Ted Kitchel
Encyclopedia
Ted Kitchel is a retired American
basketball player. He was a two-time All-American
at Indiana University
and represented the United States in the 1982 FIBA World Championship
in Colombia
. Kitchel played professionally in Italy and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
in 1996.
Kitchel grew up in a rural part of Cass County, Indiana
, honing his skills on a makeshift court in a tool shed. As a senior, Kitchel led tiny Lewis Cass High School
to a 20-0 regular season record and its first sectional title in 1978. Kitchel averaged 26.2 points and 13 rebounds per game as he was graduated as the school's leading scorer.
He committed to play collegiately at Indiana University
for the legendary Bobby Knight
. His freshman season in 1978–79 was limited to one game due to injury and Kitchel watched from the bench as the Hoosiers won the 1979 National Invitation Tournament
. Kitchel came back the next season in a reserve role, then became a starter in 1980–81
, averaging 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on the 1981 National Championship squad
.
The next two seasons, Kitchel became one of the stars of the Hoosiers. He averaged 19.6 and 17.3 points per game as a junior and senior, leading the team in scoring in 1981–82 and finishing second to Randy Wittman
his senior year. Kitchel was named All-Big Ten
and All-America both years as he led the Hoosiers to NCAA Tournament appearances in each season.
In the Summer following his junior year, Kitchel and IU teammate Jim Thomas
were named to the USA men's national team for the 1982 FIBA World Championship in Cali, Colombia. Kitchel played in six of the team's nine games, averaging 2.2 points per game as the Americans earned a silver medal, losing to the Soviet Union
by a single point in the final.
Following his college career, Kitchel was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft
(41st pick overall), but did not make the final roster. Kitchel played professionally in Italy
.
Since the end of his playing days, Kitchel has remained a familiar face to IU fans as color commentator for Indiana games on regional television.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball player. He was a two-time All-American
NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans
The NCAA Men's Basketball All-American teams are honorary teams made up of those NCAA basketball players voted the best in the country by a variety of organizations.-History:...
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and represented the United States in the 1982 FIBA World Championship
1982 FIBA World Championship
The 1982 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Colombia from August 15 to 28 , 1982.-Venues:- Competing nations :- Preliminary round :-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Classification round:-Final round:...
in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. Kitchel played professionally in Italy and was inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame
The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is a sports museum and hall of fame in New Castle, Indiana. It honors men and women associated with high school, college and professional basketball in Indiana....
in 1996.
Kitchel grew up in a rural part of Cass County, Indiana
Cass County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 40,930 people, 15,715 households, and 10,921 families residing in the county. The population density was 99 people per square mile . There were 16,620 housing units at an average density of 40 per square mile...
, honing his skills on a makeshift court in a tool shed. As a senior, Kitchel led tiny Lewis Cass High School
Cass High School (Indiana)
Lewis Cass High School is a high school located in Walton, Indiana and is a part of the Southeastern School Corporation. The school is known for its consistent state finals appearances in marching band and a highly competitive football team.-External links:*...
to a 20-0 regular season record and its first sectional title in 1978. Kitchel averaged 26.2 points and 13 rebounds per game as he was graduated as the school's leading scorer.
He committed to play collegiately at Indiana University
Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball
The Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Indiana University . The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the NCAA. The Hoosiers play on Branch McCracken Court at the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana on the IU...
for the legendary Bobby Knight
Bobby Knight
-Indiana:When Indiana University was seeking a new coach in 1971, they turned to Knight. Knight was given the nickname "The General" by former University of Detroit and Detroit Pistons coach-turned-broadcaster Dick Vitale....
. His freshman season in 1978–79 was limited to one game due to injury and Kitchel watched from the bench as the Hoosiers won the 1979 National Invitation Tournament
1979 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:* Third Place - Alabama 96, Ohio State 86...
. Kitchel came back the next season in a reserve role, then became a starter in 1980–81
1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1980–81 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 28, 1980, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 1981 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on March 30, 1981 at The Spectrum in Philadelphia...
, averaging 9.2 points and 3.3 rebounds per game on the 1981 National Championship squad
1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team
The 1980–81 Indiana Hoosiers men's basketball team represented Indiana University. The Head Coach was Bobby Knight. The team played its home games in the Assembly Hall in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a member of the Big Ten Conference.-Roster:...
.
The next two seasons, Kitchel became one of the stars of the Hoosiers. He averaged 19.6 and 17.3 points per game as a junior and senior, leading the team in scoring in 1981–82 and finishing second to Randy Wittman
Randy Wittman
Randy Scott Wittman is a retired American basketball player, in the guard position, and former coach of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves.-College:...
his senior year. Kitchel was named All-Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and All-America both years as he led the Hoosiers to NCAA Tournament appearances in each season.
In the Summer following his junior year, Kitchel and IU teammate Jim Thomas
Jim Thomas (basketball)
James Edward Thomas is a retired American basketball player. A 6'3", guard, he played college basketball at Indiana University from 1979–1983, and played professionally in the NBA with the Indiana Pacers, L.A. Clippers, and Minnesota Timberwolves from 1983–1990...
were named to the USA men's national team for the 1982 FIBA World Championship in Cali, Colombia. Kitchel played in six of the team's nine games, averaging 2.2 points per game as the Americans earned a silver medal, losing to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union national basketball team
The Soviet national basketball team was the basketball side that represented the Soviet Union in international competitions. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the successor countries all set up their own national teams...
by a single point in the final.
Following his college career, Kitchel was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
in the second round of the 1983 NBA Draft
1983 NBA Draft
The 1983 NBA Draft took place on June 28, 1983 in New York City. A total of 226 players were selected over 10 rounds by the league's 23 teams. At least three players from the 1983 draft now serve as coaches...
(41st pick overall), but did not make the final roster. Kitchel played professionally in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Since the end of his playing days, Kitchel has remained a familiar face to IU fans as color commentator for Indiana games on regional television.