Texas Tech Red Raiders and Bobby Knight News and Notes

[TheGeneral+]

Every so often, Bob Knight's Hall of Fame career passes through Madison Square Garden.

He played there with Ohio State. He coached there with Army, Indiana and last year with Texas Tech in the NIT. Now he returns with the Red Raiders in Wednesday's Preseason NIT semifinals against Utah.

After Lubbock, there's no place he'd rather be.

Knight was expansive in his praise of this event, which occasionally has been caught in the crosshairs of the NCAA, seeking to cut back on the number of games on the college basketball schedule.

"I've always enjoyed the opportunity to bring a team to New York," he said. "It's a great place to play. When I started this season, I told the players we had a great opportunity to play in New York. One of our objectives was to get to New York and play here.

"Probably nobody knows the history of the NIT better than I do. Over the years, nobody's been better for college basketball than the NIT committee."

Then, Knight decided to lob a rocket at the NCAA, which he said had made a practice of hassling the people in New York.

"I've always said there's never been a group in Kansas City that could outsmart a group in New York," he said.

And it doesn't matter that the NCAA is now headquartered in Indianapolis.

In his third year at Tech, Knight starts two seniors -- Andre Emmett and Robert Tomaszek. The Red Raiders opened the tournament with one-sided wins over Davidson and Massachusetts.

"We've played most everybody fairly well," Knight said. "I'm not sure where we are or how far we've come. I think we're able to play well with most people."

Utah hopes it is in the same condition.

Rick Majerus has a team full of freshmen and sophomores and just two seniors -- Tim Frost and Nick Jacobson. "We have a lot to learn about ourselves," he said.

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

"People want national championship banners. People want to talk about being competitive. How do we get there? We don't get there with milk and cookies."

 

[TheGeneral+]

For coach Bob Knight, basketball strategy always starts when the other team has the ball.

"You start with defense," Knight said Wednesday after Texas Tech put on a pretty good display of it in a 65-54 victory over Utah to advance to the championship game of the Preseason NIT.

"If you don't have defense, we have to score two baskets for every one the other team scores," Knight said. "It's usually defense that enables the offense to get the lead.

"What I've always tried to do is make sure the defense is something that enables the offense to win the game."

It was that way Wednesday as Tech stole the ball 12 times and rattled Utah. That defense and the senior savvy of Andre Emmett to seal the victory.

Texas Tech will play the winner of the late game between top-ranked Connecticut and Georgia Tech for the tournament title Friday night at Madison Square Garden.

Emmett scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half as Texas Tech (4-0) came from behind to take control of the game.

Utah, with just two seniors on a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores, grabbed the early lead behind seven points from Richard Chaney. Then Tech turned up the heat.

With Utah leading 13-6, Emmett and Devonne Giles fueled a 16-3 run that put the Red Raiders in front to stay. The stretch was interrupted only by a 3-pointer by Nick Jacobson, one of the two seniors on coach Rick Majerus' team.

Rattled, Utah started rushing long shots and Texas Tech took advantage by using high-percentage shots. The Raiders never attempted a shot from beyond the 3-point line until the game was well in hand.

Texas Tech led 35-25 at the half and stayed comfortably in front the rest of the way behind Emmett with major help from Giles and freshman Jarrius Jackson, who had 13 points apiece. Chaney topped Utah (3-1) with 17 points, and freshman Andrew Bogut had 13 rebounds.

Emmett got an in-game reminder from Knight. When the senior missed an easy layup at the start of the second half, Knight screamed at him, "Andre! Dunk the ball!"

That's what Emmett did on the next two trips down the floor.

Still, Knight was most impressed with Tech's defense. As he left the postgame interview, he noted, "I think I would have said that even if we had lost the game."

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

NEW YORK -- No. 1 no more.

Georgia Tech shrugged off Connecticut's No. 1 ranking and took advantage of an ailing Emeka Okafor and some horrendous shooting by the Huskies for a stunning 77-61 victory Wednesday night in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT.

The victory put the Yellow Jackets (4-0) in Friday night's title game against Texas Tech, which used a grueling defense to wear down Utah 65-54 in the first game of the Madison Square Garden doubleheader.

UConn (3-1) shot only 37.9 percent, going 25-for-66 from the floor, and was even worse from the foul line, making only 10 of 30 attempts. The Huskies were 1-for-10 on 3-point attempts.

"We got (beat) physically and mentally," UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. "We were made to give in by Georgia Tech's defense. They stopped everything. They outplayed us. They outhustled us. They outworked us. Tonight was an exceptionally negative night."

Not for the Yellow Jackets.

With Okafor, the leading vote-getter on the Associated Press preseason All-America team, nursing a sore back, Georgia Tech took advantage inside, driving to the basket time after time.

Okafor was in trouble right from the start. He was doubtful for the game with back spasms and missed a timeout huddle early, stretched out on the floor as a UConn assistant worked on him. He often ran gingerly from one end of the court to the other and was hampered on both offense and defense.

He finished with 13 points on 2-of-10 shooting with 13 rebounds and six blocks after averaging 19 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks in the first three games of the season.

"Emeka never felt good the whole night," Calhoun said. "He begged to play. The doctors assured us he's not going to do any permanent damage. His timing offensively and everything else was thrown off."

With Connecticut's inside game vulnerable, Georgia Tech attacked relentlessly as Isma'il Muhammad and B.J. Elder took turns scoring baskets in bunches. Each had 22 points.

"I very rarely get deflated," Calhoun said. "I get upset. I get angry. I get all those emotions. But tonight I got deflated. We were getting dunked on. We were getting beat down the floor sometimes four-on-one. Those are the effort kind of things that scared me."

Texas Tech parlayed a strong defense and the senior savvy of Andre Emmett into a victory over Utah in the other semifinal.

"You start with defense," Red Raiders coach Bob Knight said. "If you don't have defense, we have to score two baskets for every one the other team scores. It's usually defense that enables the offense to get the lead. What I've always tried to do is make sure the defense is something that enables the offense to win the game."

It was that way as Texas Tech (4-0) stole the ball 12 times and rattled the Utes (3-1).

Emmett scored 16 of his 23 points in the first half as the Red Raiders came from behind to take control of the game.

