Knox College Athletics

Bill Graning, a member of three conference champion or co-champion men’s basketball teams, graduated from Knox in 1960.  He was a two-time first team all-conference selection who helped Knox prevail in NCAA Tournament regional games in back-to-back years and post the most wins in a single season in school history.

A 6-foot-5 center, Bill played behind future Hall of Famer John Liston as a sophomore on the 1957-58 men’s basketball team.  He was second in points per game with 18.3 and his 14.3 rebounds per game also ranked second. Bill took over in the post when Liston used up his remaining NCAA eligibility after 13 games, and Knox earned a share of the Midwest Conference championship as well as the program’s first-ever invitation to the NCAA College Division Tournament in 1958.  Knox won its regional semifinal game before falling in the regional championship to eventual national champion South Dakota.  Knox won 17 games that season to set a new school record.  The 17 wins still ranks tied for the second-most all time.

Bill led the 1958-59 team to an outright Midwest Conference title, a return trip to the NCAA College Division Tournament and second straight appearance in the regional championship game.  Knox also set new records for total wins in a season with 20 and Midwest Conference victories with 15, both of which remain intact.  Bill averaged 19.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and shot 52.8 percent from the field his junior year.  He established new single-season records for points, rebounds, and field goal percentage.  Bill was the only unanimous All-Midwest Conference selection and he was named to the 1958-59 Small College NCAA Regional All-Tournament team.

Bill was again a consensus All-Midwest Conference player his senior season in 1959-60 when he led the Midwest Conference co-champion Siwashers with averages of 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.  In addition, he was voted the team’s most valuable player and was named to Who’s Who in Small College Basketball for the 1959-60 season.  Knox posted a 16-6 record, which ranks in a tie for the third-most wins in the team’s history.

Bill tallied career averages of 18.7 points and 11.9 rebounds per game.  He is the only Knox men’s basketball player to lead his team to three conference titles and two NCAA tournament bids.

At the time of his graduation, Bill held the school records for points scored in a season (454), career points (952), rebounds in a season (265), career rebounds (611), and field goal percentage in a season (52.8).