Knight not too concerned about breaking record
LUBBOCK, Texas – Bob Knight won’t make any more history in 2006.
Having started this season third on the men’s Division I wins list, Knight was ready to take over the top spot all by his sweater-wearing self Thursday night – except his Texas Tech Red Raiders hardly gave him a chance.
Tech got behind early and never recovered, losing 74-66 to UNLV and leaving Knight tied with Dean Smith at 879 career wins.
His next chance for the milestone comes on New Year’s Day. Considering how much Knight detests the hoopla, there’s no doubt his resolution for 2007 is to get this over with.
“I haven’t been interested in it from Day 1,” Knight said. “All I’m interested in is playing well. We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Steve Alford, John Havlicek, Jerry Tarkanian and Fuzzy Zoeller were among roughly 30 Knight pals who traveled to cotton country in hopes that he’d make history.
Instead, they saw him whiff on his first try – just like he did in chasing milestone wins 300, 400, 600, 700 and 800.
The good news? He got all of them on the second try. So if those guys don’t mind sticking around, or flying back in, he might make it worth their while Monday against New Mexico.
Alford, who coaches Iowa, said he’ll do his best to return. Havlicek seemed like he’ll be in.
“Anything special that happens, we’re there for each other,” Havlicek said.
Just to be safe – and to be crusty, cranky Bob Knight – he told his buddies “they might have to stay here three weeks.”
“That would be a boon to the economy,” said Knight, who is in his sixth season living in Lubbock, the hub of the largest contiguous cotton-growing region in the world.
Knight came into this season with 869 wins. After getting to 875, he needed two tries to match Adolph Rupp for second (876), then passed the former Kentucky coach in his next game.
A couple of wins later, he matched Smith, the former North Carolina coach, on his first try. Five days later, folks were so giddy about Knight possibly breaking the record that 15,098 fans showed up, one of the largest crowds in school history.