March Madness heats up, here are some Bloomington natives to watch

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See images from the 1975-76 Indiana Hoosiers perfect season with Bob Knight

Indiana’s Quinn Buckner (21) reaches over Michigan’s John Robinson (45) in the 1976 national championship game played on March 29, 1976, in The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Buckner was called for a foul on the play.

Indiana’s Tom Abernathy (33) breaks free for a basket against Illinois on Feb. 14, 1976. Kent Benson (54) watches at right.

Indiana’s Tom Abernathy (33) drives the baseline in a game against Wisconsin at Assembly Hall on Jan. 31, 1976.

Some Indiana University fans get a lift to see above the crowd on North Walnut Street following the Hoosiers’ victory in the 1976 national championship basketball game of March 29, 1976.

Purdue’s Wayne Walls (40) and Indiana’s Scott May (42) play above the rim in a game at Assembly Hall on Jan. 19, 1976.

Crowd inside Assembly Hall to celebrate the 1976 national championship on March 31, 1976.

Fans congregate at Assembly Hall in anticipation of arrival of NCAA champs on March 30, 1976.

Indiana’s Bobby Wilkerson (20) goes high to contest a shot in the Hoosiers’ NCAA tournament game against St. John’s on March 13, 1976.

Indiana basketball players Quinn Buckner, front, Scott May, middle, and Bobby Wilerson, back, make their way through crowd of fans at Bloomington airport after returning from the NCAA Tournament regional finals on March 21, 1976.

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) breaks away for an easy basket against Michigan on Feb. 7, 1976, at Assembly Hall.

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) looks to make a pass to Quinn Buckner (21) in a game against Wisconsin at Assembly Hall on Jan. 31, 1976.

Indiana center Kent Benson (54) reaches above the rim against Purdue’s Tim Scheffler (32) as Indiana’s Quinn Buckner (21) watches at Assembly Hall on Jan. 9, 1976.

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) uses his left arm to keep a defender at bay as he shoots a sky hook against St. John’s on March 13, 1976, in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) winds up to spike a shot by UCLA in Indiana’s opening game win at St. Louis on Nov. 29, 1975. Other IU players visible are, from left, Todd Abernathy (33), Scott May (42) and Quinn Buckner (21).

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) takes a shot in a game against Wisconsin at Assembly Hall on Jan. 31, 1976. At left are IU players Bobby Wilkerson (20) and Tom Abernathy (33).

Indiana head men’s basketball Coach Bob Knight talks with St. John’s head Coach Lou Carnesecca at the opening game of the 1976 NCAA basketball tourney on March 6, 1976.

Indiana’s Bobby Wilkinson (20) corrals a rebound in the Hoosiers’ opening round NCAA tournament game against St. John’s, which IU won 90-70.

Indiana Gov. Otis Bowen makes an appearance at the Indiana University spring sports banquet on April 15, 1976. To the governor’s right is sportswriter Bob Hammel. To his left is IU men’s basketball head Coach Bob Knight and his first wife, Nancy Knight.

Indiana’s Quinn Buckner (21) drives to the basket in a game against Purdue at Assembly Hall on Jan. 19, 1976.

Led by co-captain Quinn Buckner (21), the Hoosiers take the court before a home game at Assembly Hall. Date unknown.

Indiana fans fill a shopping cart with empty beverage containers following the celebration in downtown Bloomington after the NCAA championship game on March 29, 1976.

Indiana University President John Ryan holds up the championship plaque awarded to IU for winning the 1976 NCAA basketball tournament at the IU spring sports banquet on April 15, 1976.

Indiana’s Scott May holds the championship trophy at a public celebration of 1976 national championship at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

The crowd gives a standing ovation at a championship celebration in Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

Indiana Universtiy cheerleaders sit on a stage next to the 1976 NCAA men’s basketball champions at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

Security officers help with crowd control at Assembly Hall upon the Hoosiers’ return from the national tournament on March 31, 1976.

Indiana’s Jim Crews (45) shoots over Illinois in a game on Feb. 14, 1976.

Indiana Gov. Otis “Doc” Bowen and Indiana University men’s basketball head Coach Bob Knight share the podium at the IU spring sports banquet on April 15, 1976.

