The Hoosier men managed another home victory against Minnesota 74-62, with a game that was never in doubt. Malik Reneau’s lay-up at 13:02 took them over the magic mark (61-39) and went on to score 16. However, it was really Mackenzie Mgbako who flexed his freshman muscles with a 19-point career high. Two other starters were in double figures, including Kel’el Ware’s double-double and Trey Galloway’s ten. Xavier Johnson primarily rode the bench as retaliation for his actions at Rutgers. The Cream and Crimson accounted for 16-points off 14-turnovers, limiting themselves to a respectable ten, a vast improvement over the Scarlet Knight debacle.
The Hoosier women were on a 13-straight roll since the Stanford loss. They stood at 14-1 headed into icy Iowa City to play before a national audience on FOX. The #3 Hawkeyes left little doubt after an 84-67 drubbing behind Caitlin Clark’s 30-points and 11-assists, after missing her first six three-pointers. I can’t even say she then finished hot in the blizzard-like conditions outside because she has averaged 31 for the season. I.U. had fifteen-turnovers and only scored 20 in the second half. Mackenzie Holmes led Indiana with 16-points. Yarden Garzon and Sydney Parrish each totaled 11. Iowa is now in sole possession of the BIG Ten Conference lead, while I.U. will surely drop from their #14 national ranking. Purdue, Illinois, and Wisconsin, all ranked in the Top 20, loom for the men, while the women next host Minnesota. At least, the Purdue battle is at home.
Despite consuming two bottles of white wine last night, watching the I.U. basketball loss with a neighbor, my run this morning was relatively good. There were no major breathing issues or strong winds and rain, so I was able to get back to a normal 2.1-mile jaunt. This was after four days of miserable miles and many thoughts of quitting “The Streak.” After all, there’s little motivation knowing that it will officially end next Monday morning. However, I now confidently feel I can muddle through the last five mornings. The end is now in sight.
As I prepare mentally for a long stint of relative inactivity, I’m getting my financial affairs in order, along with a haircut and final tele-consult with my surgeon, Doctor Lozonschi. I’m finally learning to proper pronunciation of his name, moving on from simply Doctor L. He has a very capable team of associates to assist him on Monday morning. I still plan to use the hotel treadmill for a ceremonial final run. The days after will more than likely be a blur.
On the home front, our pool heater is two months over the warranty, so getting it repaired will put another dent in the budget, let alone the out-of-pocket costs of the hospitalization. I’ve taken a three-month leave from my weekly Chiropractor visit to save a few bucks. This afternoon, we have to plan our shore excursions for my recovery cruise in mid-March. Most are included, but there is a wine-tasting event in Argentina that has intrigued my wife and some other tours that may add to our trip expenses. We’ve all agreed that tasting the local fare will not add to our costs since we’re perfectly satisfied with the on-board restaurant options. On a positive note, I won’t have to navigate the unsteadiness of a treadmill or ship deck in rough waters to maintain my running streak. By then, the addiction of running for fifteen years straight will have likely passed. I will need to simply relax.
Before surgery, I will have to endure another I.U. basketball game, the Saturday night “Borrego Bash,” and another nerve-racking drive to Tampa. My wife and I will also have another Sunday Night Financial meeting that has wisely been on hold for several months because they typically result in a disagreement. Holiday expenses were naturally extensive and mortgage/insurance costs have predictably gone up. I want to make sure that we’re both on the same page before my costly hospital stay, assuring a peaceful recovery period. She will be at my bedside as much as possible, as she reluctantly gives up any opportunity to substitute teach for the next few weeks. I think she enjoys having the rewarding responsibility, while my needs likely will be exhausting. Five days and counting, with just a few more miserable running miles to complete!
