Who Would Win?

[Stuhoo]

A ‘slow season’ topic for debate:

Attached below is a 27 minute highlight video of an NBA finals game between the Warriors (Wilt Chamberlain in his absolute prime) and the Celtics (Russell, Havlichek, S Jones, KC Jones).

So here’s the topic for debate: if either of these teams played last season’s Indiana Hoosiers - modern rules, who would win and why?

 

[RaceToTheTop]

14 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

A ‘slow season’ topic for debate:

Attached below is a 27 minute highlight video of an NBA finals game between the Warriors (Wilt Chamberlain in his absolute prime) and the Celtics (Russell, Havlichek, S Jones, KC Jones).

So here’s the topic for debate: if either of these teams played last season’s Indiana Hoosiers - modern rules, who would win and why?

 

Watching how they played in 1964, I assume that Reed Bailey is a time traveler.  Lot of 1964 game in the way he played.

[LIHoosier]

24 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

A ‘slow season’ topic for debate:

Attached below is a 27 minute highlight video of an NBA finals game between the Warriors (Wilt Chamberlain in his absolute prime) and the Celtics (Russell, Havlichek, S Jones, KC Jones).

So here’s the topic for debate: if either of these teams played last season’s Indiana Hoosiers - modern rules, who would win and why?

 

I know someone with a penchant for wine and cigars that's getting a chubby from all these mid range shots.

[Pagoda]

Hmmm... first I'll say this isn't a dig at an era that was 60 years ago.  The game was completely different.

I'd say the current IU team wins. Reasons:

1) Modern Rules: The '64 guys would be mystified by the '25 ball handling that includes what they would view as constant carries and travels.  I think they would have a tough time defending something they're completely unaccustomed to.  '25 IU could get to the rim with modern rules.

2) Shooting: The skill of shooting has advanced a lot over the last 15 years, and a ton over the last 60.  I'd think '25 IU would just outshoot the '64 guys.  Especially with the three point line, which would be new the '64 guys. 

3) Size: '64 team averaged ~6'5", '25 IU was around the same height.  Players have got bigger and stronger over the years.

Now, play this game with the rules of '64... that would be interesting.  I still think IU outshoots them.

[Demo]

Modern rules and with those players brought forward to 2026 in the exact same physical conditioning and skill development state as 1964 IU wins comfortably. What would be wild would be playing with the rules, interpretations and officiating of that period. IU would probably commit 30 TO’s and walk ons are probably playing at the end of the game because everyone’s fouled out.

[str8baller]

38 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

A ‘slow season’ topic for debate:

Attached below is a 27 minute highlight video of an NBA finals game between the Warriors (Wilt Chamberlain in his absolute prime) and the Celtics (Russell, Havlichek, S Jones, KC Jones).

So here’s the topic for debate: if either of these teams played last season’s Indiana Hoosiers - modern rules, who would win and why?

 

Wilt would score 600 points in the first half versus last years IU team in any rule set. He’s probably the best athlete to ever play the game. He could take four random members of this board and best last years IU squad. Lol

[str8baller]

18 minutes ago, Pagoda said:

'25 IU could get to the rim with modern rules.

What do you suppose they would do when they get there? These guys couldn’t get shots off against Illinois and Michigans bigs.  
 

IU’s only chance would be to shoot about 60% from 3 and I suspect any decent coach would just leave enright open. 

[Stuhoo]

Wilt is a 7’2” Olympic track athlete level basketball player.

I’m glad this thread got started-not as obvious as it might initially seem.

[Stuhoo]

3 hours ago, str8baller said:

What do you suppose they would do when they get there? These guys couldn’t get shots off against Illinois and Michigans bigs.  
 

IU’s only chance would be to shoot about 60% from 3 and I suspect any decent coach would just leave enright open. 

ENRIGHT IS A CAREER 36.5% 3pt SHOOTER DAMMIT!

and yes, every one of them needed to be empty practice floor open :}

[Dave from Dayton]

13 hours ago, str8baller said:

Wilt would score 600 points in the first half versus last years IU team in any rule set. He’s probably the best athlete to ever play the game. He could take four random members of this board and best last years IU squad. Lol

Taking a look at the game IU vs Warriors:  During the '67 - '68 season, Wilt-the-Stilt had a free throw percentage of 37.  Some teams had a "hack-the-Wilt" game plan to stop him.  But we are looking at earlier...

Looking back at IU's '25 team:  they were proficient at hacking, at least.  

Maybe that might keep them in the game until our 'not bigs' fouled out, just looking for the light through the eye of this needle from the distance of the three-point line.  Warriors win.

But against the Celtics...yeah, right.  Celts win.

The only way IU would have competed is if Indiana could pass better and get many more assists and the pros didn't defend.  No freaking way IU could outscore the pros.

I do think that basketball knowledge and coaching have improved over time.  But the Celts and the Warriors...at that level are giants and skilled...against an IU team that just wasn't.

