Bob Knight Joining ESPN Studio Team

[grunewar]

Live from ESPN: Bob Knight unleashed!

ESPN Thursday announced that Knight, the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men's college basketball, will be a studio analyst for its basketball coverage starting March 12. And not just for the occasional soundbite. Knight will be on hand for ESPN's wall-to-wall coverage of the major conference championships and continue through the NCAA title game – including working on ESPN's on-site set at the Final Four. He'll appear on pregame and postgame shows and on SportsCenter, says ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys, "and all the things we do tied to men's basketball."

Knight has appeared many times on ESPN, but mainly via game coverage or replays of his famed chair-throwing incident while coaching Indiana – that incident has been the most-replayed highlight on ESPN in its history. Knight, after being fired at Indiana in 2000, also chose ESPN for his one live TV interview – and got very testy while doing it.

But Knight has also been friendly with various ESPN basketball analysts, including Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale – Knight last year solicited support from college coaches in support of Vitale getting into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Knight declined to be interviewed Thursday. But, in a statement released by ESPN said, "ESPN has been real good for college basketball and I look forward to working with some of their people who I have known a long time."

[rainmaker]

Originally Posted by grunewar

Live from ESPN: Bob Knight unleashed!

He'll appear on pregame and postgame shows and on SportsCenter, says ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys, "and all the things we do tied to men's basketball."

But Knight has also been friendly with various ESPN basketball analysts, including Digger Phelps, Jay Bilas and Dick Vitale – Knight last year solicited support from college coaches in support of Vitale getting into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Packer, Lundquist, Bilas, etc, etc PLUS Bobby Knight??? Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??

[Adam]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Packer, Lundquist, Bilas, etc, etc PLUS Bobby Knight??? Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??

I just turn the volume down. It's kinda like, uhm, radio. Only different.

[budjones05]

I got a million on knight throwing a chair at packer by halftime of their 1st game

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Packer, Lundquist, Bilas, etc, etc PLUS Bobby Knight??? Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??

No.

Peace

[Nevadaref]

This should be extremely entertaining.

Think Charles Barkley the analyst.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??

No.

[truerookie]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??

Yes!

[Junker]

It will be interesting to say the least. I'm looking forward to it.

[Mark Dexter]

Originally Posted by rainmaker

Packer, Lundquist, Bilas, etc, etc PLUS Bobby Knight??? Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??

Packer and Lundquist only do CBS's actual in-game coverage of the tourney.

IIRC, Bilas does the same come tournament time. Bob Knight won't be paired with any of them.

[Tim C]

"Isn't that about enough to make some of you switch permanently to women's basketball??"

No, nothing could cause me to watch one second of a woman's game.

Regards,