Those were some fun days.
But who can forget his clash with TV Ted against Illinois. (3) technicals. That was a wild game.
Thanks AZ !
I agree 100%. I was so happy when he left the Big Ten.Classic Bully, period.
The guy everyone loved to hate. There will never be another like him. He would have been fired half a dozen timesin today'sper game.
Totally agree, @SuperintendentChalmers. Lou was the antithesis of Bobby. Bobby couldn’t stand that a nice guy coach was beating him so he continuously demonstrated that he was truly a classic bully. I think it shocked him that Lou and his teams actually stood up to him and could beat him. I couldn’t stand him and his arrogance and outrageous behavior. I always felt really sorry for his son.When Lou got to Illinois and we were down, Bob Knight was friendly and complimentary toward him. Lou was even one of the coaches who made their way to Bloomington to chip in as Knight worked out guys during the '84 Olympic team. Shortly after that, we started beating IU fairly regularly and Knight issued a torrent of outright insults and whisper campaigns ripping Lou's coaching ability, honesty, etc., best characterized by the "classic bully" incident.
Toward the end of Lou's run, our program had dropped off and Knight mellowed toward Lou. When Lou announced his retirement right before the last road game at IU, Knight famously said some warm words over the PA in Bloomington as he presented Lou with a rocking chair. In Knight's book, written after his IU firing and before he started at Texas Tech, he's asked about his feelings regarding Lou and the incident. Again, Knight's very complimentary toward Lou, blames the friction on unnamed Illinois assistants, and says he's looking forward to coaching against him in a TT-NMSU game.
In short, I think Knight's feelings toward Lou had much more to do with how Lou's teams were doing against his teams at a given time than anything Lou did.
damn Connie....He can finally "relax and enjoy it" now.
Great point. I thought of that '89 team, too. A testament to Knight's greatness was his ability to take any group of players and mold them into a BT title contender. I marveled at it season after season.Probably the best indication of his coaching ability was the '89 team. UI, UM and Iowa all had 5 or more future NBA players on their rosters, with us and UM going to the FF. IU by contrast had Todd Jadlow and Joe Hillman as 2 of their 5 starters, yet won the Big 10 title that year.
When they were on a roll, as much as i hated them, IU basketball was a thing of beauty with the ball and player movement and defensive intensity.
A great run by Lon and the boys!Our last game against knight:
Thanks for posting that. Observations:Our last game against knight:
Regardless of what anyone thinks, he was a great coach and got the utmost out of his players. At one point late in his career, he had won about 2/3 of all games decided by 3 points or less (I believe this was from the book "A Season On The Brink)". Not many coaches can say they win the close games like that.One of the best coaches in the history of the sport, no question. That was a great time in college basketball, that’s gone forever. He was often insufferable, but a great coach in every facet of the game.
Nice story, and memory I’m sure.Regardless of what anyone thinks, he was a great coach and got the utmost out of his players. At one point late in his career, he had won about 2/3 of all games decided by 3 points or less (I believe this was from the book "A Season On The Brink)". Not many coaches can say they win the close games like that.
Around year 2000 or 2001, I happened to be eating with my family in Tempe, Arizona in an Italian restaurant. My father (age 77). my mom, my wife and children were with me. The restaurant had just opened, and we had we had just been served when I looked up and saw Bobby Knight (and I assume his wife) at a table about 30 feet from our table. It was shortly after he had been fired at Indiana. Anyway, I told my son (age 13) and father that Bobby Knight was sitting across the room. My father then got up and went to his table. My first thought was, "I hope this doesn't cause a scene."
My father told him that he admired him as a coach even though he was an Illinois graduate. Bobby Knight asked if my father's grandson was over at our table. He then got up and he and my father came to our table. Bobby talked to my son for 2 or 3 minutes and gave him an autograph. A much nicer guy that I expected.
Anyway, I then proceeded to see him on my morning jogs and walks in Tempe for about 3 years (he must have purchased or rented a home in the area). He always said hi and occasionally asked how my son was doing.
Just my experience with the guy.