Two Indiana University fans embrace moments after IU won the 1976 NCAA basketball tournament on March 29, 1976.

Indiana’s Scott May (42) celebrates on the sidelines as he closes out his Assembly Hall career with a win against Ohio State on March 6, 1976.

Indiana University men’s basketball head Coach Bob Knight, center, follows the action in a game against Northwestern from his seat on the sidelines on Jan. 5, 1976. Seated, from left, are Assistant Coach Bob Young, manager Kim Kohlmeier, Knight, and Assistant Coach Harold Andres.

When crowds asked “Hoosier Daddy?” in 1976, there was no doubt who they meant. Bob Knight led the Hoosiers to the NCAA championship that year with a perfect record. This banner was on display at the champtionship celebration at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

Hoosier fans crowd onto North Walnut Street near Seventh Street moments after IU wins the 1976 national basketball tournament on March 29, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight leans in to make a point with the referee in the Hoosier’s game with Wisconsin on Jan. 31, 1976.

One fan climbed a lightpole on North Walnut Street to get a better view of the festivities after Indiana University won the 1976 NCAA basketball championship on March 29, 1976.

Throngs of fans at Bloomington Airport greet the airplane carrying Indiana University men’s basketball team following NCAA Mideast Regional on March 21, 1976.

Minnesota’s Ray Williams (10) shoots over the outstretched arm of Kent Benson (54) in a game at Minneapolis played against Indiana University on Jan. 24, 1976. The Hoosiers won, 85-76, but Williams scored 34 points in the game.

Head Coach Bob Knight confers with referees during game against Northwestern on Jan. 5, 1976, in Assembly Hall.

Indiana’s Scott May (42) looks to get past a Michigan defender as time winds down in their Feb. 7, 1976, game at Assembly Hall. The scoreboard shows 6 seconds with IU trailing by 2. A Kent Benson tip-in would send the game to overtime, where IU ultimately prevailed 72-67.

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) and Tom Abernathy (33) reach for a rebound in IU’s season opener against UCLA in St. Louis on Nov. 29. 1975.

Head Coach Bob Knight addresses attendees of the Indiana University spring sports banquet on April 15, 1976.

Indiana co-captains Quinn Buckner, middle, and Scott May, right, hold a cake signifying Bob Knight’s 200th career coaching victory. Taking part in the celebration are Knight’s son, Tim, second from left, and Tates Locke, between Knight and Buckner, who hired Knight to be his assistant at Army in 1963. The celebration followed a Hoosier victory at Assembly Hall against Georgia on Dec. 19, 1975.

Head Coach Bob Knight addresses a capacity crowd at championship celebration at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight presents Ohio State Head Coach Fred Taylor with a basketball in pre-game ceremonies marking Taylor’s retirement in Assembly Hall on Jan. 3, 1976. Taylor had been Knight’s college coach.

Head Coach Bob Knight talks with Wayne Radford (22) during the game with St. John’s on March 13, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight points out something to a referee during Indiana’s NCAA tournament game against St. John’s on March 13, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight instructs his team on the sidelines during an NCAA tournament game with St. John’s on March 13, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight laughs during a championship celebration at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976. To Knight’s left is assistant coach Harold Andreas and player Tom Abernathy.

A little girl is transfixed by championship celebration at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

Scott May, left, and Quinn Buckner during the championship celebration at Assembly Hall on March 31, 1976.

Indiana’s Scott May (42) cuts down the net after the Hoosiers defeated Michigan in the 1976 NCAA tournament championship game on March 29, 1976.

Indiana’s Scott May poses with one of the Player of the Year awards he collected for the 1975-76 season. Date unknown.

Indiana’s Scott May (42) shows the form that helped him lead the Hoosiers in scoring his senior season with a 23.5 ppg average. This shot came against Michigan State on Feb. 9, 1976.

Indiana’s Scott May poses with Adolph Rupp award given to him as the top collegiate basketball player for the 1975-76 season during the Indiana University spring sports banquet on April 15, 1976.

Crowds of jubilant Hoosier fans stop traffic on North Walnut Street after Indiana University won the NCAA national championship on March 29, 1976.