Utah, with only two seniors on a roster filled with freshmen and sophomores, grabbed the early lead behind seven points from Richard Chaney. Then Texas Tech turned up the heat.

With the Utes leading 13-6, Emmett and Devonne Giles fueled a 16-3 run that put the Red Raiders in front to stay.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2253977

 

[TheGeneral+]

"When my time on Earth is gone
And my activities here are past
I want that they should bury me upside down
So my critics can kiss my ass."

-addressing crowd during senior day ceremonies 1994

"I don't think you could lead a whore to bed."
-commenting on Steve Alford's leadership skills in A Season on the Brink

"Daryl, get in the game or get out! Do you know you haven't scored a basket
inside since Jesus Christ was lecturing in Omaha."

-addressing Daryl Thomas in Brink

"Stew, you look like a god-damn dog chasing a rabbit through a briar patch."

-assessing the play of Stew Robinson in Brink

"The reason we lost the game was you, it was your fault."

-berating 1981 championship team member Steve Risley in Brink. Risley didn't
appear in that particular game.

"I have never been one to hesitate to get on people, and maybe sometimes I
get on kids a little too much."

-on his radio show, January 1985

"There isn't anything, except for my family, that I think about more than I
do basketball."

-Bloomington Herald Times, November 1981

"I do dumb things sometimes."

-Saturday Evening Post, March 1981

"If you're not careful, you can get a grossly overinflated opinion about
your popularity."

-Indianapolis Monthly, December 1982

"I fortunately have never worried about irritating people."

-Indianapolis Monthly, December 1982

"People want national championship banners. People want to talk about
Indiana being competitive. How do we get there? We don't get there with milk
and cookies."

-Herald Times March 1994

"I tell them [IU players] that wherever you start in life there will be
others above you. Get used to it now."

-talking about his 'I'm the boss' coaching style, Time 1976

"A player enters the Hall of Fame on his ability. A coach enters on the
ability of his players."

-referring to his induction to the Hall of Fame, February 1991

"You are never going to be driven anywhere worthwhile, but you sure as hell
drive yourself to a lot of great places. It is up to you to drive yourself
there."

-Herald Times November 1992

"Your biggest opponent isn't the other guy. It's human nature."

-SI, January 1981

"Failure, to me, is not having the desire to try. Having the desire to try
is in its own way success."

-Herald Times November 1993

"Discipline: doing what you have to do, and doing it as well as you possibly
can, and doing it that way all the time."

-SI January 1981

"Recruit Jackasses, and they play like Jackasses."

-SI January 1981

"I want a persistent player, not the consistent player. I want a team that
is persistent, unyielding, enduring, staying with something despite
obstacles."

-Herald Times December 1985

"God couldn't care less if we win or not. He is not going to parachute in
through the roof of this building and score when we need points."

-talking to Steve Alford, Playing for Knight

"I like to think of C.M. Newton [University of Kentucky Athletic Director]
as the school's director of corrections."

-referring to UK's reputation for putting less-than-outstanding public
citizens on the team, Herald

Times October 1990

"I'm amazed at his rise from illiterate roots. Look at what we've done with
him. We've put him in a suit and tie and shined his shoes."

-commenting during a ceremony for Thomson Electronics executive who holds a
graduate degree from

IU, Herald Times Oct 1990

"In taking of his time to help unfortunate people, he eventually becomes
penalized. I thought it was a tremendous irony, with all that garbage that
has gone on at Kentucky over the years."

-opinion on the NCAA's one game suspension of Steve Alford who posed for a
charity calendar, and

subsequently missed the game where IU lost to Kentucky 63-58

"@#%$ 'em, @#%$ 'em all. I'll tell you what, their basketball is a hell of a
lot easier to beat than their court system. The only @#%$ thing they know
how to do is grow bananas."

-commenting on his ill-fated visit to Puerto Rico, SI January 1979

"I stood up, unzipped my pants, lowered my shorts and placed my bare ass on
the window. That's the last thing I wanted those people to see of me."

-Knight's description of his parting shot at Puerto Rico while flying home

"I've watched the Russians play for two years and we'd beat their ass
anywhere they want to play."

-after his 1984 US Olympic basketball team won gold in an Olympics boycotted
by the USSR

"You know, we taught you how to play basketball and baseball, and now you're
teaching us how to make steel and build cars."

-during 1985 pre-game conference in Japan

"I've visited Isautier's homeland of France on five occasions, and I'm
pleased to finally meet a Frenchman I could understand."

-on meeting Bernard Isautier Thompson Electronics chairman who happens to be
French

"I don't always have to wait until the next morning to regret something I
did that was kinda dumb."

-Eve of the 1985 NIT championship game

"I should have gone to his home and talked to him. I'm sure I could have
brought him back to IU."

-referring to the fact that he made no attempt to talk to Larry Bird, who
played briefly for IU, into staying on the team, HT 1985

"I can't tell you, and I don't even like discussing it, the number of times
I've gone home and said, 'God, I wish I hadn't gotten on that kid like
that.' I wish I didn't think I had to get on him. Hey, I'm not - I never
once said I'm perfect. I have made mistakes, but that really doesn't
separate me from anyone else. Am I susceptible or liable to criticism?
Certainly, and sometimes fairly."

-HT March 1994

"I'd be less than honest if I didn't say to myself, 'What am I doing this
for?'"

-HT March 1985

"[Jay] Edwards on the floor has been as good as any kid I've had, and I've
had some really good kids. Off the floor, Edwards has been a monumental pain
in my ass."

-referring to Big Ten Freshman of the Year who lost his scholarship for
academic and discipline reasons,

1988.

"They talk about Duke as a great academic institution. My gosh, they can't
hold a candle to a dropout from Indiana."

-referring to Mike Kryzewski, IU grad, and Knight coaching prodigy who
failed to complete his graduate degree in business while at IU.

"Chris Reynolds has a heart that is so big that you have to fold it over
about three times to get it into his chest."

-HT November 1992

"Congratulations on the birth of your first child. I'm glad to hear that
mother and son are doing well. P.S. Don't ever let your husband hold this
kid over anything but a bed."

