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National Champions
Although the Boilermakers lead the Big Ten in titles and by several other measures, only once has the Old Gold and Black finished a season atop the national rankings.
The year was 1932, when the Boilermakers went 17-1.
In those days, the Associated Press didn't rank teams and the first NCAA-sanctioned postseason tournament wasn't held until 1939.
Instead, from 1901 to 1938 a panel of experts called together by the Helms Athletic Foundation voted on the national champion at the conclusion of the basketball season.
| 1931-32 Results (17-1) Coach: Ward Lambert, Captains: John Wooden, Harry Kellar Lineup: Eddy (f), Kellar (f), Stewart and Fehring (c), Wooden (g), Parmenter (g) | ||||
| Dec. 12 | W | 52-23 | Washington (Mo.) | St. Louis, Mo. |
| Dec. 15 | W | 32-24 | Notre Dame | South Bend, Ind. |
| Dec. 18 | W | 41-23 | Pittsburgh | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Dec. 29 | W | 51-21 | Montana St. | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Dec. 31 | W | 51-26 | Monmouth | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Jan. 4 | W | 49-30 | Indiana | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Jan. 9 | L | 21-28 | Illinois | Champaign, Ill. |
| Jan. 11 | W | 38-22 | Wisconsin | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Feb. 3 | W | 26-23 | Marquette | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Feb. 8 | W | 38-33 | Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio |
| Feb. 13 | W | 40-27 | Chicago | Chicago, Ill. |
| Feb. 15 | W | 43-26 | Ohio State | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Feb. 20 | W | 48-33 | Northwestern | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Feb. 22 | W | 42-29 | Indiana | Bloomington, Ind. |
| Feb. 27 | W | 28-21 | Wisconsin | Madison, Wis. |
| Feb. 29 | W | 34-19 | Illinois | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
| Mar. 5 | W | 31-17 | Northwestern | Evanston, Ill. |
| Mar. 7 | W | 53-18 | Chicago | W. Lafayette, Ind. |
The national championship year also coincided with the senior season of Johnny Wooden, a guard and team co-captain from Martinsville, Ind. Wooden had been named an All-American in each of his years of playing varsity basketball. In 1932, he was named player of the year by the All-America Board of Basketball.
The only blemish that banner year was a 28-21 loss to Illinois on the road. Not coincidentally, the Boilermakers were without the services of a healthy Wooden.
In those days of the Great Depression, players piled into cars and headed for away venues. On that January in 1932 as the Boilermakers prepared to head west, Wooden jumped in Ward Lambert's car. The senior co-captain liked to ride along with his mentor and had become a bit of a coach on the playing floor. During the trip, Lambert's car hit a patch of ice and overturned, shattering the windows. Wooden's hand was cut by the glass and, although he played, the eventual league scoring champ was not himself. Illinois prevailed 28-21.
The loss to Illinois was followed by a string of 11 victories, including a 34-19 decision over Illinois at West Lafayette.
 The Boilermakers went 17-1 during the 1931-32 season and were led by National Player of the Year John Wooden. | |
Wooden was far from a one-man show. Senior co-captain Harry Kellar is credited with hitting an open Wooden and running the fast break to perfection. Center Ralph Parmenter and forward Ray Eddy used Lambert's pressing defense, quick passing and fast breaks to wear down opponents and claim the mythical national championship of 1932.