Knight, Alford deny any feud between them
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
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
Coach is a nice & generous guy. He hates the media and that is why all of this is out. Imagine how hard the media has tried to find NCAA violation dirt on Coach? They can't. He runs a solid winning program and cannot stand the way the media blows so many things out of prorportion. He should be applauded for calling the media out like he does.
What kind of teammate would Bob Knight make? Just curious, I am sure his intentions are in everyones best interest...But no doubt he has c****ed the line MANY times...I would personally prefer to play for a Bob Knight team....
How is his relationship with Isiah these days? The greatest player he ever had.
How is his relationship with Isiah these days? The greatest player he ever had.