As BIG Conference play resumed to bring in 2024, the late-night game against Nebraska was the worst I ever watched (and turned off out of frustration). Xaviar Johnson returned from injury but showed a lot of rust. The Huskers dominated 86-70, with 12-threes and 15-steals. They had a 61-47 edge on two Sam Hoiberg free throws at the 11:41 mark. Keisei Tominaga had a season high 28-points (he then scored 19 to top #1 Purdue as a follow-up) while Kal-el Ware managed 20 for the Hoosiers. The loss dropped I.U. to 2-1 in the BIG and out of all the tourney projections.
The Hoosiers were then grateful to be back home, licking their deep wounds from the nightmare in Lincoln. They stumbled through the first half, falling behind at halftime 39-38 after a brief lead. They then came out if the locker room flat and gave up 8 straight points before responding to tie the game at 48. Ohio State trailed 60-54 with 6:11 remaining on a CJ Gunn trey, as the Hoosiers began to remember “The Magic.” I. U. only had 4 turnovers total versus 19 miscues for Nebraska and this led to a much-needed 71-65 victory over a Tier-2 tourney team. Malik Reneau was the leading scorer, amassing 19 of his 23 in the second half. Xavier Johnson had 18 and C.J. Gunn 10.
Indiana has lost its last four games in Piscataway, N.J., while scoring just 54.8 points per game and losing by an average of 10.8 points. Historically, I.U. Is just 2-8 against Rutgers dating back to the 2017-18 season, and they snapped a six-game losing streak last season. However, the Scarlet Knights have yet to claim a BIG victory this season, sitting at 0-3 in conference play and 8-6 overall.
Make that 2-9! Rutgers defeated Indiana at Jersey Mike’s Arena by a final score of 66-57, once again losing the race to the “Magic Mark.” The Scarlet Knights led 30-27 at the half, while the struggling Hoosiers were led in the game by three players with 13 points — Kel’el Ware, Mackenzie Mgbako and Malik Reneau. 18 I.U. turnovers led to 18-points, the difference in the game. Xavier Johnson had five of those before he was ejected with a flagrant foul, hitting below the belt. Fellow Hoosier supporters were embarrassed by his immature actions, reminiscent of the speeding incident back in 2022. Can I.U basketball sink much “lower” than the already reduced expectations?
Shooting and rebounding once again raised their ugly heads. The Hoosiers were a pitiful 4-15 from the line, 39.7% from the field, and 26.9% from three. Rutgers rebounded 19 of their own misses that resulted in 12-points. Overall, despite our size advantage, the Scarlet Knights achieved a 51-40 rebounding edge. The ball was not bouncing our way and clanging off the rim, if they even hit it! Air ball! Indiana (11-5, 3-2) will host Minnesota next.
It took every bit of resolve to complete the minimum mile this morning. I got up early, did my pushups, sit-ups and stretching, took my wife to work, and drove Tally to the dog park. She is currently curled up in my office chair, seemingly content. I could feel the absence of Tylenol in my system as old age stiffness was more pronounced than ever. I wanted to quit in that first Fassio Street stretch as a strong headwind pushed me back a step for every two strides I progressed. My plan was to run 2.1-miles, but my heart was racing. Coordination and balance were difficult, as the 1.1-mile distance I covered felt like a marathon. It looks like I’m destined to finish this 15-year running streak in misery, as I huff and puff along.
There’s an I.U. game tonight at Rutgers, and I hope the Hoosiers find the stride that I couldn’t this morning. A neighbor and Rutgers alum is coming over for some pre-game chicken pot pie and to watch the action while I wives are at book club. We’ll set our sights on a couple bottles of wine, since one of us will be the loser. Former I.U. quarterback, Michael Penix, Jr. did not set a good example of competitive play in the Washington loss to Michigan in last night’s National Championship. I send this important message to our basketball team: Don’t be like Mike!
I’m headed to Chair Yoga yet this morning, an eye doctor follow-up this afternoon, the chiropractor tomorrow, a tele-video conference with my surgeon on Thursday, and the Saturday night Borrego Bash before the drive to Tampa on Sunday. Maybe we can get in a movie, Date Night and a haircut? All of these routine activities, fun and not so fun, will come to an end on Monday as my new life begins. In the meantime, the struggle of anticipation continues.
