12 Facts About Branch McCracken

Emmett B "Branch" McCracken was an American basketball player and coach.

Branch McCracken served as the head basketball coach at Ball State University from 1930 to 1938 and at Indiana University Bloomington from 1938 to 1943 and again from 1946 to 1965.

Branch McCracken was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1960.

Branch McCracken scored 32.3 percent of the points his three Hoosier teams scored.

Branch McCracken led the Big Ten Conference with a 12.3 average his senior year and graduated as the league's career scoring record holder.

In 1938 Branch McCracken succeeded Everett Dean and coached the Indiana University Hoosiers.

Branch McCracken's teams were known as the "Hurrying Hoosiers" because of McCracken's emphasis on the fast break.

In 1948, Branch McCracken was responsible for recruiting Bill Garrett who became the first African American player in Big Ten varsity basketball history.

Branch McCracken ultimately coached IU for 23 years, amassing 364 wins and 210 Big Ten wins.

Branch McCracken's teams won four regular season Big Ten titles and went to the NCAA tournament four times, winning two national titles.

Branch McCracken was buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Hall, Indiana.

Branch McCracken was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as a player in 1960.