Fans welcome IU home after win

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (WISH) - Hoosier men returned home to Bloomington victorious and received a nice and loud homecoming.

The team got back late Sunday night after their thrilling win 72-71 in Ann Arbor . It was estimated that around 350 of the Hoosier faithful were there for the homecoming. Wearing Big 10 championship hats, players and head coach Tom Crean took time to sign some autographs.

"I was kind of surprised that he stopped and signed autographs with all the stuff that he has to do. It’s nice that he takes the time to appreciate his fans," said Dallas Fox of Crean.

PHOTOS | Images from the game

If they lost, it would have been a shared Big Ten title with Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. This is their first outright Big Ten Title since 1993 and puts them on the inside track for a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Crean thanked the fans for helping to rebuild the basketball program at IU and make the Big Ten title possible.

"We won eight league games in three years trying to dig out of something that you didn’t have anything to do with and we didn’t have anything to do with. But we have had everything, all of you have had everything to do with bringing this program back," Crean said Sunday night.

Fans gathered as the bus returned, taking pictures and cheering for the team.

"It was pretty awesome seeing the whole team and coach Crean. It was a really good experience," said fan Drew Fox.

They'll head into the Big Ten Tournament as the No. 1 seed and play at noon on Friday at the United Center in Chicago. Seeding for March Madness will be Sunday.