Purdue looked unstoppable, easily defending their new #1 status over Jacksonville 100-57. Everyone in the BIG seems to be routing their Holiday opponents but struggling I.U. just squeaked by Morehead State and couldn’t seem to pull away from North Alabama, leading 43-34 at halftime. Free throws continue to be an issue, finishing 9-14 from the charity stripe, while being matched by the less physical Lions in rebounding. Loose balls don’t bounce their way and the offense is subject to scoring stalls. The one positive was three-point shooting, a puzzling missing piece on this year’s team. However, North Alabama is apparently good for what ails ya’ as the Hoosiers hit a season-high twelve from behind the arc. It was the most in the Mike Woodson era, and only one off the mark from the last time the two teams played in December of 2020. It’s been three-years since I.U. has had that level of long-range production.
Hopefully this is a sign of things to come rather than a blip on the radar screen. Malik Reneau led all scorers with 25, a career high for him on 4-4 three-point shooting and 10-14 overall. He even made his only free-throw. Mgbako added twelve and Walker 11, but most importantly seven different players scored from distance. North Alabama was only 9-32 afar in retaliation, an indication of our defensive improvements.
The final score was 83-66, after a Kel’el Ware dunk moved them over that magical sixty mark, 61-42 with 12:36 remaining on the clock. The up-and-down Hoosiers stand at 9-3 overall, but most importantly still on top of the BIG standings at 2-0. They next play Kennesaw State in Bloomington before returning to conference play at Nebraska on January 3rd. The three losses are against teams that are a combined 28-5: U. Conn, Auburn, and Kansas, all sure NCAA tournament selections. I.U. is still precariously on the bubble, but at least have yet to have what the committee considers to be a “bad” loss.
Some of this information I repeat from previous posts, but on November 1, 2023, the Hoosier Nation bowed their heads in acknowledgement of the passing of Robert Montgomery Knight, the original architect of my “Rule of 60,” that has never been the same since the Fall of 2000 following his ugly dismissal from the University after 29-years.
He went on to coach at Texas Tech from 2001-2008, resigning mid-season of the final year while putting his son Pat in charge. He showed some defensive magic in the first game he coached for the Red Raiders topping William and Mary 75-55. The team went on to finish 23-9 holding their opponent to sixty or less points seven times. Year two it happened nine times with a 2-13, while year three peaked at 11 times to end the season at 23-11. In total, 49 of his 138 victories at Texas Tech held the opposition to 60 or less.
Bob Knight, the defensive genius, had come to Bloomington from Army to coach basketball just after I arrived as a student, at an age of only 11-years older. I watched many of the specials on his life after his death. The most touching moment was his return to Assembly Hall for the first time in twenty-years to be honored at half time of the Purdue game in 2020. I was watching from a Las Vegas Casino, just before Covid shut everything down. Otherwise, it may never have happened!
I only talked to him twice in my life. The first was a short exchange during the 1998 Maui Classic that my wife and I attended. The last was a lengthy conversation at a private affair in the kitchen of a Texas politician that he supported back in 2012. It was the night that Neil Reed died, and his speech was abruptly interrupted by that urgent phone call. He quickly left the event without an explanation. A friend of mine who played for him remained close after graduation and attended several reunions with him and his teammates. He credits Coach Knight for getting his career started.
He was a complex study who was adamant with his players about attending classes and ultimately graduating (most did), supported the I.U. library, and numerous other educational causes. He was both tough and personally supportive of those around him. He threw a chair, hit a policeman, supposedly head-butted a player, and had his hands wrapped around Neil Reed’s neck. It was hard to defend these actions, whether true or not. The public perception was that he was a bully with a quick temper, but privately he was much loved. He expected to win, but never crossed that line of inappropriate recruiting or violated NCAA rules, as was too often fashionable at the time. At Indiana, he insisted his base salary not exceed that of other professors. At Texas Tech, he sometimes gave back his salary because he didn’t think he earned it. Coach Knight expected players to exceed expectations on the court and in the classroom.
