Texas Tech Red Raiders and Bobby Knight News and Notes

[TheGeneral+]

Texas Tech targeted several Big Ten opponents for Monday's nonconference game at American Airlines Center. Iowa coach Steve Alford said he agreed to play the Red Raiders because of his relationship with Tech coach Bob Knight.

Their relationship is as complex as it is concrete. It's born out of deep-seeded respect, but it's one they say is misconstrued as combative and strained by the media, which drives both of them crazy.

Make no mistake, Knight and Alford have deep affection for one another, and both said they are friends, despite reports. Yet the multi-layered dynamic created when these two meet is still one of the most intriguing in college basketball.

ESPN sure thinks so. Both teams agreed to move their game to 8 p.m. to accommodate the network that highlighted Alford and Knight's relationship in A Season On The Brink, a book turned TV movie that Knight abhorred. The game will be telecast nationally.

"He's done very well with his team this year," Knight said of the 6-1 Hawkeyes. Tech is 9-2.

Alford said: "I call him as much as I possibly can."

In the Midwest, a Knight-Alford matchup would be an Indiana fan's dream. Alford was a two-time All-American under Knight at Indiana from 1984-87 and helped the coach win his third national championship in 1987.

Once Alford got into coaching, the mood between the two didn't appear to change. But when Alford took over at Iowa in 1999, they went from friends to direct Big Ten competitors.

The genesis of an apparent rift happened at Big Ten media day in November 1999. The two were in the same room but did not speak to each other. At the time, media accounts bashed Knight for not speaking to Alford. Few reported it the other way around.

When asked about the misconception there was a rift, Knight's temperature shot up.

"That's all [expletive]," Knight said. "Steve was coming to my basketball camp since he was 9 years old until he got out of high school, and [Alford] was a great part of Indiana basketball.

"I can't believe you'd ask me a question that negative."

Knight then launched into a profanity-laden monologue where he wondered aloud why the media doesn't ask about Alford's contributions to Indiana or Iowa.

Alford did not appreciate the headlines from Big Ten media day, either. Just the notion there was a rift put him in an incredibly uncomfortable position, Alford said.

"I didn't enjoy [the reports] at all," Alford said. "Coach and I did a lot together. We won Big Ten championships and an Olympic gold medal. But all of a sudden, I was a former player that was now getting into coaching. ... I always thought it was media driven."

In his first game against Knight, Alford's Southwest Missouri State team lost, 78-66, to Indiana during the 1997-98 season.

As the coach of Iowa in January 2000, Alford made his return to Indiana's Assembly Hall against Knight. Knight emerged from the visiting team's tunnel and immediately shook hands with Alford, a move Alford said "showed a lot of class." Indiana won, 74-71.

The two went some length of time before speaking again, apparently. It was front-page news in Iowa when Alford admitted he had a 30-minute conversation with Knight in February 2002.

Alford and Knight have acted like best buddies since.

Perhaps Monday's game will put the issue to bed for good.

"Maybe he does it because he likes me," Knight said. "Did you ever think of that?"

Iowa (6-1) vs. Texas Tech (9-2), 8 p.m. Monday, American Airlines Center (ESPN)

www.dallasnews.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Steve Alford still hasn't beaten his former coach.

That doesn't mean Texas Tech's Bob Knight is satisfied with being undefeated against the best player from the last of his three national championship teams at Indiana.

"There's never been a time that I've played these kids that played for me or coached with me that I haven't wanted our kids to win," Knight said. "I don't like to see our guys lose, and I don't like to see Steve lose this game."

But Andre Emmett, Knight's current star player at Tech, scored 23 points -- including the last six in a 10-0 first-half run that snapped an early tie -- and the Red Raiders beat Iowa 65-59 Monday night.

Alford was part of 92 of Knight's wins at Indiana, including the 1987 national championship. They also shared an Olympic gold medal in 1984.

But as a coach, Alford is 0-3 against Knight.

"If I have to lose a game, I'd want to lose it to him," Alford said.

Texas Tech (10-2) has won six straight games since losing 62-59 in another Dallas appearance three weeks ago at SMU. Pierre Pierce had 18 points for the Hawkeyes (6-2), who have lost their last two games.

Despite their mutual respect for each other, Alford didn't speak at length with Knight after taking the Iowa job in 1999 until calling his former coach in January when his own team was struggling and he needed to talk to somebody about it.

Still, both coaches insisted in the week leading up to the game that there are no problems with their relationship.

"This is somebody that since I was in the third grade I've been following and watching and dreaming about playing for," Alford said. "And then all that takes place and I end up getting into coaching and coaching against him. It's always tough to go up against him."

Before Monday night's game, their first against each other since Alford's first year at Iowa, the former player walked over to meet Knight. The two embraced lightly near midcourt and had an extended conversation, Alford smiling widely while Knight talked with his arm draped over the shoulder of his former player.

Once the game started, Emmett took over and Alford's smile was gone.

