In Indiana, basketball is more than a game — it's a source of Hoosier pride, culture, and community that spans over a century of history. As the birthplace of Indiana University Basketball, Bloomington in particular is a hub for the sport's legend and lore. Taking a trip through Bloomington's Basketball Trail is a must for all enthusiasts of the sport.
Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall
To begin your journey, book a tour through IU Athletics to learn all the Hoosier traditions, lore, victory, and comradery; a place that's considered one of college basketball's most iconic arenas: Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall. It's a venue with rich basketball history — practically holy ground for college basketball enthusiasts. Visiting the sports venue when it's still and empty is a special treat.
You can request a tour for not only Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall, but also Cook Hall and Memorial Stadium.
Cook Hall
Located right beside Assembly Hall is Cook Hall. The state-of-the-art facility serves as the practice, training, and conditioning domain for the men's and women's basketball teams. Beyond its primary purpose, Cook Hall is also home to the Pfau Shine Legacy Court, which is an exhibit that chronicles the history of Indiana Basketball. The space features photographs, artifacts, trophies, and interactive touch-screen kiosks that celebrate IU's championship teams and basketball traditions.
BuffaLouie's
Let us point you toward another Hoosier sports staple: BuffaLouie's. Located just steps from Sample Gates, the restaurant specializes in juicy, sauced-up wings — in fact, they were ranked by USA Today as a Top 10 Wing Joint in the United States. If you're wondering what delicious chicken wings have to do with IU Basketball, all you have to do is look at the restaurant's walls. Lined from floor-to-ceiling with IU sports memorabilia, art, and fanfare, BuffaLouie's is a bit of a Hoosier museum in its own right — and a great place to watch any Hoosier game!
IU Archives
Photo by Indiana Public Media
Head to the fourth stop on the trail: IU Archives, located on the fourth floor of Wells Library on the Indiana University campus. A cross between a museum and a library itself, IU Archives is the largest & most comprehensive source of information on IU Bloomington history & culture — basketball included. Visitors can study documents, photos, and other historical pieces that date back to when the university first started participating in intercollegiate men's basketball in 1901.
Graduate by Hilton Hotel
The second-to-last stop on the Bloomington Basketball Trail is a unique one, but you won't want to miss. The Graduate by Hilton, located on Kirkwood Avenue, houses a variety of interesting IU sports memorabilia in their lobby, lounge area, and rooms. While there's a range of decor inside the hotel's rooms, visitors who aren't staying the night can still see the cheeky chandelier of tangled chairs as a nod to Bobby Knight, the massive painting of the basketball team in the movie Hoosiers, and the hotel's basketball hoop light fixtures.
Nick's English Hut
There's no better place to end the Bloomington Basketball Trail than at the classic Nick's English Hut. A mainstay for locals, alumni, students, and visitors, Nick's is a home to Hoosier history in the same way BuffaLouie's is. The tavern's walls are adorned with historic IU memorabilia, including art, old fliers & posters, team photographs, and much, much more. If you're in town during a game day for any sport, but you don't have tickets to attend the game, Nick's is the second-best place to be — catch the game on one of their many TVs with a restaurant full of fellow Hoosier fans.