He was a winner and a brilliant basketball strategist and described by most as larger-than-life, although he did not appear that way at that only Assembly Hall public appearance. He looked fragile, reminiscent of my father in his final days. as he tried to shake his fists to fire up the crowd. His complexion was ruddy and voice a bit hoarse, but it was still a great moment. We all knew that he wouldn’t be with us for long, and now just three years later he’s gone. He reportedly made some Mike Woodson practices, spent time with Gene Keady, and began to show signs of dementia. We were lucky to see him again in Bloomington after the way he was treated during the firing. It should have been handled differently and, if so, it would already be Bob Knight Court with a statue out front that would all have been celebrated with him. Instead, it’s Simon Skjodt Arena, with videos of Knight’s numerous achievements, and the players now wearing a RMK uniform patch.
Many more Coach Knight tributes will obviously come as time passes, but the last few decades have been miserable for me without his presence. These are honors that I care more about than he probably ever did, giving all the credit to his players while drawing all the attention away from them to allow them focus on winning, as they did a lot! We’ve gone through coaches like sand through the hourglass, have lost our winning edge, and can no longer find our way in even in the BIG Ten Conference, let alone become a factor in the national picture. Hopefully, Coach Mike Woodson, one of his numerous prodigies, can channel his presence and return the Hoosiers to former glory. He’s the future – Rest in Peace Coach Knight.
At this point in the season, there were seven teams practicing the Magic of Sixty. Ironically, at the top, allowing an average of only 49.7 points in 10 games was former I.U. coach Kelvin Sampson. Virginia was at 53.2 through the first nine, McNeese 56.5 in 11, North Texas 58.4 in 9, UCLA 58.8 in 8, Iowa State 59.2 in 10, and Weber State 60 in nine games. It’s still possible in the modern era of basketball to play Knight-like defense. However, according to sportsrec.com in January 2023, the NCAA DI average for men is 67.875 and women 60.937.
With defense in mind, it was time to the Hoosiers to regroup with a 7-3 record after the Kansas disappointment, but instead the wheels nearly fell off. If Coach Knight had watched the Morehead State game, something would have been thrown. Coach Woodson, however, appeared to remain calm while I could definitely hear some boos from the Assembly Hall crowd. It was 36-25 at the half in favor of the visiting Eagles, as the Hoosiers came out flat. After I.U. closed the gap to three, but Jordan Lathon was unstoppable. His 4-pt shot put Morehead State over 60 with a 14-point lead at the 8:47 mark and the margin grew to 15 at 9:29 for his 30th point but failed to score from that point on thanks to stellar defensive pressure from Trey Galloway. Miami transfer Anthony Walker had a breakout game with a team-high 18 and hit a layup at 4:11 to finally move the Hoosiers over sixty and once again within 3. It was part of a 17-0 run that led to a 69-68 victory, despite 10 3’s from the Eagles. Lathon had six of those, but his final attempt to score at the buzzer was blocked by Malik Reneau just after he missed 2 clutch free throws and leaving the team’s precarious single point margin vulnerable in the waning seconds.
The 2023-24 Hoosiers got off to a slow campaign start, eking out victories over FGCU, Army, and Wright State before being outclassed by defending National Champion U. Conn. and then rebounding against Louisville. In disturbing fashion, through the first five games, Indiana ranked 351st in 3-point percentage and 358th in attempts per game out of 361 D1 teams. Following the Wright State game, 61% of points allowed had been 3’s.
To end the month of November, even Harvard led them 40-39 at halftime, after drilling 8 three-pointers. The Hoosiers limited them to one in the second half and went on to win 89-76. Were they really ready for BIG play?
To get things started in the conference, Maryland went 2-16 beyond the arc and Michigan was 4-17, as they started the BIG 2-0 for the first time since 2018-19. They still couldn’t hit from long range but at least they stopped the defensive bleeding.