Darryl Dora's tip-in broke a 6-6 tie five minutes in to put the Red Raiders ahead to stay. He then followed an Iowa turnover with a jumper.

Emmett's scored three straight baskets after that, starting with a 15-foot jumper and a tip-in after another turnover. Emmett then had a steal and drove for a layup to give Tech a 16-6 lead.

Iowa didn't get closer than eight points before halftime, when Emmett already had 16 points and the Red Raiders led 39-27.

The Hawkeyes opened the second half with an 8-2 run, getting to 41-35 after 3-pointers by Jeff Horner and Pierce.

But even when Texas Tech went more than six minutes without scoring midway through the second half, Iowa scored just nine points to make it 52-48. With a chance to cut the deficit to two, the Hawkeyes missed three shots on the same possession and then made just two of their last six free throw attempts.

Josh Washington's two free throws with 5:35 left broke Tech's scoring drought and Iowa never got closer.

Knight was still at Indiana the first two times he went against Alford. Southwest Missouri lost 78-66 to the Hoosiers in 1997-98, and Alford's first Iowa team lost 74-71 four years ago.

Unless there is an Iowa-Texas Tech matchup in the NCAA tournament, Alford won't get another shot against Knight until they play in a planned game next December in Chicago.

Each time there is such a game, Knight is reminded of the times he had to face his former coach at Ohio State, Fred Taylor.

"I hated that. I don't know how many times we won or they won," Knight said. "If we got beat, I didn't like that. If we win, I didn't like that either, and I mean really disliked it, probably more so than even with the kids now like Steve."

www.sfgate.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Bobby Knight apologized Tuesday for using profanity toward a reporter who asked Iowa coach Steve Alford about his relationship with the Texas Tech's men's basketball coach in a nationally televised interview, reports the Dallas Morning News.


ESPN aired the interview, but bleeped out the obscenities, during Monday night's Texas Tech-Iowa game, then replayed it on SportsCenter.


Knight issued the apology during his weekly TV show Tuesday, saying he should have worded his opinion differently, the paper reported for its Wednesday edition.


"I think as a person, I always have a right to my opinion," Knight said. "But I think as a representative of the university, there should have been a way that I would have expressed that opinion over the question that was asked with a different choice of words.


"I've talked to the university about that, and have apologized to them for that and really understand what should have happened and what I wish would have happened."


Athletic director Gerald Myers told the Morning News that he would make sure every TV station in Lubbock had the tape for their nightly newscasts.


"Neither the university nor the athletic department in any way condones the use of profanity in coach Knight's description of his feelings about the media," Myers said in a statement.


"He apologized, and that's it," Myers added, who considers the issue dead, according to the paper.


Texas Tech chancellor Dr. David Smith withheld comment Tuesday evening, telling the Morning News that he had not seen the interview. Senior vice chancellor Richard Butler, however, condemned Knight's comments.


"We appreciate his coaching wisdom and what he does for the student-athletes," Butler said. "We don't appreciate that sort of language, and we don't think our constituents do. He's been extremely positive for Texas Tech, but we don't think that kind of language helps the university."


Coach-turned-journalist Fran Fraschilla handled the ESPN interview. Fraschilla asked Alford to talk about what's been perceived by the media as a rift between the two.


"How much was fact? How much was fiction?" Fraschilla asked. Before Alford could answer, Knight interrupted.


"Let me answer that. That is an absolute crock of [expletive]," said Knight, who used a variety of profanities while riffing on the subject. "All you media people can go [expletive] yourself when it comes to something like that."


Earlier this month, the paper notes, Knight chastised SMU students for using the same sort of language.


Fraschilla insists that the question needed to be asked, and said he still respects Knight.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=1693536

 

[TheGeneral+]

In the same week Brett Favre touched our hearts and raised our spirits, we were reminded yet again that our sports world is infiltrated by too many bad characters who never fail to offend us with their boorish behavior.

So, on Christmas morning, here's a lump of coal for Bob Knight and Latrell Sprewell.

Knight, the frequently ill-tempered basketball coach at Texas Tech, still doesn't get it. Never has, and apparently never will, no matter how many times he is told to apologize or how many people he offends or hurts with his cruel words.

Knight's latest mea culpa came Tuesday, one day after he unleashed a profanity-riddled tirade at an ESPN reporter who had asked Iowa coach Steve Alford about his relationship with Knight. There have been reports in recent years of a rift between the two coaches.

Fran Fraschilla, a former college coach, conducted the interview with Alford and Knight before Monday night's game in Dallas. The interview aired during the game and was replayed on SportsCenter.

Knight, ever the bully, didn't allow Alford to answer the question. Instead, the man who helped Knight's 1987 Indiana team to the NCAA championship was reduced to a prop, a silenced Howdy Doody puppet sitting at the right knee of a very mad Buffalo Bob.

"Let me answer that. That is an absolute crock of (expletive)," Knight said. "All you media people can go (expletive) yourself when it comes to something like that."