-congratulating Uwe Blab's wife

"If I were in charge, I'd drug test all you son's of bitches, not just the
athletes."

-addressing IU students Q&As, A Season on the Brink

"A B.S. is just what it stands for. A M.S. is More of the Same. A PhD. Is
Piled Higher and Deeper."

-A Season on the Brink

"My humble suggestion would be that the $30,000 fine be used to provide
scholarships for underprivileged students rather than being used for
expenses for the NCAA tournament's annual golf meeting, which this summer is
in Cape Cod."

-commenting on his fine for postage berating of NCAA tournament official

"If universities want to save a little money, they ought to make some
cutbacks in administration and in faculty people who teach one class a
week."

-referring to NCAA suggestion that budgets be trimmed by reducing basketball
coaching staffs, HT January 1991

"Take a look at me. I'm 53 years old, out of shape, bad back. Who the hell
am I going to scare?"

-prior to 1994 NCAA tourney game when asked whether his players feared him

"I tell you what really fries my ass. When somebody gets on me for the way I
look. Fat. Overweight. Well, I may be overweight. But I'm sure not fat. And
I guarantee you, I'm a better athlete than any @#%$ body writing. To this
day, they don't want to play tennis with me. The don't want to play me in
golf. They don't want to @#%$ run with me..."

-Esquire March 1988

"You remember when you were a kid growing up, and believed in Santa Claus?
There's not much difference between Santa Claus and me today, you know.
We're two overweight lovable guys that kids really enjoy."

-Bob Knight, His Own Man

"What the hell difference does it make? So I'm 50."

-musing about his big five-oh, Indianapolis Monthly October 1990

"If there are any problems with Keith Smart, you are going to see his ass on
the bench. That's the way we handle ego at Indiana. You see the bench gives
your ass a message, then your ass gives your brain a message, and then your
brain will probably get Keith Smart to play a helluva lot better."

-Esquire March 1988

"They were using too much batter before. But, I got on their ass."

-responding to dining partner's comment regarding fried chicken at
Bloomington's Third Base Lounge

"I loved him. He could really handle me. I don't think I ever bothered that
SOB. But you ask him how I got on his ass."

-commenting on coaching 1984 Olympian Chris Mullin, Esquire March 1988

"A motivator isn't always the guy who just pats you on the ass. He's the guy
who kicks you in the ass occasionally."

-Indianapolis Monthly December 1982

"A turd."

-describing A Season on the Brink author John Feinstein

"If you're a coach you're going to get your ass beat now and then."

-Bob Knight, His Own Man

"There's some of those good guys like Carson and Marshall you're always
telling me about, and you get on their ass."

-telephone pep talk to New York Giants Coach Bill Parcels, Esquire March
1988

"Wayman [Tisdale] has been a special joy to me. I get on his ass and he
reacts well to it."

-Newsweek August 1984

"I guess that people are attracted, or whatever, to a no bullshit guy who
tells people to shove it up their ass when he thinks it's appropriate."

-ruminating on the popularity of A Season on the Brink, Esquire March 1988

"I'm not sure that an athlete is prepared to be a role model. He has a lot
of attention paid to him that he shouldn't have, and then the athletes tend
to think of themselves as better than they are."

-Herald Times November 1988

"If my primary purpose here at Indiana is to go out and win ballgames, I can
probably do that as well as anybody can. I would just cheat, get some money
from a lot of people around Indianapolis who want to run the operation that
way, and just go out and get the best basketball players I can. Then we'd
beat everybody all the time."

-HT January 1985

"I don't feel sorry for Len Bias...[He] was better than anyone in this
room...but he's dead. He's not sick, he's not hurt, he's dead...He wanted to
be one of the boys. He wanted to be cool. Well he was so cool, he's cold.
He's cold as heck."

-commenting on cocaine overdose of Len Bias, University of Maryland player,
Jet August 1987

"A coach flies off the handle in public and everyone sees him. I'd like to
be around to see what one of you guys does when somebody changes your copy."

-to a group of journalists, 1994

"All of us learn to write in second grade, and most of us go on to better
things."

-SI January 1981

"For me to get an award from the press, I know there's been no favoritism."

-after being named AP Coach of the Year 1989

"Bad officiating has almost ruined the basketball in this league."

-HT January 1986

"Through testing of Big Ten officials it is found that 79% of them are not
capable of counting to 5 correctly."

-referring to a rule change taking away a five second violation from a
closely guarded dribbler, November 1993

"While I have been very concerned about the way some things have been
handled in the Big Ten, in particular the officiating, which really
frustrated me in the past couple of years, I do not think my action in the
Purdue game was in any way necessary or appropriate."

-statement after infamous chair throwing episode against Purdue in Assembly
Hall 1985

"If my reaction to the jeering from the stands on Tuesday night offended any
true Hoosier fans, I am deeply sorry and wish to apologize. I realize that
you have not always agreed with what I have done or said. I probably
wouldn't agree with all you have said or did either. P. S. We have been
working on Patrick's passing."

-statement after he kicked his son, Patrick, at 1993 home game. Knight then
hurled invectives at the crowd when they booed him.

"I told my wife [first wife Nancy] when we got married that there were two
things she'd never do with me: play golf and go fishing."

-Indianapolis Monthly December 1982

"I think that as I grow older and older, maybe my dad was my biggest role
model. My dad was a very interesting guy. He died when I was 29. As time
passed, I think back more and more about what he was like, what he stood
for, and all the things that he said."

-HT November 1991

"We are going to redshirt Patrick [Knight] next year so he'll have me as a
coach for 5 years. When Patrick is done, having me as a father and a coach,
Patrick Knight will undoubtedly have the most blistered ass in the history
of basketball."

-HT May 1991

"I was doing undercover work at the Indiana Division of Natural Resources.
They have been told that several quail have infiltrated southern Indiana,
and they asked me to spend Sunday on a search and destroy mission. So I
did."

-Knight's reason for blowing off the 1984 Big Ten pre-season press
conference, HT

"Would it help you if I went back out, and came back in walking on my hands
or something?"

-responding to 1992 press conference question about why he didn't appear to
enjoy coaching

"You know, I wish all alumni would be canonized. That way we coaches would
only have to kiss your rings."