Next, in unfriendly Ann Arbor, after a first half with 10 turnovers, Indiana cleaned up its sloppiness as the game progressed. Michigan, typically a good 3-point shooting team, knocked down some critical 3-pointers in the first half, but Indiana’s defense limited them to just one in the second, same as Maryland.
After 18 ties and 12 lead changes, the game restored my fading faith in the Rule of 60. Down 59-53 with 8:59 remaining, Mgbako and Reneau each made jumpers while the Wolverines failed on three attempts. This set the stage for CJ Gunn’s triple, as the Hoosiers hit 60 first with 7:30 remaining and went on to win 78-75. Do you believe in Magic?
I do – and this is further proof of Sixty Magic! Could this be the turning point for the season? It was C.J. Gunn’s fourth career 3-pointer and couldn’t have come at a better time. He hit two of IU’s three baskets behind the arc. Are there many more in his future? We will need it, considering we’ve only hit 34 total so far in 8 games. However, we still stood 7-1 with the only loss against a Top 10 team.
So as Indiana sits at 7-1 and 2-0 in the Big Ten, why did they find themselves all the way down at 65th in the country on the rating service, KenPom — 15 spots lower than they started? Well, their stats sadly proved correct in Atlanta against favored Auburn. Although IU jumped out to a 14-point bulge after 4-straight threes, they quickly faded to a 52-37 halftime deficit. The Tigers made more adjustments during the break and hit 60 with 15:45 remaining. Auburn had 14 threes and forced 12- turnovers, routing the Hoosiers at the buzzer 104-76.
Then, in Bloomington the Magic of 60 fell short against #2 Kansas. Has Coach Knight taken the magic with him? Assembly Hall was rocking in a Stripe-Out atmosphere. It was an opportunity to put the Hoosiers in the tournament spotlight with a nationwide audience, instead they will once again struggle to even get in. The Cream and Crimson led at halftime 40-32 but could not get over that fifty-to-sixty-point hump, passing 50 at the 15:07 mark, struggling over the next nine minutes to finally surpass 60 and what would normally lead to a win. In that same time frame, Kansas knocked down 18 and erased a 13-point deficit. Gabe Cupps eventually made a layup with 6:23 remaining, while the determined Jayhawks quickly took the lead shortly after. The final score was 75-71 in favor of Kansas, despite a career high 28-points from Trey Galloway and another double-double by Kel’el Ware. Hunter Dickinson had 17 in victory and Kevin McCullar, Jr. was deadly from the free throw line down the stretch to finish with a team high 21.
It was time to regroup with a 7-3 record.
Today was Race Day – my last 5k of this soon to expire running streak. What was the routine 3.1-mile distance just months ago was a bit of a push this morning as I finished on the warning track of Cool Today Park – the spring training home of the Atlanta Braves. It was my second Tomahawk 5k finish. I will return to 2.1 miles tomorrow, feeling a bit light- headed – one of the reasons I had cut back my mileage this past summer in anticipation of open- heart surgery. The 15-year streak will continue until January 15th, as months of recuperation will probably follow before I can start a new one. I had to laugh at myself as this now 72-year-old body slowly lumbered along the course, being passed by or never catching up to those older, younger, heavier, or even a woman limping along while wearing a boot. It took me 51-minutes to finish. Two years ago, I did it 8-minutes faster, earning my first of now two heavy medallions. At the end, I could barely pick my feet up, nearly tripping over the finish line strip at 249th out of 300 participants.
I’m not sure how a bad heart affects my breathing and performance, but something just isn’t right. I will certainly know the difference after that recovery period. It feels like a bit of a chore breathing in and out, but I may not even remember what normal was like after years of monitoring the aneurysm that may even date back to birth. I remember having trouble breathing as a child after spending weeks in a hospital oxygen tent with bronchitis. I haven’t really been sick since, but I should be in better shape after all the miles I’ve put in. I’ve noticed that the hardest part of even chair yoga is trying to synchronize air intake and output with exercise. This could be even psychological after learning about this heart issue years ago, even though I’ve had few other symptoms.