It's always like this with Knight, the master of intimidation. For all his coaching genius and gestures of kindness and generosity, Knight drives away those who might want to admire him. He always must have the last word, always must have it his way, always must make others feel small and insignificant.

His is never the voice of reason with those who touch a nerve with a question or comment, or who do something he doesn't like. By now, you'd think he would have grown up and joined the remainder of the civilized world. But Knight never seems to remember that when he embarrasses himself, he embarrasses others who have gone to bat for him and defended him over the years. Loyalty has its limits.

After apparently getting called on the carpet by Texas Tech officials, Knight apologized during his weekly TV show. Of course, Knight's apologies run hollow, given his record of venomous verbal abuse.

"I think as a person, I always have a right to my opinion," Knight said. "But I think as a representative of the university, there should have been a way that I would have expressed that opinion over the question that was asked with a different choice of words.

"I've talked to the university about that, and have apologized to them for that and really understand what should have happened and what I wish would have happened."

Richard Butler, the university's senior vice chancellor, took Knight to task.

"We appreciate his coaching wisdom and what he does for the student-athletes," Butler told The Dallas Morning News. "We don't appreciate that sort of language, and we don't think our constituents do. He's been extremely positive for Texas Tech, but we don't think that kind of language helps the university."

Ironically, Knight had chastised SMU students earlier this month for shouting obscenities during games, according to the Morning News.

And now, on to Sprewell, who was traded by the New York Knicks to the Minnesota Timberwolves last summer.

Sprewell, a graduate of Milwaukee Washington High School, returned to Madison Square Garden Tuesday night and dropped 31 points on the Knicks in a 98-92 victory. The pro-Sprewell crowd was in a frenzy, and so was Sprewell.

According to published reports, Sprewell repeatedly cursed at James Dolan, the chairman of the Knicks' corporate ownership. An official warned Sprewell to stop, but he soon directed another profanity-laced tirade toward the Knicks' bench. That earned him a technical foul.

On Wednesday, Sprewell was fined $25,000 by the NBA.

No one should forget that Sprewell was waived by the Golden State Warriors in 1997 after he choked coach P.J. Carlesimo during practice. After the two were separated, Sprewell resumed the attack 15 minutes later. He was reinstated in March of 1998 and signed with the Knicks, who at considerable risk allowed him to rehabilitate his bad-guy image. As a gesture of confidence, they gave him a five-year, $61.9 million contract to ease his hurt feelings.

Sprewell reportedly was angry that Dolan had said during training camp that dealing Sprewell to Minnesota improved the character of the Knicks.

www.madison.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

The Sulphur Golden Tors hit 19 of 22 free throws in the fourth quarter to defeat Reserve Christian 77-73 Friday night in the Fourth Annual Cameron State Bank Invitational, being held at Barbe High.

Loaded with talent, the two-time defending Class B champion, Reserve (20-5), erased a 13-point halftime Sulphur (18-2) lead, tying the game at 64, but never moved into the driver's seat.

"We couldn't get over the hump to slow the game down and make them come after us," Reserve coach Timmy Byrd said. "Give (Sulphur) all the credit because they made the big shots and big free throws when they needed them and withstood the charge."

The win sets Sulphur up in a semifinal matchup with Woodlawn, who knocked the Tors out of the playoffs last year, today at noon.

"It was a great ball game," Sulphur head coach Clint LeBato said of the Tors' win. "Two good teams went after it and it was well-played by both teams. We just came away with the win."

Martin Zeno scored 22 in the first half and 12 in the fourth quarter to lead all scorers with 39 points.

He got most of his scoring help at the free throw line, where point guard Kevin Guilbeaux hit 12 of 13 charity shots and center Cody Wyatt connected on eight of nine. Guilbeaux finished the game with 18 points and Wyatt added 12.

Reserve was led by post player George Brozos, who doubled as a sharpshooter. Brozos hit eight three pointers on his way to 32 points. Guard Demond Carter scored 18 in the second half to add 22 for the Eagles.

Sulphur played a solid first two quarters to take a 37-23 halftime lead.

Reserve turned up the intensity in the third, outscoring Sulphur 26-15, but also got into foul trouble, reaching the bonus midway through the quarter. The Golden Tors were already in the double bonus with 30 seconds left in the third and finished the game with 40 free throws to Reserve's 15.

"The referees did an outstanding job," Byrd said. "The reason we had kids fouling out was that we were forced to foul."

"The came out aggressive and took some fouls to get some turnovers," LeBato said. "It got them back in the game, but we settled down and made some big baskets."

www.sulphurdailynews.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

DALLAS - Texas Tech's Andre Emmett, who scored 23 points against Iowa last week, was named Big 12 player of the week on Monday.

Emmett, of Dallas, was 9-of-15 from the field against the Big Ten's Hawkeyes. He had seven rebounds, three assists and two steals during the game, in which he played all 40 minutes for the fifth time this season. Emmett leads the Big 12 in scoring at 21.4 points per game.