-addressing IU alumni group, A Season on the Brink

"Right here is the key to success in coaching. Probably no motivational
device I've ever come across is as good as this."

-brandishing a bullwhip, a gift from his players

"I've had all the challenges I need in my lifetime. I'd rather play against
a really bad team."

-responding to question asking if he enjoys facing tough defensive teams, HT
March 1994

"I once told a guy I would like to have carved on my tombstone, 'He was
honest, and he didn't kiss anybody's ass.'"

-Indianapolis Monthly December 1982

"I have often said this to some sanctimonious self-righteous critics that I
have: 'I would hope that when judgment day comes, they don't appear before
St. Peter's table with me, and only one space available for both of us, and
the judgment being made on who has done the most for fellow man. I have no
doubt St. Peter will turn to me and say, 'Robert, pass through the gate.'"

-NBC interview with Bob Costas, March 1994

"What a bullshit question. Anyone can play basketball, black, white, blue,
or green. You can think of a better question than that."

-on being asked whether blacks were more gifted than whites in basketball

"Hell, I don't even watch the pros. If the NBA was on Channel 5 and a bunch
of frogs making love were on Channel 4, I'd watch the frogs--even if they
came in fuzzy."

-on coaching in the pros

"Basketball may have been invented in Massachusetts, but it was made for
Indiana."

-on basketball in Indiana

"Steve, you can't stand there like a @#%$ statue. That's what they've got in
the harbor in New York: a @#%$ statue. I don't need that bullshit in here."
Knight told the assembly, "If any of you pass Steve Alford on campus, I want
you to stop him and ask him if he can spell defense."

-Knight told Steve Alford in practice one day

"That has got to be the worst defensive play by two Indiana guards I have
ever seen. I can almost excuse Keith, because he's new. But Alford, what's
your excuse? How can anybody play four years in this system and not learn
one thing about playing defense? I've wasted, totally wasted, three years
trying to teach you, and the minute you go into a defensive crouch I hear
people laughing in the stands."

-Alford's senior year

"I was worried about losing until I looked down the floor and saw Dale
Brown. Then I knew we had a chance."

-commenting on that stormy 1987 game with LSU

"You know, if any of you someday are on the street and you see that Wayne
Duke is about to get run over by a car, I would encourage you, I think, to
save him. But not if it's in any way inconvenient for you to do so."

-addressing an alumni group, on Big Ten Commissioner Wayne Duke

"That kind of from the players reflects on the entire operation of the team.
I'd rather have players concentrating on what we're going to do than on some
clever, wiseass thing to say to somebody else."

-on trash-talking by basketball players.

"Buckner contributes so much to any team that understands basketball. He
gets everybody to play better. It's a damn shame in a state like this that
loves good basketball that we have a professional organization up in
Indianapolis that clearly doesn't understand anything about the game."

-On Quinn Buckner (after Buckner was cut by the Pacers)

"They were a fine team, but an hour later we wanted to beat them again."

-an interview after thoroughly beating a 1984 Chinese Olympic team

A story about Knight's coaching class:

The first day of class, he always asks the students how many of them ever
had a coach they didn't like. The class is somewhat reluctant to raise their
hands, but eventually some do, which leads to some more. Now, they're
getting kind of brave, and in the end about half of the class has their hand
raised. Knight then looks around with a glare and responds: "Well you know
what, we don't like some of you little bastards either!" The hands shoot
down and from then on, no one raises their hand unless called upon.

First words to come out of Bob Knight's mouth at a post-game conference
after the IU/Purdue game:

"Don't crowd me!"

-2/10/98

Reporter: Did Luke Recker only play 10 minutes in the second half because he
was tired?

Bob Knight: "I was tired of watching his defense."

-IU/Northwestern post-game comments, 2/14/98

Speech to the students:

"I've got a little class I teach. There are a lot of you who wouldn't like
my class. I won't let you come in barefooted. You can't wear a hat. If you
cut class, it's an automatic C. And if you cut it twice, you'd better have
time to go to Drop and Add."

97-98 season:

"Larry, you're no more prepared for this than the Bank of America is to lend
money to the penguins."

-to Larry Richardson in practice

"If that's a good shot, then I'm a paratrooper in the Women's Chinese Navy."

-Coach K's website

"Richard, who the hell is going to guard him, God? God's not going to guard
him Richard. The Methodists control God and they're not going to let us use
him."

-to Mandeville after a blown defensive assignment in practice

"Luke, is it against your religion to play this way?"

-to Recker, who was out of position defensively

Reporter: Was there any possibility you wouldn't be coaching this game
[Oklahoma]?

Knight: "Unless I was broke, which I'm not."

-referring to $10,000 fine for comments made about Ted Valentine during the
IU/Illinois senior day game.

Reporter: If you wouldn't have had to miss an NCAA tournament game, would
you have taken the penalty? If I don't follow up on that question, I will
get fired.

Knight: "God damn, there are a lot of you guys I'd like to see get fired.
What the hell makes you think I'm going to save you? From the Christian
depths of my heart, I'll do what's necessary. So ask your question."

Reporter: Could you amplify on why?

Knight: "...Now put up a picture of me in the morning so every time you look
in the mirror you can look at that and say, damn, he saved my job."

-1998 NCAA pre-game press conference

"My wife thinks I'm outdated sometimes. What the hell am I going to say to
her? I just nod my head and keep right on."

-response to a question about what he would say to those who think he's
outdated

"The last three years we've lost the first game of the tournament, OK? The
four years prior to that we were the only team in America that went to the
regional four times. I haven't ever seen that written, which again doesn't
amaze me."

-responding to question about whether first-round win over Oklahoma in
overtime of NCAA tourney was special

"Patterson is such a good kid. I've never had a better kid. He has a
professional singing voice, but he has an artist's personality, not a
competitor's personality. It's tough for him to really compete the way he
has to to get the most out of the considerable ability he has. He's battled
that personality as long as he's been at Indiana."

-referring to Andrae Patterson's inconsistent play

http://pub51.ezboard.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt is fond of calling B.J. Elder college basketball's best kept secret. Now, the secret is out.

