NBA, Lucas and Havlicek combining for nine NBA Championships and 20 All-Star honors. While the starters took the NBA by storm, reserve forward Mr. Bob Knight—yes, that icon—stayed in the college world to coach the Hoosiers to three national titles. Pay homage.