Indiana’s Quinn Buckner (21) handles the ball in a game against Illinois in Assembly Hall on Feb. 14, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight gives Quinn Buckner (21) one of his famous head slaps as Buckner leaves the floor in the season’s final regular season game against Ohio State on March 6, 1976.

Indiana’s Quinn Buckner (21) goes after a loose ball in a game against Michigan State in Assembly Hall on Feb. 9, 1976.

Indiana’s Wayne Radford (22) reaches for a loose ball in a game against Notre Dame in Assembly Hall on Dec. 11, 1975.

Indiana’s Wayne Radford (22) has a conversation with Soviet players Valeri Milosserdov, left, and Mihail Kozkia diuring IU’s game with the USSR on Nov. 3, 1975 at Assembly Hall. Indiana won 94-78.

Indiana’s Scott May and Kent Benson celebrate after Indiana defeated Marquette to win a spot in the Final Four on March 20, 1976.

Legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp appeared at the Indana University spring sports banquet in 1976 to present the trophy to Scott May, recognizing the senior as the best male basketball player in the country for the 1975-76 season. At the time, Rupp held the all-time record for victories by a college basketball coach. Head Coach Bob Knight eventually would break Rupp’s record for wins.

Indiana’s Scott May and Head Coach Bob Knight stand with the Adolph Rupp trophy presented to Scott May as the top men’s college basketball player of 1976. The trophy, named for legendary Kentucky coach Adolph Rupp was an annual college basketball award given to the top player in men’s NCAA Division I competition. It was awarded between 1972 and 2015.

Indiana’s Mark Haymore, (32), listed at 6-foot, 8 inches, is dwarfed by 7-foot, 2 inch Vladimire Tkachenko in a game at Assembly Hall on Nov. 3, 1975, that pitted the Hoosiers against the USSR national team.

Head Coach Bob Knight celebrates with Scott May, middle, and Quinn Buckner, right, after winning the NCAA men’s basketball championship on March 29, 1976, in The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Indiana’s men’s basketball seniors line up to go through Senior Day festivities on March 6, 1976, in Assembly Hall. Front row, from right, Scott May, Quinn Buckner, Jim Crews, Tom Abernathy and sophomore Jim Wisman.

Street signs at Seventh and Walnut streets are bent by the crowd celebrating Hoosier’s win on March 29, 1976, after Indiana won in the NCAA tournament championship game.

The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the site of two NCAA championships for the Indiana Hoosiers, in 1976 and 1981.

Indiana’s Rich Valavikcius (34), a freshman sub, is surrounded by Illinois players under the Indiana basket on Feb. 14. 1976. He played in 28 games for the 1975-76 Hoosiers.

Traffic could not move on Walnut Street after Indiana University’s victory in the 1976 NCAA national championship basketball game on March 29, 1976. Happy fans shut down the street after the final buzzer. This view is near Seventh and Walnut streets.

The IU fieldhouse was packed for Indiana University’s spring sports banquet on April 15, 1976, which celebrated the Indiana men’s basketball national championship.

A family of four huddles together in the spring chill as they wait for the Hoosiers to arrive at Bloomington airport on March 21, 1976. They were part of a large crowd on hand when the team’s plane returned from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where the Hoosiers earned a trip to the Final Four in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Fans congregate in the street outside of Towne Cinema to celebrate the Hoosiers’ victory in the national championship basketball game on March 29, 1976.

Young men cover the cab and trailer top of a truck overwhelmed by jubilant fans on North Walnut Street on March 29, 1976. The action following the Indiana Hoosiers victory in the 1976 NCAA basketball championship game.

Head Coach Bob Knight instructs his players during a timeout in the Hoosier’s NCAA tournament game against St. John’s on March 13, 1976, in the Joyce Center in South Bend.

Indiana’s Bobby Wilkerson (20) soars above Purdue’s Tom Scheffler (32) to win the tip in a game played Jan. 19, 1976, at Assembly Hall. Scheffler was 6-foot, 11 inches, four inches taller than Wilkerson. Wilkerson jumped center for the Hoosiers, even though Kent Benson was taller.

Indiana’s Rich Valavicious (34) goes hard to the rim in a game against Michigan at Assembly Hall on Feb. 7, 1976.