Elder helped Tech take apart No. 1 Connecticut in a surprisingly easy 77-61 victory and now the Yellow Jackets face Texas Tech in Friday's Preseason NIT championship game. The Red Raiders advanced by defeating Utah 65-54.

"I just want to come out and be aggressive and try to attack the whole game," said Elder, who scored 22 points against UConn, reaching double figures for the 29th time in his last 33 games.

And about that best kept secret business?

"I just take it in stride," he said. "I don't think it's going to be a secret anymore."

Hewitt challenged Elder in the days before Georgia Tech faced Connecticut.

"I was teasing him last week," the coach said, preparing him to face UConn's Ben Gordon. "I said, `You're going to go out and play against one of the best 2-guards in the country and I expect you to go out there and outplay him."'

Elder followed orders, limiting Gordon to nine shots and 13 points. As his reward he gets to face Texas Tech in the title game. The Red Raiders practice defense first because coach Bob Knight believes games are won and lost in their own end of the court.

"You have to start with defensive play," Knight said. "If you don't have good defense, then you've got to score two buckets for every one you give up. It's usually defense that's enabling the offense to get a lead.

"So what I've tried to do, with varying degrees of success, I've tried to make sure that our defense is something that enables our offense to win a game."

And, like Georgia Tech's Elder, that's no secret.

Coaches are fond of saying that they don't know much about their teams at this stage of the season. Hewitt and Knight learned a little bit more in their semifinal wins.

Hewitt found out that Georgia Tech won't be intimidated by fancy rankings and that Elder and Isma'il Muhammad, who also had 22, can be big-time scorers for him. He knows his team will only get better when Arizona transfer Will Bynum becomes eligible next month.

Knight learned that Texas Tech can deal with deliberate teams like Utah and play defense up to his high standards.

"We can do some things that make it difficult for you to run and we had been a team that in our first couple of ballgames really pushed the ball up the floor," Knight said. "I didn't think we'd be able to do that (against Utah) and I was very interested in seeing how our team would react, particularly on the defensive end in a patient game. I thought we reacted pretty well."

So did Georgia Tech, running with abandon and taking advantage of a sub-par Emeka Okafor, who was hobbled by an aching back that limited him to nine points.

Hewitt knew the Yellow Jackets had caught a break with UConn coming out flat, seemingly disinterested in defending that top ranking.

"They are a great team," he said. "They are going to be much better at the end. They are clearly one of the best teams in the country and at the end of the season, they are going to be right there."

Against Georgia Tech, the Huskies were somewhere else.

"They imposed their will on us," Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said. "That's something we try to do upon other teams. I have to say I'm more than the most-surprised guy in the building, just how we didn't respond. To me, it's about will and toughness. You have to respond better than we did and we didn't respond very well at all. It scared me."

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Georgia Tech might be the best kept secret in college basketball.

The Yellow Jackets' defense smothered Texas Tech on Friday night and Georgia Tech beat the Red Raiders 85-65 to win the Preseason NIT.

No. 1 Connecticut defeated Utah 76-44 in the consolation game for third place.

Coach Paul Hewitt touted Georgia Tech's B.J. Elder as the "best kept secret in college basketball," but Elder had plenty of help against Texas Tech.

Jarrett Jack scored eight straight points midway through the first half and Georgia Tech pulled away gradually, often denying Texas Tech any kind of decent shot. Jack finished with 17 points while reserve Isma'il Muhammad had 16. Elder also had 16.

Andre Emmett led Texas Tech with 25.

Georgia Tech played passionate defense, challenging every possession, forcing Texas Tech into hurried shots. It is becoming a trademark for the Yellow Jackets, who came into the game holding opponents to 35.3 percent shooting from the floor and limited Texas Tech to 39 percent.

They will run all game long, daring opponents to stay with them in the up-tempo game.

Twice in the first half, the Yellow Jackets denied Texas Tech shots until the 35-second clock ran down. Rarely did Texas Tech have a shot that was not challenged. The stifling defense forced Texas Tech into 16 turnovers.

Hewitt never let the Yellow Jackets forget their defensive assignments. On one switch, he gestured to an open Texas Tech player and shouted to his team, "Who's got this one? Who's got this one?"

Somebody quickly did.

The zest for denying points added up to a 43-28 halftime lead for Georgia Tech (5-0) off to its best start since 1994-95. Texas Tech (4-1) never solved the defensive puzzle and Georgia Tech extended the lead to as many as 28 points.

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

UNIVERSITY PARK, Texas - (KRT) - It was a career defining victory for SMU coach Mike Dement. With his program seeking its first NCAA tournament berth since 1993, the Mustangs beat a team that should help them come March.

SMU upended Texas Tech, 62-59, in front of a loud and wild crowd of 6,213 at Moody Coliseum on Monday night. The crowd featured Rangers manager Buck Showalter, general manager John Hart and Mavericks assistant coach Donnie Nelson in attendance.

SMU won this game without scoring a field goal in the last 4 minutes and 29 seconds of the game and was sealed when Red Raiders forward Robert Tomaszek hit the front of the rim of a 3-point shot at the buzzer.

"We survived," Dement said.

After the buzzer sounded, fans stormed the court and celebrated near midcourt with the players as if a NCAA berth was clinched. If SMU continues to win games like this, another dance party will occur.

"They are up there," Dement said of the victory. "Certainly a team that will be in the tournament, and highly rated in the end and coming off a NIT final four, it's a great win for us, especially early. Hopefully it gives us confidence."

The Mustangs 2-3 zone defense and several key steals in the closing moments affected the Red Raiders.

Tech shot 42.9 percent from the field and made only 2 of 17 3-point field goal attempts.

In it's last three games the Red Raiders have made five of 27 shots from 3-point range.

"(SMU) played defensively very well," Tech coach Bobby Knight said. "We didn't shoot the ball very well from the outside, that was a problem for us last year and apparently it's still a problem for us."

Andre Emmett was the only Red Raider in double figures. He scored a strong 28 points by moving around the lane to find shots as SMU implemented its zone.

SMU held a 14 point first half lead thanks to the play of Bryan Hopkins. The sophomore point guard returned to the team after missing last Friday's loss to San Diego. Hopkins missed the game because his girlfriend had a miscarriage.