It was the second time this season Emmett has been named the Big 12 player of the week.

Iowa State's Curtis Stinson earned the conference's rookie of the week honors. He had his second double-double of the year, scoring 19 points and collecting 10 rebounds against Xavier. The guard from New York also had four steals and three assists. He's averaging 13.3 points per game, the best scoring average among Big 12 freshman.

Stinson ranks second in the conference in assists with an average of 5.1 per game.

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/sports/7592903.htm

 

[TheGeneral+]

LUBBOCK, TEXAS -- The Big Ten season doesn't begin until next week. At least another six weeks of college basketball must be played before anyone can really predict what teams will reach the NCAA tournament. Yet all of that seems to be lost on the Gophers men's team.

At a time when the only true big games are played on the football field, the Gophers (6-3) are using adjectives like "huge" and "must-win" to describe this afternoon's game at Texas Tech.

Did the calendar somehow go from December to mid-February overnight?

Not quite. But there is certainly an increased sense of urgency for the Gophers entering the game against Bob Knight's Red Raiders. Going 0-for-3 in games against Utah, Virginia and Nebraska will do that to a team.

Because if this Gophers team, projected by many before the season to finish among the bottom three or four teams in the Big Ten, wants to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1999, there is no more time to fool around.

"We wasted a couple of opportunities," Gophers center Jeff Hagen said. "We brought it upon ourselves. Now we've got to go out and take care of business.

"We need to right the ship."

Defeating the Red Raiders would give the Gophers two things they lack: a victory against a high-profile opponent and a victory away from Williams Arena. It would also keep the team's loss total at three, an important fact considering the Gophers have never received an invitation to the NCAA tournament after losing four or more nonconference games.

"This is a huge game for us; it's definitely a must-win for us," forward Michael Bauer said. "I don't think it's make-or-break for us, but it's about as close as you can get in early January."

While they realize the magnitude, the Gophers are collectively looking forward to playing again and putting Monday's disappointing 77-60 loss to Nebraska behind them.

"If we win this game and get things rolling in the Big Ten, I think people will forget about how we played against Nebraska," guard Ben Johnson said. "It will be a game come tournament time that could be a big win for us."

To beat the Red Raiders (10-2) and avoid going winless in their two-game series against the Big 12, the Gophers have to play better on both ends of the floor. They have to show some defensive fortitude -- something that's been missing in each of the team's three losses. And after shooting a combined 35.1 percent in the past two games the Gophers have to be crisper offensively.

"We've got our work cut out for us, we know that," Gophers coach Dan Monson said. "But the biggest thing is if we don't play better, it doesn't matter what they do. We've got to play better to compete with them."

The Gophers have had little success against the Red Raiders since Knight, the former Indiana coach, was hired before the 2001-02 season. In the past two seasons, the teams have met three times and the Gophers have gone winless.

The Red Raiders routed the Gophers two years ago before winning two games against Minnesota last season. Texas Tech needed overtime to win a December game at Williams Arena before winning by 10 in the third-place game of the National Invitation Tournament.

"I'm looking forward to getting out there, proving ourselves and finally playing well," Johnson said. "Hopefully we can get everybody on the same page and everybody confident with their games so we don't go into conference feeling down about ourselves."

http://www.startribune.com/stories/512/4296308.html

 

[TheGeneral+]

LUBBOCK -- Bob Knight experienced a bit of déjà vu Thursday in Texas Tech's 90-73 win over Minnesota.

In the consolation game of the NIT last season, Tech twice let big leads slip before beating Minnesota 71-61.

Thursday, Minnesota whittled an 18-point Tech lead to 12 going into the locker room at the half.

"We kind of slipped a little bit in the final four minutes of the first half," Knight said. "It was almost exactly what happened to us when we played Minnesota in Madison Square Garden last spring."

Knight was pleased about how his players responded when Minnesota managed to impede Andre Emmett's scoring.

"When people really basically attack Emmett, then we've got to have some other people that score and we did," he said.

Five Tech players had double figures. Jarrius Jackson scored 20 points, Emmett scored 17, Darryl Dora had 15, Robert Tomaszek added 11 and Ronald Ross had 10.

Texas Tech (11-2) shot the ball well, especially in the second half when the Red Raiders scored on 12 of 13 possessions. The Red Raiders finished at 58 percent from the field, hitting 34-of-60,

The Golden Gophers (6-4) cut the margin to seven in the opening minutes of the second half but Tech answered with a 10-2 run to go up 56-41 with 14:58 remaining. Minnesota never threatened again.

"We're not at the level of Texas Tech right now," Gophers coach Dan Monson. "Intensity-wise, we could not answer them on the defensive end of the court. We were never able to get them out of their rhythm. They got things going, and then all of a sudden, everything is going in for them."

Texas Tech built its largest lead at 90-68 on a layup by Curtis Marshall with 50 seconds left in the game.

Kris Humphries scored 21 points and Ben Johnson added 11 for the Gophers.

