General order

Sporting News, The, Dec 8, 1997 by Bob Benner

My, how things have changed for Bob Knight on his home turf.... It's no longer certain he would be elected Indiana's governor if he chose to run. His coach's show isn't "must-see TV."

Games in Bloomington and Indianapolis no longer are automatic sellouts.

When he changes sweater styles, it doesn't set off a buying frenzy.

Many people actually believe Neil Reed.

And Knight's Indiana University basketball program now ranks No. 2. Not in the country ... in the state, where Gene Keady's Purdue Boilermakers are beating Indiana on the court. in recruiting and in the Big Ten standings.

Once upon a time--it was only four years ago, but seems longer--it was the general consensus Knight could walk across the Wabash River without benefit of a bridge.

And what he did off the court--or even sometimes on it--didn't matter. Whether offering comments on rape to CBS' Connie Chung, stuffing an LSU fan into a trash can, criticizing the NCAA and Big fen, poking fun at Purdue, showing up the university president or, least of all, attacking the media. Knight fired from his lips and didn't much care about the consequences.

Not that there were any. Whatever the incident, most would simply shrug and say, "That's just Bobby." After all, Knight's program was doing what it always had done: win Big Ten titles (11 I'm his first 22 seasons), reach the Final Four !five times) and at least compete for. if not win, national championships (three of IU's five).

Fast forward to last March. Knight's Hoosiers were in Winston-Salem, N.C., to meet Colorado in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

After a 1.3-1 start that included a Preseason NIT title and a victory over Duke, the Hoosiers went a disappointing 9-9 in the Big Ten. It marked the first four-year run without a conference title since Knight arrived.

And any hope of getting an emotional restart from the tournament lasted about one minute. In one of the most lifeless performances ever by one of his Indiana teams--especially one with the talent to do so much better--the Hoosiers were blown out by the Buffaloes, 80-62.

One of the greatest coaches in the history of the college game had fielded a team that didn't look like it had been touched by his guiding hand.

Then again, perhaps it had.

At least that's what Reed alleged.

To put even a sorrier wrap on this dismal finish, Knight--disgusted by the lack of leadership from his junior class of Andrae Patterson, Charlie Miller, Richard Mandeville and Reetl--told Patterson, Mandeville and Reed they should play their senior years elsewhere because they likely wouldn't be getting any action at Indiana.

Reed took him up on the offer and, on his way out, accused Knight of mental and physical abuse, although Reed offered few specifics. Nonetheless, another firestorm of controversy followed, and for once, the flames reached Knight's backside.

Reed, a coach's son who dreamed of playing for Knight and almost always was regarded as a gritty performer, was cast as a whiny quitter. Returning players circulated a letter ripping him and supporting their coach. Others, including North Carolina legend Dean Smith and former Notre Dame coach Digger Phelps, also defended Knight. Ultimately, Reed's departure left opinion divided.

Yet one sentiment stood: Knight had done a poor job of coaching. Many questioned whether the game and Generation X players not into military-style discipline were passing Knight by.

After all. IU's loss to Colorado was the third straight in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. His last three teams have lost 12, 12 and 11 games, the worst such stretch of his 32-year career. To make matters worse, Indiana's biggest rivals, Purdue and Kentucky, had combined to win eight of the last nine matchups.

Make no mistake. The support for Knight and his ways remain strong, but it's lessening in its fervor Some Fans, in fact, already have begun the vigil on his successor with the hope it will be native son and former IU All-American Steve Alford, the coach at Southwest Missouri State.

You almost expect to see John Feinstein lurking around, taking notes and preparing a sequel, Another Season on the Brink. But wait a minute. Does anyone recall the season after the first Season on the Brink, Feinstein's bestseller?

It was 1986-87. And the national champion at the end of that season was? That's right. Indiana.

Indeed, times, players and the style of the game have changed. But Bob Knight still is Bob Knight and Indiana basketball still is Indiana basketball. And if the best, most constructive aspects of those entities can converge again, the General may simply reply: Shove it.

Not that early results are encouraging. Indiana's defense was pitiful in an exhibition loss to Athletes in Action, then its ballhandling and offensive execution slipped in a season-opening, 59-53 loss at Temple. But what really matters is how the Hoosiers play in March, not November.

Four starters--preseason All-America Patterson, Big Ten freshman of the year A.J. Guyton, 7-foot sophomore Jason Collier and the 6-7 Miller--are back. And five other returnees are joined by a recruiting class that includes Indiana's high school Mr. Basketball Luke Recker, a 6-6 swing man with great athletic ability and a swagger.