Tobacco Road Report

Bob Knight earned his 880th career victory with a 70-68 victory over New Mexico, surpassing Dean Smith for the most career wins in men's college basketball. Love him or hate him, Knight has always done things one way: his way.

There are those who remain unapologetic in their support for Bob Knight, virtually unwilling to acknowledge that the transgressions and errors in judgment over the years amount to anything more than a footnote. Then there are those who are unwilling to look past the same behavior to see a man that coaches players to their potential, graduates players, and wins. Finally, there are those in the middle who vacillate back and forth. Where you lie on this spectrum largely depends on whether you’re talking about what happens inside-the-lines or outside-the-lines.

Sure, Bob Knight would be easier to love if he played the game better with reporters, fans, and boosters, and managed his famous temper with more dignity. If he cultivated this support over the years, he likely would have had a deep enough reservoir to withstand his ousting at IU. We’d be putting him in the same breath with Wooden and Smith, without the “but” afterwards. Yet Knight has never cultivated this kind of support and has never asked for us to “love him back”. All he wants to do is coach. After that, let the chips fall where they may.

Compiling support for putting him in the elites is really quite easy. The number of wins (880), winning at non-basketball schools (Army, Texas Tech), national titles (3), NCAA and NIT appearances (many), Hall of Fame membership, Pan American gold, Olympic gold, the last undefeated team at the college level, coach of the year in the Big Ten (1973, 1975, 1976, 1980, 1981, 1989), Isiah, Alford. The list goes on and on. Go here if you want more.

The elites are also known for changing the way the game is played, the so-called "innovator" factor. Wooden and Smith both did this: Wooden with the “UCLA high post offense” and Smith with his four corners spread offense. Knight was influential in spreading motion offense principles and for instilling tough-nosed defense. In a way, his contribution was keeping things simple and focusing on efficiency and execution. His style changed the way the Big Ten operated. Recall that prior to Knight’s arrival the league averaged 86 ppg and conference winner Iowa averaged 100. Today the Big Ten is known as a grind-it-out league with physical play.

So putting him among the elites really isn’t the question. The question is whether or not he’s the best of all time. In other words, does the number of wins equal who’s best. Not in our humble opinion. It’s not simply the number of wins, or winning percentage. Anyone who knows the game knows he’s one of the best, one of the two or three best coaches in his era. That’s all we can really say, and it says a lot. Whether or not you like him is another question. Just remember that Bob Knight won’t care.