The Red Raiders used a 15-4 run to go up 29-12 with 8:29 remaining in the half. In a 10-minute span the Gophers turned the ball over nine times and scored only two field goals.

Knight, who in recent weeks has chastised fans for low attendance at home games, took the microphone to thank the crowd after the game.

"We really appreciate the turnout we had on a holiday," said Knight, alluding to the 10,524 who came through the turnstiles Thursday. "Thanks very much."

It was the largest crowd of the season by about 2,100.

He went on to tell the crowd that students won't be back for classes when Tech opens its Big 12 season against Oklahoma State on Jan. 10.

"So make damn sure you're there then too," he said.

A few moments later, Knight returned to the microphone and told the remaining fans, "I really didn't mean to say `damn.' I'm trying to work on my language, so just make sure you're there."

In a recent interview Knight did on ESPN with Iowa coach Steve Alford, one of his former players in Indiana, some of Knight's language had to be bleeped out. He subsequently apologized.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2332043

 

[TheGeneral+]

Sun 01/04/2004 Ohio State, Columbus, Ohio 2PM

 

[TheGeneral+]

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Andre Emmett had 27 points and Texas Tech, despite giving up 26 more shots from the field, beat Ohio State 80-72 Sunday in coach Bob Knight's return to his alma mater.

Devonne Giles added 17 points, Ronald Ross had 15 points and seven assists and Robert Tomaszek chipped in with 10 points for the Red Raiders (12-2), who have beaten three Big Ten opponents in the last 13 days. They defeated Iowa 65-59 in a game in Dallas and pounded Minnesota 90-73 on New Year's Day in Lubbock.

Emmett hit 10 of 19 shots from the field and 7 of 9 free throws and added 11 rebounds.

Knight had not led a team into Columbus since the next-to-last team of his 29 seasons at Indiana was beaten 73-56 five years ago - his most lopsided loss ever against the school from which he graduated in 1962. His teams had lost three in a row against the Buckeyes.

Nick Dials, a freshman walk-on given a scholarship just before the season started, led Ohio State (8-5) with 15 points. J.J. Sullinger added 12 and Tony Stockman 10.

Sullinger and Stockman, transfers from Arkansas and Clemson respectively, had horrible shooting days against the Red Raiders' defensive pressure. Sullinger was 4 for 13 and Stockman 4 for 18.

Texas Tech came in holding opponents to 40.8 percent shooting from the field and continually frustrated the Buckeyes as they forced the ball inside to big men Velimir Radinovic, Terence Dials and Shun Jenkins - who frequently missed shots in close in heavy traffic. The Buckeyes made just 32.9 percent of their shots as their big men combined to hit 8 of 20 from the field.

Ohio State was 26 of 79 from the field to the Red Raiders' 32 of 53.

Tech outscored the Buckeyes 46-28 in the paint in spite of Ohio State trying to go inside on almost every trip down the floor.

The Red Raiders took their first lead on Emmett's 14-foot jumper at 18:01 of the second half, part of a 6-0 run. The Buckeyes missed their first six shots of the half.

A 3-pointer by Nick Dials with 10 minutes left gave Ohio State a 52-47 lead but Tech countered with a 10-0 run. Ross started things with a 3-pointer, Giles made two free throws and then a bucket and Emmett scored the final three points - hitting the front end of a bonus situation and then following his miss on the second shot with a putback that made it 57-52.

The Buckeyes drew as close as 61-60 on Ugo Nwankwo's baseline jumper with 4:33 left, but Tomaszek followed with a 15-footer, Ross hit a layup off a backdoor pass from Tomaszek, Emmett scored on a drive and Jarrius Jackson made a layup to make it 69-60 with 2 minutes left.

Ohio State never got closer than six points again.

www.sportsline.com/collegebasketball

 

[TheGeneral+]

Sat 01/10/2004 Oklahoma State Lubbock, Texas

 

[TheGeneral+]

LUBBOCK, Texas - Coach Bob Knight won't hazard a guess as to how Texas Tech will fare as it heads into Big 12 play.

"I look at them today and see where I think they are today, and where I think we have to go tomorrow," he said. "I'm just not smart enough to figure out where they should be a month from now."

Knight does know this, though: Big 12 leading scorer Andre Emmett will be looked to for leadership, and he'll need help from his new supporting cast.

As Tech (12-2) heads into Saturday's conference opener with Oklahoma State (10-1), Knight says he has seen glimmers of improvement from the three junior college transfers and four freshman learning the motion offense.

One of the quick studies has been freshman guard Jarrius Jackson, who is averaging 10.4 points and leads the team in steals with 32.

"He's probably played better than you would expect a freshman to play, and yet he's had some ups and downs," Knight said. "I think he has a chance to be a very good player and he's got a lot of work to do get there."

Knight has watched teams attack Emmett and has told his players they need to help.

They've responded so far, with Robert Tomaszek averaging 9.0 points and Ronald Ross 8.4. Knight also has praised Darryl Dora, a freshman who has started six games and shows good court vision.