I didn’t sleep well last night, despite using Vick’s to help sooth my breathing. My wife often complains that I have some annoying breathing habits, including some occasional snoring. I was certainly wound up after watching I.U. basketball win their first BIG conference game against Maryland. It was their best performance of the season. I was also monitoring #1 Purdue in their loss at Northwestern, and still struggle with the IU-PU rivalry, despite a career connection with both schools. To add to the adrenaline, former IU quarterback, Michael Penix Jr. prevailed in a Heisman battle with Oregon. I should have been rooting for the Ducks, but I have some good memories of Penix, rare in IU football history. I remember his last second dive into the endzone pylon that gave the Hoosiers a key win against Penn State. I guess once a Hoosier always a Hoosier!
I should have been supportive of the Purdue Boilermakers last night, but I would have rooted against any team that might threaten the unbeaten season of 1976 Indiana National Champions. Their 32-0 record has now stood for 47-years as the last team to survive both the season and tournament without a loss. It’s meaningful for me to hold on to that glory for as long as possible, because all records eventually get broken, just like my streak. However, today I celebrate another successful Race Day.
Three straight final game losses to Purdue sealed the inevitable firing of Indiana football Coach Tom Allen. I will miss his spirit on the sidelines and find the decision futile. I.U. will not only lose nearly 20 million dollars (nearly 400k for every loss) in the buyout but also flood the portal with transfer prospects. Will it do any good? No! Indiana is now nothing more than a soccer school (8 national titles and perhaps another in the works). Trophies for Swimming (6 straight), Basketball (5), Cross Country (3), Track & Field (1), and Wrestling (1) are now gathering cobwebs in the display case. Women’s Basketball has probably the greatest potential and football the least. A new coach is not going to make the slightest difference, especially considering that the program has had 29 different leaders since it began play in the 1887 season. Only six have led the Hoosiers to postseason bowl games, including Tom Allen who is now yesterday’s news.
1967 was the last Big Ten Conference football title under John Pont that led to the sole Rose Bowl appearance. They lost 14-3 to U.S.C. and O.J. Simpson. Starting next year, the Hoosiers and Trojans will become conference foes. If it weren’t for visiting Ohio State, Memorial Stadium would never be packed, and most of the regular I.U. fans would never leave the parking lot tailgates. When I was a season ticket holder back in the 80s, we defined today’s meaning of social distancing. One coach, Terry Hoeppner, sadly died before he was fired, while offensive coordinator Bill Lynch took over to lead the 2007 team to a 7-6 record and a trip to the Insight Bowl.
Back in 1957, Coach Bob Hicks went 1-8 in his only season for the lowest winning percentage of all time. At the other extreme, Coach Madison G. Gonterman lead the Hoosiers to 12-3 over two seasons (1896-7). Coach Bo McMillin had the longest tenure, lasting for 14-years, but Coach Bill Mallory led I.U. for the most games (149) that included six different bowl games. I traveled to two of those in these glory years (Liberty and Independence).
Coach Kevin Wilson resigned amidst “philosophical differences” in 2016 after a Pinstripe Bowl appearance in 2015. Allen replaced him, starting with the Foster Farms Bowl, his first loss of 49 total to Utah 26-24. His last loss was this past weekend’s Purdue game, a battle between two eight loss teams, where I.U. was flushed down the toilet, in what should have been coined the Tidy Bowl, and the losing coach removed from the job.
Arthur B. Woodford was the first I.U. football coach (1887-1888), followed by single season campaigns by Evans Woolen and Billy Herod. The team then went two seasons without a coach, compiling a 3-6-1 record. In 1894-5, with multiple coaches, they went 4-7-2, so show me where I.U. coaching matters! Some of the more recognizable coaching names for the Hoosiers, thanks to modern day broadcasting exposure, included Lee Corso (10 years), Sam Wyche (1), Cam Cameron (5), and Gerry DiNardo (3). This group combined for a pathetic record of 70-140-2. Other Hoosier losers included Coach Phil Dickens (1958-64: 20-41-2), Coach Bernie Crimmins (1952-1956: 13-32), Coach Clyde Smith (1948-1951: 8-27-1), Coach Earl C. Hayes (1931-33: 8-14-4), Coach Harlan Page (1926-30: 14-23-3), Coach Bill Ingrim (1923-25: 10-12-1), Coach James P. Herron (1922: 1-4-2), and Coach Clarence Childs (1914-15: 6-7-1).