"It got my mind off the situation," said Hopkins, who finished with 19 points. "I went out here and did what I love to do. I knew I had to put that situation aside to help the team and luckily we pulled it off."

Tech was able to rally late in the first half to cut the lead to 37-32. But SMU led 60-53 with 4:27 to play in the game.

The Red Raiders cut the lead to 61-59 on an Emmett layup with 1:47 left, leading to the wild finish.

SMU's Patrick Simpson turned the ball over while throwing a pass out of triple team with 18 seconds to play. On Tech's possession, Simpson stole an entry pass from Mikey Marshall. Hopkins slipped while doubled teamed with 12 seconds to play to force a turnover.

With 4.3 seconds left, SMU's Justin Isham took the ball from Marshall forcing Tech to foul.

Isham hit one of two free throws and Tech advanced the ball to halfcourt to setup a final play.

Knight said he had three options for the final play and Tomaszek took an open jumper that failed.

"Hopefully this win will help us in the long run with our RPI," Hopkins said. "It's a motivation for our players and the fans. I was kind of surprised they jumped on the court, it's a big win and that's why they did it."

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/7391659.htm

 

[TheGeneral+]

UTEP will have hands full against Texas Tech

LUBBOCK -- UTEP has eased its way up the college basketball scale, and tonight the Miners will step up considerably.

UTEP dismantled NAIA UT-Permian Basin, scalded Division 3 Sul Ross State and handily dismissed Division 1 Portland State -- all those victories coming in the friendliness of the Don Haskins Center.

Today, UTEP will take on Bob Knight and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

"They've made teams turn the ball over 25 times," UTEP coach Billy Gillispie said of the Red Raiders. "They made us have 31 at home last year, and they are much quicker this year. This will be a great challenge for us."

While UTEP is 3-0, Texas Tech is now 4-2 after losing to Georgia Tech in the finals of the Preseason NIT and dropping a 62-59 decision at SMU on Monday night.

"We've got to take care of the basketball," Gillispie said. "If you can get shots at the basket, shoot more free throws than the other team and play defense, you've got a chance against anybody."

When asked if he knew Knight, Gillispie joked, "I'm one of his favorite guys because they beat the dog out of us last year (83-60)."

The Red Raiders are led by senior Andre Emmett, the leading scorer in the Big 12 last season at 21.8 points per game. Emmett has led Texas Tech in scoring in all six games this season, averaging 22.7 points per game.

Despite a terrible season a year ago, this group of Miners played relatively well away from home.

"I think we've got a team that really responds to challenges," senior guard Chris Craig said. "I think this is a team that is confident, that won't back down to anyone and will respond to challenges. Personally, I love going on the road, playing in a hostile environment, where everyone is against you except the coaches and the people there with you."

Junior guard Filiberto Rivera has been the key to the offense, turning the ball over just four times in three games.

"Our feeling is that we just have to play the same whether we are on the road or at home," Rivera said. "We have to play hard, play really good there to win this game. We beat the Globetrotters, then we beat some non-Division 1 teams and now I think we are ready for this challenge. We just have to play defense and rebound."

And sophomore transfer Jason Williams said, "This is just another challenge for us, but it is a bigger challenge because it is at another person's place. The team at home always hits every shot, even if they are not a good shooting team. But we have to rebound, play defense and run our offense and we will be fine."

www.borderlandnews.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Texas Tech 70, UTEP 57

Andre Emmett scored 27 points as Texas Tech beat UTEP 70-57 on Wednesday night.

Tech (5-2) trailed only briefly near the end of the first half and steadily pulled ahead in the second. The Red Raiders' largest lead was 17 at 70-53 with a minute remaining in the game.

UTEP (3-1) gave Tech fits with its zone defense, something that caused the Red Raiders difficulties in their 62-59 loss to SMU on Monday night.

It was Emmett's fifth straight game with at least 23 points. He got his season high (28) in the loss to the Mustang.

Ronald Ross scored nine points and Jarrius Jackson and Darryl Dora added eight apiece.

Omar Thomas scored 15 for the Miners and John Tofi and Filiberto Rivera added 11 each.

Tech led 25-21 at halftime but had opportunities to build a larger margin. The Red Raiders held the Miners scoreless for more than six minutes while scoring eight points of their own.

UTEP got back in it using a 10-2 run to take a 19-18 lead on a layup by Filiberto Rivera with 4:44 remaining in the first half. The Miners then failed to score again until the :05 mark when Omar Thomas drove and dropped in a layup.

The loss extended the Miners' road losing streak to 28.

Both teams had 16 turnovers.

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

UNM/Texas Tech match-up to be clash of reputations

(Albuquerque-AP) -- Texas Tech’s outspoken and unapologetic head coach Bob Knight has a string of Big Ten titles, coach of the year awards and more than 800 victories under his belt.

New Mexico coach Ritchie McKay, on the other hand, is a less celebrated and a seemingly opposite personality with just under 100 career wins.

The two will clash Saturday in The Pit as the Lobos host Texas Tech.

With Knight’s impressive record and the Red Raiders’ talent, the Lobos will have a tough challenge. They’re riding a two-game losing streak that includes a 67-48 loss to rival New Mexico State on Wednesday.

While the team has six players returning, only one, senior guard Ryan Ashcraft, has more than a year of experience.

Texas Tech comes into the game following a 70-57 win over UTEP on Wednesday.

www.kobtv.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Jarrius Jackson scored all 7 of his points in the final 2:20 Saturday to lift Texas Tech over New Mexico 67-58.

Jackson hit a 3-pointer that put the Red Raiders ahead 59-57 with 2:20 remaining, then sank a pair of free throws 30 seconds later.

New Mexico's Javin Tindall was fouled at the other end but hit only the first of the one-and-one, leaving the Lobos trailing 61-58.

Texas Tech (6-2) got the ball back on an errant Lobo pass, and Robert Tomaszek scored with 1:13 remaining, which put Texas Tech up by 6. Jackson scored another 2 points after stealing a pass from Lenny Miles and breaking away.

Red Raider Ronald Ross picked off another Lobo pass with 30 seconds left, scoring his team's last basket.

