Purdue Basketball History & Facts
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- Purdue basketball was born in 1896 when
the school played the Lafayette YMCA.
- In 1917 head coach Ward "Piggy" Lambert
began his 28-year coaching rein at the
school. Lambert coached 16 All-
Americans including 1932 National Player
of the Year, John Wooden. Lambert won
11 Big 10 Championships and was
awarded the Helms Foundation National
Title in 1932.
- Purdue made its first Final Four
appearance in 1969. However coach
George King's squad fell in the finals to
John Wooden's UCLA Bruins.
- Head coach Lee Rose directed Purdue to
the Final Four in 1980, but the squad's
championship dreams fell short again.
- Gene Keady began his 25-year Purdue
coaching span in 1980. Under his
direction, Purdue won six Big 10
Championships and made 2 Elite Eights.
Keady was the National Coach of the Year
six times.
- Purdue National Players of the Year
include John Wooden (1932) and Glenn
Robinson (1994).
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