A young fan shows her loyalty with a sock hat covered in Indiana University pins as she waits for the team to arrive at Monroe County Airport on March 21, 1976.

Head Coach Bob Knight talks with reserve guard Jim Wisman (23) during a game. Date unknown.

Indiana’s Kent Benson (54) embraces Scott May (42) following the Hoosiers victory over UCLA to begin the 1975-76 season on Nov. 29, 1975 at St. Louis Arena in St. Louis.

Indiana’s Bobby Wilkerson (20) sets up to make a move against a Purdue defender on Jan. 19, 1976, at Assembly Hall.

The Hoosiers walk onto the court in St. Louis Arena on Nov. 29, 1975, for a nationally televised game against UCLA. From left: Bobby Wilkerson (20), Kent Benson (54), Quinn Buckner (21), Scott May (42), Head Coach Bob Knight, and Tom Abernathy (33). IU won the game 84-64 to begin its perfect season.

Indiana University’s men’s and women’s teams are done for the season, but there are still some rooting interests to be had as March Madness hits the college basketball scene full bore.

Here’s a look at some local connections who’s teams are still in action this week:

Missouri State Lady Bears Head Coach Beth Cunningham thanks fans after beating the Bradley Braves to claim a share of the MVC regular season championship at Great Southern Bank Arena on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Beth Cunningham, South

Former Bloomington South and Notre Dame standout Beth Cunningham took over the Missouri State women’s program four years ago right after the Bears made their last NCAA appearance under now Virginia coach Amaka Agugua-Hamilton.

She oversaw the transition from the Missouri Valley Conference to Conference USA this season and surprised their new neighbors by making a run to the league tournament title as a sixth seed. The Bears (22-12) punched their ticket with a 43-38 victory over top seed Louisiana Tech (26-6) in the championship game, holding the Lady Techsters to just 12 points in the second half.

That followed upset wins over No. 3 seed Middle Tennessee State and No. 2 seed Florida International.

It marks their 18^th NCAA Tournament appearance and 12^th conference tournament crown in program history. Missouri State was placed in a play-in game in Austin, Texas against Stephen F. Austin on Wednesday, March 18 (9 p.m., ESPN2). The winner moves on to play the top-seed Longhorns on Friday.

Before arriving in Springfield, Mo., the former Panther standout had stints as an assistant coach at Notre Dame and then Duke following nine years as head coach at Virginia Commonwealth.

Last year, Cunningham was named MVC Coach of the Year after leading her squad to a 26-9 overall record and a share of the MVC regular-season title with a 16-4 record in league play. The title marked the first regular-season championship of Cunningham’s career as a head coach, an eighth-straight 20-win season for the program and a WBIT bid for the second year in a row.

Bloomington North grad Mo Hirt celebrates cutting down the final pieces of net after her Denison women's basketball team beat Washington & Lee on Saturday, March 14 to go to the NCAA Division III national semifinals for the first time. — Bloomington North grad Mo Hirt celebrates cutting down the final pieces of net after her Denison women’s basketball team beat Washington & Lee on Saturday, March 14 to go to the NCAA Division III national semifinals for the first time.

Mo Hirt, North

An upset loss in the first round of the North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament was just a bump in the road, not a road block for North grad Mo Hirt and her Denison Big Red women’s team.

With a 24-2 record, Denison earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III national tournament and has taken full advantage. Two wins at home, including a 63-54 defeat of Trine, sent them to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history.

No. 8 Denison then went to Virginia and beat NCAC foe John Carroll for a third time, 86-67, and then knocked off host, third ranked and previously undefeated Washington & Lee, 77-64 to punch their ticket to the national semifinals. The Big Red held the Generals to 28% shooting.

Denison (28-2), which tied the program record for wins in a season, heads to Salem, Va. to take on No. 2 powerhouse Wisconsin-Oshkosh (28-3), a team that made it to the final four last year only to be handed a 49-47 loss.

Hirt was recently named Region 7 coach of the year for the second time in three seasons by D3hoops.com.

After a standout career at North, Hirt became the all-time scoring leader and top 3-point shooter at Kenyon before beginning her coaching career. She took over a program that was 9-14, going 10-16 before winning 20 games in 2023-24.

