15. Larry Bird, Indiana State
The Hick from French Lick only played in one March Madness tournament, but he made it count. Larry Bird led tiny Indiana State to its first tournament berth ever with a perfect 33–0, and the dream season ran all the way to the Final Four. There Bird helped the Sycamores defeat DePaul with 35 points, ninth most ever in a Final Four game, and he averaged 27 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists along the way.
Unfortunately, Bird came up short against Magic Johnson and Michigan State in the final, shooting 7 for 21 in an 11 point loss. Still, the Bird vs Magic showdown was the game that launched college basketball as it’s known today, achieving the highest ever rating for a college basketball game. March Madness wouldn’t be the same without Larry Bird, and neither would our top 25.