"I just always have my eyes open to see open people, especially Andre," he said. "He's a very good cutter. We're always making eye contact. We've got some athletes on the team who are real good. You can put it anywhere and they'll go get it."

Emmett, the conference's leading scorer the past two seasons, is leading again with 21.5 points per game. He also has added dimensions to his game.

He leads the teams in rebounds (7.2), has five double-doubles and is second in steals (24). On the downside, he also leads the team in turnovers with 34.

Emmett said one of his goals is to lead his team.

"We got goals set," he said. "I don't think they'll be accomplished if someone doesn't step up and lead the team. If everything's falling into place, we keep going, we'll keep getting better and better."

Knight agrees, but still thinks improvement is needed.

"I think we have a lot of work to do at both ends of the floor," he said. "I think our team has worked hard. I think it's made some good strides and played pretty well a fair amount of time. We just got to keep working to get better. We got a long way to go to be able to compete with everybody."

Last year Tech finished 22-13, tied for seventh (6-10) in the Big 12, and lost 64-63 to St. John's in the NIT semifinals. Afterward, Knight decided that wasn't good enough so returned his $250,000 salary to the school. Tech is 57-24 under Knight, 63.

This year, Knight has been tough on the fans. In December, he chastised them for low attendance, suggesting Tech should consider scrapping the men's basketball program.

The fans responded. After the last home game Jan. 1, Knight went to the microphone and thanked the crowd of 10,524 - the largest of the year by more than 2,100 - and told them to make "damn sure" they're at the OSU game.

He returned a few minutes later and said he's trying to work on his language and didn't mean to say "damn." Then he asked fans to "just make sure you're there."

Knight knows he'll need all the help he can get in the rugged Big 12.

"I think you're going to be looking at a conference that's just as strong as it has been."

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/7672948.htm

 

[TheGeneral+]

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Andre Emmett scored 19 of his season-high 32 points in the second half as Texas Tech beat Oklahoma State 83-62 Saturday in each team's Big 12 opener.

Tech (13-2) broke the game open with an 11-0 run midway through the second half, during which Emmett scored six points and had two steals in a 25-second span.

He was fouled after a layup, then missed the free throw but stole the ball and scored. On the next possession for OSU (10-2), Emmett stole the ball again and scored on a layup for a 53-41 lead.

Emmett, whose career high is 35 points, was 12-of-21 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

Tech pulled to its largest lead at 81-57 on Ronald Ross' layup with 1:46 remaining.

The Cowboys led the country in field goal percentage at 55 percent heading into the game. But Tech held them to 23-of-65 for 35 percent. Tech hit on 28-of-53 for 53 percent.

The Cowboys also had been averaging 83 points before the loss, which snapped a six-game win streak for them.

Tech has won nine straight.

Ross scored 18 points and Tomaszek added nine for Tech.

Ivan McFarlin scored 13 points, and Tony Allen and Daniel Bobik added 11 points each for the Cowboys.

Tech led 39-35 at halftime. The Red Raiders used a 9-0 run to take a 17-13 lead.

The Cowboys went cold and got only one field goal in about six minutes but Bobik broke the drought with back-to-back 3-pointers to give OSU the lead back at 23-21 with 8:18 remaining in the half.

Tech closed the half with a 15-4 run, with nine points coming from the free throw line.

www.sportsline.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Andre Emmett scored 19 of his season-high 32 points in the second half as Texas Tech beat Oklahoma State 83-62 Saturday in each team's Big 12 opener.

Tech (13-2) broke the game open with an 11-0 run midway through the second half, during which Emmett scored six points and had two steals in a 25-second span.

He was fouled after a layup, then missed the free throw but stole the ball and scored. On the next possession for OSU (10-2), Emmett stole the ball again and scored on a layup for a 53-41 lead.

Emmett, whose career high is 35 points, was 12-of-21 from the field and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.

Tech pulled to its largest lead at 81-57 on Ronald Ross' layup with 1:46 remaining.

The Cowboys led the country in field goal percentage at 55 percent heading into the game. But Tech held them to 23-of-65 for 35 percent. Tech hit on 28-of-53 for 53 percent.

The Cowboys also had been averaging 83 points before the loss, which snapped a six-game win streak for them.

Tech has won nine straight.

Ross scored 18 points and Tomaszek added nine for Tech.

Ivan McFarlin scored 13 points, and Tony Allen and Daniel Bobik added 11 points each for the Cowboys.

Tech led 39-35 at halftime. The Red Raiders used a 9-0 run to take a 17-13 lead.

The Cowboys went cold and got only one field goal in about six minutes but Bobik broke the drought with back-to-back 3-pointers to give OSU the lead back at 23-21 with 8:18 remaining in the half.