South Head Coach JR Holmes gets a hig hug from his son Jon Holmes after the Terre Haute North versus Bloomington South boys basketball game at Bloomington High School South on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.

Jonathan Holmes, Miami

The son of South boys basketball coach JR Holmes has been a part of one of the most talked about stories in the men’s game this year. But one loss almost made them a footnote.

Despite the slip up in the Mid-American Conference Tournament after opening the season with 31 straight wins, the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee allowed the 11th seeded Redhawks to grab one of the last spots on the elevator leading to the first floor.

Miami will be forced to win a play-in game at nearby Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday, March 18 at 9:10 p.m. against SMU (truTV). The winner will play again on Friday at 4:15 p.m. in Philadelphia against sixth-seeded Tennessee in the Midwest Region.

Holmes joined the Miami coaching staff in May 2022 and this is his third year as an associate head coach. He came to Oxford after long stints at Elon and William & Mary.

Holmes was added to the Monroe County Sports Hall of Fame in 2025.

Michigan head coach Dusty May reacts to a play against Purdue during the first half of Big Ten Tournament final at United Center in Chicago on Sunday, March 15, 2026.

Dusty May, Michigan

The Eastern Greene and Indiana University grad has one of the Final Four favorites on his hands this time around with Michigan.

The Wolverines are a No. 1 seed, even after falling to Purdue in the Big Ten title game. Michigan (31-3) will take on the winner of a play-in game between Maryland-Baltimore County, still famous for becoming the first ever 16th seed to upset a No. 1 when it took down Virginia in 2018.

May took the Wolverines to a 27-10 record and a Sweet 16 appearance in his first year. Prior to that, he earned national notice after taking Florida Atlantic to the Final Four in 2023 and another NCAA berth in 2024.

Dec 17, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels assistant Sean May speaks to guard Drake Powell (9) during the first half against the Florida Gators at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Sean May, North Carolina

Bloomington North grad Sean May, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Final Four, is in his fifth season as assistant coach and 11th on the basketball staff at his alma mater, North Carolina.

The Tar Heels went 24-8, losing to Clemson in the ACC Tournament and are a No. 6 seed in the South Region where they take on No. 11 Virginia Commonwealth, the Atlantic 10 tourney winners, on Thursday, March 19 in Greenville, SC at 6:50 p.m. (TNT).

This is Carolina’s 55th appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

In his first three seasons on the bench, May helped lead UNC to the 2022 Final Four and a berth in the national championship game, a regular-season ACC championship and No. 1 NCAA Tournament seed in 2024.

May was director of basketball operations for four seasons under Hall of Fame head coach Roy Williams, including the title team of 2017.

May was Mr. Basketball in 2001 and a three-time all-state selection.

Davidson's JQ Roberts, a Bloomington North grad, defends against Richmond in A-10 men’s basketball action at Belk Arena on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 in Davidson, North Carolina. — Davidson’s JQ Roberts, a Bloomington North grad, defends against Richmond in A-10 men’s basketball action at Belk Arena on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 in Davidson, North Carolina.

JQ Roberts, Davidson

The Bloomington North grad is in his first year at Davidson, transferring after two years at Vanderbilt and will get his second taste of postseason play after the Wildcats earned a spot in the NIT.

Davidson went 20-8, beating Loyola (Chicago) 64-59 in overtime to open the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament before falling to third seed St. Josephs.

The junior is averaging 2.6 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game off the bench. He’s shooting 46% from the floor and 60% at the line. He has 19 steals and 11 blocks.

Roberts made a quick appearance in Vandy’s 59-56 first-round loss to St, Mary’s in the 2025 NCAA’s.

Chris Brand, Azuza Pacific

Bloomington native and South grad Chris Brand just finished up his second year as an assistant coach with the Azusa Pacific women’s basketball program. The Cougars went 23-10 and finished as runner-up in the PacWest Conference tournament to earn a spot in the West Regional of the NCAA Division II Tournament. But AzuzaPacific fell 56-54 to No. 3 Cal Poly Pomona on March 13.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Bloomington natives to watch as March Madness heats up

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