Through the years there were a few winning coaches that should be recognized for achieving the nearly impossible at I.U. 1895 through 1913, four coaches totaled 80 wins, only 52 losses and 10 ties. The combo of Coaches Winchester Osgood and Robert Wrenn (1895) went 4-3-1, just before the afore mentioned winner, Madison G. Gonterman, took the helm. He was followed by Coach James H. Horn (1898-1904) who led the team to a 33-21-5 record over 7 seasons. Coach James M. Sheldon then won 35 games against 26 losses and three ties. It was truly the good old days. From 1916-1921, Coach Ewald O. Stiehm added 20 victories and one tie while losing only 18. That takes us full circle to Coach Bo McMillin’s 63-48-11 success from 1934-1947. If my math is correct, since that time, and just beyond my lifetime, fourteen coaches, all with losing records, have managed just 290 victories and 9 ties while losing 507 times. Who’s next?
Bob Knight came to Bloomington to coach basketball just after I did, at an age only 11-years older. I watched many of the specials on his life after his death yesterday. The most touching moment was his return to Assembly Hall for the first time in twenty-years to be honored at half time of the Purdue game in 2020. I was watching from a Las Vegas Casino, just before Covid shut everything down. Otherwise, it may never have happened!
I only talked to him twice in my life. The first was a short exchange during the 1998 Maui Classic that my wife and I attended. The last was a fairly lengthy conversation at a private affair in the kitchen of a Texas politician that he supported back in 2012. It was the night that Neil Reed died, and his speech was abruptly interrupted by that urgent phone call. He quickly left the event without an explanation. A friend of mine who played for him remained close after graduation and attended several reunions with him and his teammates. He credits Coach Knight for getting his career started.
He was adamant with his players about attending classes and ultimately graduating (most did), supported the I.U. library, and numerous other educational causes. He was both tough and personally supportive of those around him. He threw a chair, supposedly head-butted a player, and was involved in previously mentioned choking incident. It was hard to defend these actions, whether true or not. The public perception was that he was a bully with a quick temper, but privately he was much loved. He expected to win, but never crossed that line of inappropriate recruiting that was too often fashionable at the time.
He was a winner and a brilliant basketball strategist and described by most as larger-than-life, although he did not appear that way at that only Assembly Hall public appearance. He looked fragile, as my father did later in life. as he tried to shake his fists to fire up the crowd. His complexion was ruddy and voice a bit hoarse, but it was still a great moment. We all knew that he wouldn’t be with us for long, and now just three years later he’s gone. He apparently made some Mike Woodson practices, spent time with Gene Keady, and began to show signs of dementia. We were lucky to see him again in Bloomington after the way he was treated during the firing. It should have been handled differently and, if so, it would already be Bob Knight Court with a statue out front that would all have been celebrated with him. Instead, it’s Simon Skjodt Arena, with videos of Knight’s numerous achievements, and the players now wearing a RMK uniform patch.
Many more Coach Knight tributes will obviously come as time passes, but the last few decades have been miserable for me without his presence. These are honors that I care more about than he probably ever did, giving all the credit to his players while drawing all the attention away from them to allow them focus on winning, as they did a lot! We’ve gone through coaches like sand through the hourglass, have lost our winning edge, and can no longer find our way in even in the BIG Ten Conference, let alone become a factor in the national picture. Hopefully, Coach Mike Woodson, one of his numerous prodigies, can channel his presence and return the Hoosiers to former glory. He’s the future – Rest in Peace Coach -Knight’s Out!