Tech closed the half with a 15-4 run, with nine points coming from the free throw line.

www.sportsline.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Raiders Face Baylor Bears on Saturday at 8:00 p.m.
Andre Emmett Earns Big 12 Men's Basketball Weekly Honor

Jan. 13, 2004

Lubbock, TX - The Red Raiders will travel to Waco to face the Baylor Bears at the Ferrell Center for their second conference game of the season on Saturday. The game will be televised by Fox Sports Net with the action beginning at 8:00 p.m. Bill Land will call the play-by-play. Jim Haller will provide the expert analysis.

Texas Tech (13-2) is coming off an 83-62 win against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in their conference home opener at the United Spirit Arena on January 10. After the squad returns from Baylor, the action at the arena continues as the Raiders welcome the Oklahoma Sooners on Monday night in an ESPN "Big Monday" contest at 8:00 p.m. Ron Franklin will provide the play-by-play. Jon Sundvold will add the expert analysis.

For the third straight week and fourth time this season, Texas Tech senior Andre Emmett put up big numbers in earning Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week. Emmett scored 32 points in the Red Raiders' 83-62 win against Oklahoma State. Iowa State freshman Curtis Stinson averaged 18.5 points in two league wins last week and is the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week. Both honors are chosen by a media panel.

In the win over Oklahoma State Emmett scored a season-high 32 points on 12-of-21 shooting. The Dallas native was 7-for-8 from the free throw line against the Cowboys in 38 minutes. Emmett continues to lead the Big 12 in scoring with a 22.2 average. He has averaged 24.8 points in his last four games. This marks third straight week, the fourth time this season, and fifth time in his career Emmett has earned Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Week honors. Emmett's three straight honors is the first time this has happened in the seven-plus year history of the Big 12. His four times this season tie for the most in a single season with Drew Gooden of Kansas in 2001-02 and Marcus Fizer in 1999-2000.

For tickets to Texas Tech Men's Basketball games at the United Spirit Arena, please call (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.


2003-04 Phillips 66 Big 12 Player(s)of the Week

Nov. 24 Andre Emmett, Sr., Texas Tech
Dec. 1 Wayne Simien, Jr., Kansas
Dec. 8 Jason Detrick, Sr., Oklahoma
Dec. 15 Drew Lavender, Fr., Oklahoma
Dec. 22 Ivan McFarlin, Sr., Oklahoma State
Dec. 29 Andre Emmett, Sr., Texas Tech
Jan. 5 Andre Emmett, Sr., Texas Tech
Jan. 12 Andre Emmett, Sr., Texas Tech

http://texastech.ocsn.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

The best teachers don't have to be bullies.

If anything, the long and distinguished history of college hoops suggests just the opposite is true.

The teacher with the most disciples in the game, Dean Smith, retired as the winningest coach in major college history and one of the classiest. The active coach with the most disciples, Mike Krzyzewski, is like Smith -- already both a proven winner and a gentleman.

So what is it about Bob Knight? The man who taught the game to Krzyzewski, among others, and may yet pass Smith in the "W" column continues to behave like the pettiest of tyrants.

On Monday, just a few hours before his Texas Tech Red Raiders were to play an Iowa team coached by Steve Alford, another of Knight's disciples, the two sat down for an interview. Former coach and ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla asked Knight where his relationship with Alford, once rumored to be distant, stood now.

Knight's answer?

"Bleep."

A very public rant

With Alford squirming next to him, Knight then launched one of those very public rants where you half-expect one of his inner demons to peel back the skin on his scalp and pop into full view. What followed were several more "bleeps," a few "bleeping" media references, and just for good measure, he reiterated how he and Alford got along was nobody's "bleeping" business. Then he dared ESPN to run the piece in all its unedited glory.

The network didn't bite, of course. It couldn't. Not without opening itself up to heavy fines and a series of headslaps from the Federal Communications Commission. Knight knew that better than everyone on the set and at least as well as the higher-ups back at the studios.

But here's the really aggravating part: Whatever passed between them since 1987, when they won the NCAA championship together as coach and star guard for the 1987 Indiana Hoosiers, Knight and Alford couldn't be much closer today.

Why Knight refused to say so, only he knows. The truth is that he's always been generous -- and then some -- to just about everybody who ever played or sat alongside him on the bench.

Rift dated to 1999

The rift with Alford, such as it was, dated to 1999. That's when the student moved up in the coaching ranks from Southwest Missouri State to Iowa, which also moved him into the teacher's Big Ten orbit. At the time, the two reportedly had not spoken for nearly a year, and there were at least three possible reasons for Knight's rumored displeasure. One was a book Alford wrote, titled, "Playing for Knight." The second was supposed to be comments Alford made about wanting to coach Indiana someday. The third was the transfer of former player Luke Recker, who had a tumultuous relationship with Knight and wound up at Iowa.

Whether any of that actually bothered Knight, he hasn't let anyone know -- with the possible exception of Alford. But it certainly hasn't changed the order of things. Just like the two previous meetings between their teams, Knight's won the Monday night encounter. What was different, though, was Knight's willingness to talk about the student-teacher relationship.

