Bob Knight puts his stamp on approval of what Tennessee men's basketball coach Bruce Pearl has accomplished with the Vols.
But Knight, a former coaching great at Indiana and Texas Tech, is quick to point out that Tennessee basketball success is nothing new.
"What Bruce has done is great, but it's not like they've never had good basketball here before,'' said Knight, who was in Knoxville on Saturday night as part of ESPN's College Basketball GameDay crew. "Ray Mears was a great coach, and Don (DeVoe) did a very good job, too.
"I'd say after Kentucky, Tennessee has been the best basketball program in the SEC traditionally.''
Knight said he preferred not to comment on whether or not he was contacted about the Vols' opening when former coach Buzz Peterson was fired by Tennessee 3 1/2 years ago.
"I'd just as soon not go there,'' Knight said. "Bruce has done a great job here.''
Pearl's biggest adjustment of the season - the decision to stop pressing - is one Knight sees wisdom in.
"You've got to remember, when you trap in the backcourt it's 4-on-3 the rest of the court,'' Knight said. "That's why I used to love it when teams would try to press my teams, because we always felt we could handle it.
"The most important thing a coach can know about the press is when he needs to get the hell out of it.''
Knight said another thing all coaches need to know is they need to be patient when working with young players, even if they are McDonald's All-Americans like Scotty Hopson.
"I never cared much about whether they were McDonald's this or that,'' Knight said. "But say a kid is all-state. All of a sudden, he's playing against guys every night who are just as good as him, when he didn't see but maybe four or five as good as him in all of his high school games.
"It usually takes time for him to adjust.''
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Comments » 22
hotrodvol writes:
Knight was a great coach, and I like that he is in Pearl's corner.
Rockford writes:
Knight is interested in the UGA job. Don't know why he would want to coach at a dump with high school equivalent facilities but that's what I heard.
VolPatrick writes:
If by "foundation" you mean Scotty Hopson, then I totally agree. There is just nothing better than the look on Nick Calathes' face. And all of our football recruits got an excellent show tonight. What a weekend on the Hill!
VolPatrick writes:
He he... that just goes to show you not to post after having read only half the article...
givehim6 writes:
Knight at UT? He's a great coach, but i'm glad we got Pearl.
orangevolz writes:
I would take Pearl over Knight any day. Knight can coach, but he is a jerk. The booth is the best place for him.
SmokeyWazHere writes:
Knight likes us! Oh my gosh, does that mean we all get turns kissing his a**!
Stokes44yrs writes:
With all due respect to coach Knight I don't want anyone throwin' chairs at me at a ball game.
budd#207344 writes:
Bobby Knight had a temper and he was old fashioned. But he also always had his program in the mix, graduated students, didn't take shoe money, and didn't cheat. And his players all spoke highly of him. Say what you will I will bet that most IU fans would take him back in a heart beat. I'll also wager that the NCAA is pretty embarassed about how things turned out at IU.
Smallmike4pres writes:
Yeah Knight really left TT in great shape huh? I love him on broadcasts, but his time has passed. Kids today do not respond to that old school mentality. Here's hoping he does get the UGA or Bama job.
TotalPackage1 writes:
Saban and Knight in Ttown...don't think Nicky would let that happen.
chuckfromwoodbury writes:
Knight would beat Saban to a pulp and serve him up like ribs at Dreamland.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
that's phooey. kids today are no different, other than they want to know WHY about things....which I respect.
what a kid expects is that everyone on the team gets the same treatement, good or bad.
when people say 'kids are different', that is because they spend too much time trying to be a kid's 'friend' in stead of being the authority figure the kid is looking for. Kids aren't looking for apologies, they are looking for strength and confidence.
I don't mean to come down on you, but I bristle at that statement.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Bob Knight would be hell in the SEC, especially at a school like UGA. There is so much instate talent in Georgia that it's rediculous.
All UGA has ever needed to do was get and keep a marquee coach. They should have done EVERYTHING to keep Tubby, for example.
WestTennVol writes:
I'm not sure what 'vol team you expected' this season after losing about 40 points, 10 boards, and 8-10 assists b/t lofton, smith/smith, and crews from last season (not to mention JaJuan as a defensive BAD ANUS), but I'm supremely proud of the progress of the SIX new players who have significant playing time (although woolridge has gotten a little less recently), come 'Big Dance' time teams will NOT want to play Tennessee, GO PEARL, GO NEGEDU (yeah hes my favorite..), and GO VOLS
Stokes44yrs writes:
Good points but if he hits me with a chair I'm calling the police.
Stokes44yrs writes:
Seriously, you can't help but respect Knight. As for the chair incedent I think he knows he got carried away. I don't recall anyone being hurt or even afraid of being hurt.
The media usually blows those things way out of proportion. I do hope Ga. can get somone of his caliber.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
If you really saw the tape of that incident, he wasn't in a rage when he threw the chair, he was very cool and deliberate about the whole thing and didn't aim the chair at anyone. I'm with you on this one except that Knight often rubs me the wrong way, mostly for his language and bullying in some situations.
Stokes44yrs writes:
Bobby for President.
dirtdobber1 writes:
F Dick Vitale! He is a bald headed punk. What was he smoking Saturday night? he tried to get his partner to agree with him that the best SEC team would finish at best 8th in the Big East? Thank goodness that is sidekick called him out on it and informed that the Vols had beaten Marquette and Georgetown! Get your head out coach K's crack!
Stokes44yrs writes:
Maybe...but if so cal will lose some as well...900and what wins...I hope he's retired.
bkgunter writes:
Sorry-Not many A-list college BB heads have been "outcoached" by Knight in the last 15 years. His relevancy is past.
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