Tomaszek led Tech with 18. Andre Emmett added 12, while Ross and Devonne Giles each had 10.

The Lobos (2-3) started out strong with a tight zone defense and shooting 47.8 percent, compared with just 38.7 percent for the Red Raiders. But by the end of the game, the Lobos were hitting 37.5 percent, and Texas Tech had improved to 43.1 percent.

Tindall led the Lobos with 27 points, six assists and no turnovers. David Chiotti added 11 points.

Midway through the first half, the Lobos had a 10-point lead, but the Red Raiders turned a string of offensive rebounds into baskets to pull within one, 20-19, with just under six minutes left, while the Lobos went scoreless during that stretch.

The Lobos took a 3-point lead at halftime, 32-29, after Mark Walters and Alfred Neale each hit a pair of free throws.

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

December 10
Men's Basketball
TCU
7:00 PM
Lubbock, Texas

http://texastech.ocsn.com/

 

[TheGeneral+]

"I might be too old to coach because these are things I have a tough time handling," Knight said. "We got points out of four players, and that's it. We will have no chance when we play the teams we have to play unless we get a turnaround going and quit making mistakes."


Texas Tech 67, TCU 60

Bob Knight didn't hide any frustration about his team's mistakes in Texas Tech's 67-60 victory over TCU on Wednesday night.

There were turnovers and some bad shot selection as the Red Raiders squandered two 15-point leads in the second half and they made only one field goal over the final 8:43.

"I might be too old to coach because these are things I have a tough time handling," Knight said. "We got points out of four players, and that's it. We will have no chance when we play the teams we have to play unless we get a turnaround going and quit making mistakes."

Knight allowed no players to attend the postgame news conference, spoke for less than five minutes and took no questions from reporters.

Andre Emmett scored 27 points, Jarrius Jackson had 19 points, Robert Tomaszek added 17 and Devonne Giles had four for the Red Raiders.

Tech (7-2) built a 15-point lead twice in the second half but the Horned Frogs (2-5) used an 8-0 run late in the game to whittle the deficit to 63-59 on a 3-pointer and a field goal by Marcus Shropshire with 2:48 remaining. They could get no closer.

"We've been in situations like this before where we are in a really good position and we just have a tough time with both getting behind and trying to come back and getting ahead and holding the lead," Knight said.

Emmett has scored at least 23 points in six of the past seven games.

TCU's first effort to stay close in the second half was helped along by Shropshire, who played at Texas Tech during Knight's first season as coach there. He scored eight straight points for the Horned Frogs on a 15-footer and consecutive 3-pointers.

Shropshire got 16 of his 18 points in the second half, going 4-of-8 on 3s.

"When he transferred to TCU, one of his first questions was, 'Are we going to play Texas Tech?"' TCU coach Neil Dougherty said. "He was too excited maybe in the first half. He missed some shots I've never seen him miss. In the second half, he settled down and made some nice plays for us."

Corey Santee scored 16 points and Nucleus Smith added 13 for TCU.

After the game, Knight spoke to Shropshire briefly.

"I'll keep that between me and him, but basically he told me he was happy for me and wished me good luck," Shropshire said.

www.sfgate.co

 

[TheGeneral+]

Sat 12/13/2003 San Diego State Lubbock, Texas

 

[TheGeneral+]

Balanced Attack Leads Red Raiders Past San Diego State

Five players score in double figures for men's hoops.

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Andre Emmett scored 19 points as Texas Tech beat San Diego State 78-68 on Saturday.

Bobby Knight had praise for freshman Darryl Dora, who gave Tech a boost by scoring nine of his 14 points during a five-minute span late in the game.

"He made big baskets and big plays for us," Knight said. "He's capable of hitting the 3, better almost than anyone else we've got."

Tech (8-2) led by eight points early in the second half, but San Diego State used a 6-0 run to make it 52-51 on a drive by Brandon Heath. The Aztecs (5-3) never really threatened after that.

"They always play hard and they play physical," San Diego State coach Steve Fisher said. "They will win a lot of games this year. We won't be the last team they beat in here."

Ronald Ross scored 16 points for the Red Raiders, while Robert Tomaszek had 13 and Jarrius Jackson 10.

Heath scored 30 points and Wesley Stokes, Chris Walton and Aerick Sanders each added eight for San Diego State.

Knight got his first technical at United Spirit Arena, after arguing with an official about a noncall on a foul. It was Knight's second technical since coming to Tech; his first came during a loss at Kansas State last year.

On the play in question, Jackson got hit while attempting to shoot, but no foul was called. On the rebound, Dora was called for basket interference, but Tech got two points on the scoreboard as if a basket were made.

Fisher called a timeout to inquire about the points given Tech, and the officials reviewed the play and took them away. After the postgame news conference, Knight came into the media room and read from NCAA rules that the play is not reviewable.

"(The officials) did the right thing," Knight said at the news conference. "We did goaltend. I had no argument with that at all.

"But Jackson got clubbed on the play that started the whole sequence. My question was what about the foul beforehand. He (the official) irritated me and I irritated him, and there never, ever should have been a technical foul. That was the least deserved technical foul I've gotten as long as I have been coaching."

http://texastech.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/121303aaa.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

Raiders Host Bearkats Wednesday Evening

Texas Tech Has Won Their Last 21 Home Non-conference Games

Dec. 15, 2003

Lubbock, TX - The Texas Tech Red Raiders (8-2) face the Bearkats of Sam Houston State (3-3) on Wednesday evening at the United Spirit Arena. Tip-off will be at 7:00 p.m. The evening's match-up marks the six meeting between the two squads. Tech leads the series 4-1. The series began on February 9, 1927 as the Raiders won at home, 40-21. At home, Tech leads the series 3-1. The Raiders won the only game the teams have played in Huntsville.

The game is televised on the Texas Tech Television Network. Brian Jensen will call the play-by-play and Michael Lewis will provide the color analysis. The broadcast will air outside the Lubbock area. The satellite coordinates for Wednesday's game are: Galaxy 11 / Transponder K12. You can also catch the action on KKAM (1340AM) with the play-by-play called by John Harris and the analysis provided by Tom Geyer.