He remembered his own toughest coaching assignment, facing his mentor, Ohio State coach Fred Taylor.

"I look in the paper and look for scores every day for guys who have either played or coached for me," Knight said. "If there are a bunch of them on the left hand column, then that's a good day for me. I feel good about that. I don't like to see our guys lose. I don't like to see Steve lose this game."

Knight is hardly the only coach to find it tough going against a friend, and not even the only one to do in the last two weeks. Louisville coach Rick Pitino beat his old student, Florida's Billy Donovan, in their teams' matchup. Though they were uncomfortable about their teams playing one another, both registered complaints about the hype leading up to the game without so much as a single bleep.

Even though the NCAA tournament selection committee takes an almost perverse delight in setting up the brackets to bring such games about, few teachers schedule their former assistants or players during the regular season unless there's a very good reason. Pitino invited Donovan to a Louisville tournament to help out a charity established in the memory of close mutual friend. In Alford's case, his career hit a rough patch last season and he sought out Knight over the summer for advice. That's what led to the meeting in Dallas.

"He's the best coach there is," Alford said afterward, and the results suggest Knight remains a pretty good mentor, besides.

Which begs the question: Since his students have learned to take the best of his lessons and leave the excesses behind, why can't their teacher do the same?

http://semissourian.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Record: 13-2
RPI: 0.6591 - 8

Baylor Bears
Record: 4-8
RPI: 0.3964 - 285

 

[TheGeneral+]

WACO, Texas, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- Ronald Ross scored 24 points and Andre Emmett 22 as No. 22 Texas Tech extended its win streak to 10 games Saturday with a 75-66 victory over Baylor.

Ross buried four three-pointers and finished 9-of-13 from the floor en route to matching his season high for points. The 6-2 junior is averaging 16.6 points per game in his last six contests.

Emmett was his normal self as he made 8-of-14 shots, helping the Red Raiders (14-2) beat the Bears for the fifth time in the last six meetings.

Terrance Thomas scored 20 points and Harvey Thomas 15 for Baylor (5-10), which has lost 17 of its last 19 contests against ranked teams.

http://washingtontimes.com

 

[TheGeneral+]

Mon 01/19/2004 Oklahoma Lubbock, Texas ESPN 8PM


Oklahoma Sooners
Record: 10-3
RPI: 0.5735 - 68

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Record: 14-2
RPI: 0.6526 - 12

 

[TheGeneral+]

Andre Emmett scored 21 points and No. 18 Texas Tech won its 11th straight game, beating No. 20 Oklahoma, 67-47, Monday night.
The winning streak is Tech's longest under coach Bob Knight. The Red Raiders won 10 in a row during the 2001-02 season -- his first at the school -- before a loss at Oklahoma.

Earlier in the day, the Red Raiders moved up to their highest ranking under Knight.

The Sooners, meanwhile, dropped their fourth straight game. In three of the defeats -- against Connecticut, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech -- they lost by at least 20 points.

Oklahoma has lost four in a row for the first time in five seasons. The Sooners are off to an 0-3 start in conference play for the first time since the 1980-81 season.

Oklahoma, which was last in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage (42 percent) coming into the game, again had difficulty finding the basket. They finished 19-of-58 for 33 percent.

The Sooners' point total matched their lowest of the season, set in a 47-45 win against Purdue in December.


OKLAHOMA (10-4): Bookout 0-1 0-0 0, Brown 2-9 2-2 6, McKenzie 3-9 3-3 9, Lavender 2-9 0-0 6, Alexander 0-3 0-0 0, Williams 0-3 0-0 0, Detrick 5-11 0-0 11, Foust 2-3 0-0 4, Gilbert 1-4 0-0 2, Turner 4-6 1-4 9. Totals 19-58 6-9 47.

TEXAS TECH (15-2): Emmett 6-12 9-14 21, Giles 4-6 4-6 12, Tomaszek 3-3 0-0 6, Jackson 5-9 1-2 12, **** 2-11 6-6 10, MMarshall 1-1 0-0 2, Dora 0-2 0-0 0, Works 1-1 0-0 2, Coffman 0-0 0-0 0, Ogden 0-0 0-0 0, CMarshall 0-0 0-0 0, Washington 1-1 0-0 2, White 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 23-46 20-28 67.

Halftime -- Texas Tech, 27-19. Three-point goals -- Oklahoma 3-19 (Lavender 2-5, Detrick 1-4, Alexander 0-1, Williams 0-3, McKenzie 0-6), Texas Tech 1-7 (Jackson 1-2, Dora 0-1, Emmett 0-1, **** 0-3). Fouled out -- Brown. Rebounds -- Oklahoma 31 (Brown 9), Texas Tech 39 (Emmett, Giles 8). Assists -- Oklahoma 4 (Alexander 2), Texas Tech 10 (Jackson, **** 4). Fouls -- Oklahoma 22, Texas Tech 14. A -- 15,018.

www.cincypost.com