[HoosierHoopster]

Yeah sorry no way last year’s team has an answer to Wilt, and on the C’s Russell— those are two of the all time pro greats and we’re talking an IU team that had no answer for college bigs. Wilkerson would give IU a puncher’s chance but that’s it, I don’t care what rules are in play. Not even considering Havlichek, an outstanding all time pro, no one on IU is stopping Wilt or Russel.

[HinnyHoosier]

18 hours ago, LIHoosier said:

I know someone with a penchant for wine and cigars that's getting a chubby from all these mid range shots.

I am hereby disturbed. Thank you. 

[str8baller]

9 hours ago, Dave from Dayton said:

Taking a look at the game IU vs Warriors:  During the '67 - '68 season, Wilt-the-Stilt had a free throw percentage of 37.  Some teams had a "hack-the-Wilt" game plan to stop him.  But we are looking at earlier...

Looking back at IU's '25 team:  they were proficient at hacking, at least.  

Maybe that might keep them in the game until our 'not bigs' fouled out, just looking for the light through the eye of this needle from the distance of the three-point line.  Warriors win.

But against the Celtics...yeah, right.  Celts win.

The only way IU would have competed is if Indiana could pass better and get many more assists and the pros didn't defend.  No freaking way IU could outscore the pros.

I do think that basketball knowledge and coaching have improved over time.  But the Celts and the Warriors...at that level are giants and skilled...against an IU team that just wasn't.

Wilt was a bad FT shooter. But I’m pretty sure he could dunk it with Reed Bailey on his back. Arnold knew Wilt from the set of Conan the barbarian and said Wilt was one of the strongest guys he’s ever met. I’m guessing Arnold knew some other strong guys.  
 

Watching those old clips and one thing you’ll notice is that offensive players couldn’t just use their body to push defenders around. The way modern players are allowed to back down and bully defenders there’s probably not an NBA center today who could stop Wilt in the paint.  
 

 

[Josh]

Last year's team couldn't beat Minnesota or Northwestern, but you want to know if they could beat a team of NBA champions including either Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell?  

Lol never change btownbanners

[Stuhoo]

38 minutes ago, Josh said:

Last year's team couldn't beat Minnesota or Northwestern, but you want to know if they could beat a team of NBA champions including either Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell?  

Lol never change btownbanners

There were a whole lot of running hook shots and one footed jumpers in that attached finals game video.

I’m thinking that a modern mid-level B1G team like last year’s IU squad would win by at least ten points. Wilt would be the best player on the court, but he was 52% from the line that year, and his supporting cast wasn’t that strong.

The Celtics were better than the Warriors and full of Hall of Famers, but last year’s IU team would be a little bigger, a little stronger, and (believe it or not) would get above the rim better, and would shoot it better from the perimeter. Tommy Heinshom was a 6’7” power forward that almost solely scored inside. Would be tough for guys like that to close out on shooters.

[AH1971]

As someone who watched that era of basketball, the average modern-day B10 basketball player is bigger, faster, stronger, more skilled than the average 1960’s NBA player by a considerable margin. These guys smoked in the locker room, drank every night, and worked second jobs in the offseason to support their families. If you rolled the ball out as is, I don’t think it would be close.

[RaceToTheTop]

23 hours ago, Josh said:

Last year's team couldn't beat Minnesota or Northwestern, but you want to know if they could beat a team of NBA champions including either Wilt Chamberlain or Bill Russell?  

Lol never change btownbanners

Wilt Chamberlain led the league in field goal percentage in 1961......shooting 50.9%.

Bill Russell highest field goal percentage in ANY year was 46.7%.

Even with their size advantage against NBA players in the 1960s, that illustrates how poor of a game that was played in that era.

[Stuhoo]

12 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Wilt Chamberlain led the league in field goal percentage in 1961......shooting 50.9%.

Bill Russell highest field goal percentage in ANY year was 46.7%.

Even with their size advantage against NBA players in the 1960s, that illustrates how poor of a game that was played in that era.

It's fascinating that scores were so high back then. Same shot clock, no three pointers, and lower shooting percentages, all of which should have equated to lower scores. But the average game in the 1960's scored about one total point more than games today.

The only explanation I can think of is that guys hoisted up lesser selection shots earlier in the shot clock back then and more posessions turned into the same amount of game points, but with lesser efficiency.

[AH1971]

11 minutes ago, Stuhoo said:

It's fascinating that scores were so high back then. Same shot clock, no three pointers, and lower shooting percentages, all of which should have equated to lower scores. But the average game in the 1960's scored about one total point more than games today.

The only explanation I can think of is that guys hoisted up lesser selection shots earlier in the shot clock back then and more posessions turned into the same amount of game points, but with lesser efficiency.

Track meets. Old ABA Pacer games may have been some of the most entertaining basketball I’ve ever watched.

[AH1971]

32 minutes ago, RaceToTheTop said:

Wilt Chamberlain led the league in field goal percentage in 1961......shooting 50.9%.

Bill Russell highest field goal percentage in ANY year was 46.7%.

Even with their size advantage against NBA players in the 1960s, that illustrates how poor of a game that was played in that era.

Wilt Chamberlain’s size and athleticism was so underutilized (and appreciated) due to the way the game was played. He’d be the best player in the NBA today.