That time Bob Knight helped Indiana basketball fans win free McDonald's 43 years ago

Bloomington had basketball fever in 1975. This was the apex of the Bob Knight years, and the 1974-75 team looked like they could win the program's first title since 1953.

The Hoosiers entered their game against Iowa on Jan. 11 having won 13 straight games to open the season, and facing a Hawkeyes team that was 5-7. But there was more than a potential gimme game to get excited about. There were hamburgers and fries on the line.

McDonald's offered a promotion for free food if the Hoosiers' defense held opponents under certain point totals. If they held opponents under 70 points, fans could get a free coke. If they were held under 60 points, they could get french fries. If they were held under 50 points, they could get a hamburger and french fries.

The outcome of this game was never in doubt. The Hoosiers raced out to a 9-0 lead, which turned into a 32-9 lead, which turned into 43-18 at the half, even with Knights clearing the bench with 8 minutes left, according to the Indianapolis News.

A 26-0 run in the second half gave Indiana a 79-24 lead, and the bench players found the floor.

But there was still plenty to be decided.

“Even though IU was rolling up the score, the crowd was quite into it," recalled IU Vice President Emeritus Terry Clapacs, who was at that time the director of facilities. "I think the Iowa coach could not believe when there was such a spread in the points that the fans were still so into playing good basketball. They were cheering every takeaway or missed shot. I’m sure he was perplexed. It was very funny. They were very much into it because of the McDonald’s promotion.”

Indiana's defense managed to do just enough, holding the Hawkeyes to the magical number of 49. Afterwards, fans left en mass for McDonald's with their ticket stubs.

“I think they went directly from the game to McDonald’s," Clapacs said. "We passed McDonald’s on the way home and cars were already lining up there.”

For the Hoosiers, it was just another win in what would prove to be a memorable season. Quinn Buckner, who finished the game with 16 points and seven steals, told the Indianapolis News that the style of defense the Hoosiers portrayed on that Saturday afternoon would need to be the norm.

“We have to play defense regardless of who we are playing," he said. "At this stage of the season you have to have your mind on everyone.”

Indiana would go on to win another 17 games before falling to Kentucky in the tournament and ruining their bid at perfection (which they would achieve the very next season.)

That game wouldn't be the only time that season where fans would reap the rewards of the team's defense. In a February game against Michigan, they allowed just 48 points.

But really, the free McDonald's was just a sign of something much more important to fans: Indiana basketball was a force to be reckoned with, and would be for a long time.

“It was becoming very obvious that (Knight) was putting together a very good basketball team," Clapacs recalled. "People started thinking about the NCAA tournament and a championship ... I remember people leaving that (Iowa) game thinking, ‘Wow, that’s a very good Indiana University basketball team.’ And of course we were.”

Follow sports producer Matthew VanTryon on Twitter @MVanTryon.