Three Bulldog greats have been inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Butler Men’s Basketball stars Oscar Evans ‘72 and Darrin Fitzgerald ‘87, and former Coach Brad Stevens join 61 Bulldog legends already in the Hall of Fame. Each represents a distinct era of Bulldog basketball, and their inclusion demonstrates how integral Butler continues to be to Indiana’s basketball tradition.
Oscar Evans ’72—who earned city, regional, and state-wide honors while playing at Shortridge High School—joined the Bulldogs in the 1970 season. The Vincennes University transfer had led the Trailblazers to victory in 1970, securing the National Junior College Championship. He was also a star player at Butler from 1970-1972, averaging more than 17 points per game as a junior and 20 points per game as a senior. Evans was selected by the Atlanta Hawks in the eighth round of the 1972 NBA draft.
Darrin Fitzgerald ’87 still holds Butler’s all-time, single-game scoring record with 54 points and 12 three-pointers made in one game, which was played against University of Detroit in the 1986-87 season. Fitzgerald also set the NCAA record for three-pointers made in one season that year. Fitzgerald became the first Butler men’s basketball player to score 2,000 career points. Before enrolling at Butler, Fitzgerald also made history at Indianapolis Washington High School, where he averaged 22 points per game, and earned all-metro and all-state honors. He was inducted into the Butler Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007.
While he never wore a Butler jersey as a student-athlete, Brad Stevens is synonymous with Butler Basketball. Stevens left his career at Eli Lilly and served as an assistant for Coach Thad Matta and the Bulldogs from 2001-2007 before becoming head coach. As the Bulldogs’ head coach, Stevens led the men’s basketball team to multiple Horizon League championships and titles and multiple NCAA tournament trips, including two back-to-back Final Four appearances. When Stevens departed Butler to become the head coach of the Boston Celtics in 2013, his record was 166-49 and 84-22 in conference play over six seasons. Stevens was recognized with a Butler Athletics Special Service Award in 2021
“We are so proud that the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame has inducted these three outstanding Bulldogs,” Barry Collier, Vice President and Director of Athletics, said. “Oscar Evans, Darrin Fitzgerald, and Brad Stevens are amongst Butler’s finest, and they continue to be incredible stewards of the Butler Way and friends of Butler University. They demonstrate a genuine love and appreciation for the game of basketball, and they are incredibly deserving of this honor.”
The 61st Men’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Class comprises 18 individuals who will join the ranks of teams, coaches, players, and supporters who have helped to shape the rich heritage and history of basketball in the Hoosier state.