The Red Raiders have won their last 21 non-conference games played at home. The last time the Raiders lost a non-conference game on their home court was on November 24, 2001 to the Sam Houston State Bearkats by the score of 69-65. Last season, the Bearkats were 23-7 overall and were 17-3 in conference play. As the Southland Conference champions, the Bearkats gained a berth in the NCAA Tournament. They lost to Florida in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

All-American candidate Andre Emmett has 1,776 career points and is now fourth on the Texas Tech All- Time Scoring List. Andre's 19 points against San Diego State on Saturday moved him past Lance Hughes's 1,762 career points. Rick Bullock leads all Texas Tech players with 2,118 points.

The Raiders are averaging 11.4 steals per game. Six players (Giles, Jackson, Emmett, Ross, Tomaszek, and Mikey Marshall) have at least 11 steals each. Jay Jackson leads the squad with 26 thefts over ten games.

Texas Tech will host the Iowa Hawkeyes at the American Airlines Center on December 22 in the O'Reilly Christmas Classic with an 8:00 p.m. tip off. Everyone in attendance will receive a complimentary game program and a t-shirt. Four thousand Texas Tech media/fan guides will also be given out. Courtside seats ($250) can be purchased by call the Men's Basketball Special Projects Office at 806-742-7410. All other tickets for the O'Reilly Christmas Classic ($75, $39, $29) can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 214-373-8000.

For tickets to Texas Tech Men's Basketball at the United Spirit Arena, please contact (888) GO-BIG-12 or (806) 742-TECH or stop by the Texas Tech Athletic Ticket Office in the north end of Jones SBC Stadium. Tickets also can be purchased through the Texas Tech athletic website at www.texastech.com and at area United Supermarket and Select-a-Seat locations.

http://texastech.ocsn.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

LUBBOCK, Texas - Bob Knight remembers when he came off the bench at Ohio State and contributed to his team's effort.

He saw that from several players off his Texas Tech bench in the team's 97-63 win over Sam Houston State on Wednesday night and liked it. Josh Washington scored 12 points. Joseph Works added 11 and Curtis Marshall contributed nine off the bench.

"I really have a strong feeling for guys who can do that. Maybe because I did that," Knight said. "The best teams I've had, the guys I had, every game they came in and played well."

Starter Ronald Ross scored a career-high 24 points, including 21 in the first 11 minutes of the game.

"It was quick," said teammate Andre Emmett, who finished with 13 points. "I knew he was up there, but I didn't realize he had that many. I looked up, and I was like 'Whoa.'"

That sentiment was echoed by Bearkat coach Bob Marlin.

"He's quick, very explosive," he said. "A very smart player. He's not a 3-pointer shooter, although he was 3-of-3 tonight."

The Red Raiders (9-2) never trailed and used a 20-5 run to go up 69-33 early in the second half. They built their largest lead of 39 points twice, the last time with 2:27 remaining on a 12-footer by Joseph Works to put Tech up 92-53.

Sam Houston State (3-4) was plagued by poor shooting throughout the game, hitting only 20-of-59 from the field. The Bearkats also turned the ball over 24 times, leading to 31 of Tech's points.

"I was disappointed in our play obviously, mostly with the turnovers," Marlin said. "We didn't do a good job taking care of the basketball. But give Texas Tech a lot of the credit. Coach had his guys ready to play. They came out and stuck it to us.

Ross' previous career high came Saturday when he scored 16 points in Tech's 78-68 win over San Diego State. Against the Bearkats, Ross hit all three of his 3-pointers.

Knight was guarded in his comment about Ross' consistency.

"Yeah, in the last two games," Knight said. "That was pretty good play, but there are 30 games on the schedule."

Ryan Griffin scored 18 points and Joe Thompson added 10 for the Bearkats.

Two years ago, Sam Houston State handed Knight his first loss at Texas Tech. The Bearkats erased a 16-point halftime deficit then with a tough second-half comeback to beat the Red Raiders 69-65.

On Wednesday, Tech started fast and led 49-28 at halftime.

www.miami.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Iowa coach Steve Alford won 92 games with Bob Knight during his playing career at Indiana. What he'd like to do now is finally beat his college coach.

Alford will face Knight for the third time when Iowa plays Texas Tech in Dallas next Monday night. He went 0-2 against Knight's Indiana teams, losing 78-66 while he was at Southwest Missouri State in the 1997-98 season and 74-71 with Iowa on Jan. 18, 2000.

As a player, Alford helped Indiana win the 1987 NCAA championship. He also played for Knight on the 1984 U.S. Olympic team, which won the gold medal in Los Angeles.

"I just greatly respect the man that has been in the business this long, has been highly successful and has done it the right way," Alford said Thursday. "His programs haven't cheated and he's done it with incredible ethics and integrity."

When Knight and Alford met in that 2000 game in Bloomington, there was a lot of anticipation and speculation about how they would react to each other. Alford said the media blew things out of proportion and the two have a solid relationship.

Alford said Monday's game will be a good measuring stick for his team, which is 6-1 and hasn't played since losing at Northern Iowa on Dec. 9. The teams have similar styles, he noted, and his staff will analyze the game closely to help them prepare for the rest of the season.

"My enthusiasm and excitement about his game is that we really try to mirror the things that he does in his program from an offensive standpoint and a defensive standpoint," Alford said.

Knight took the Texas Tech job in 2001 after being fired at Indiana. He had a 622-239 record with the Hoosiers, winning three national championships and 11 Big Ten titles.

Alford said he has gone to Knight for guidance with his program and plans to ask for Knight's assistance at some point after their game. He said Knight has always been supportive.

"I know coach will do everything he can to help get our team as best prepared as possible," Alford said. "I can't think of another individual better to X-and-O with to find out what your strengths and weaknesses are than coach Knight."

Guard Brody Boyd, a native of Dugger, Ind., grew up watching Knight's teams. He has fond memories of attending Indiana games and remembers the impact Knight had on him.

"Growing up all you saw were deer carcasses and hoops everywhere you went," Boyd said. "He was the coach you looked up to no matter where you went. Everybody was always talking about the Hoosiers and talking about coach Knight and what they were doing."

http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D7VHA3BO1.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

Big game Monday