Knight gets back to work after getting win No. 880

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ With the record in his name alone, Bob Knight can return to the mission he prizes more than being the winningest men's Division I basketball coach _ molding his players' talents

Tuesday, January 2nd 2007, 6:28 am

By: News On 6

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) _ With the record in his name alone, Bob Knight can return to the mission he prizes more than being the winningest men's Division I basketball coach _ molding his players' talents and characters.

``I never really did think it was special,'' Knight told The Associated Press after earning victory No. 880 as Texas Tech defeated New Mexico 70-68 Monday. ``I thought it was great for the players and everybody.''

The longtime coach extended his streak of never needing more than two tries for any of his milestone victories after losing to UNLV last Thursday in his first attempt to best Dean Smith's 879 wins.

For someone who couldn't care less about that benchmark, Knight sure reveled in the New Year's Day party thrown for him. It was music to his ears, in fact.

``I've always thought that if there's ever an occasion for a song to be played on my behalf, I wanted it to be Frank Sinatra singing 'My Way,''' said Knight, whose usually glaring facade showed hints of cracking during the outpouring of emotions. ``I think I've put myself out on a limb at times, knowingly, simply because I thought what I was going to do or say was the best way to get this kid to be the best player or the best student.''

Now, Knight and his team can focus on Big 12 conference play. Tech (11-4) will try to get Knight win No. 881 on Saturday when Oklahoma visits Lubbock.

``These last two weeks have been nerve-racking for him. Same for the team,'' son Pat Knight said. ``Now that we've got it over with, it's a great accomplishment, and we can get back to playing basketball.''

Throughout his 41-year coaching career, Knight's complexity has sculpted a conflicted image. He hit a police officer, threw a chair across the court and was accused of wrapping his hands around a player's neck. He's also never been in trouble for breaking NCAA rules, has always had a high graduation rate and gave back his Tech salary a few years ago because he didn't think he'd earned it.

All facets of Knight's personality were on display during a half-hour postgame ceremony and the nearly 20-minute soliloquy he gave instead of a news conference.

The first person to congratulate him after Monday's win was his son and successor-to-be, Pat. He later held his two grandsons from his other son, Tim. He introduced his wife, Karen, and repeatedly thanked her, although he later broke a promise to her by cussing.

At a postgame news conference with reporters, Knight wasn't interested in answering questions. Instead, he went on a trip down memory lane filled with anecdotes and name-dropping, from the famous such as Red Auerbach, Pete Newell and Clair Bee to the obscure, such as Jake Pryne, the bus driver at Army when Knight was 24 and the nation's youngest coach.

He seemed near tears at times. Though none fell, Knight backed away from the microphone a couple of times while on the court, seemingly unable to speak.

In the coaches' locker room later, Knight was asked whether his emotions got the best of him. Gently rocking his head side to side, with his hands clasped over his white hair, he paused and said, ``Well, I don't know. Maybe.''

Later, Knight summoned an Associated Press reporter because he was upset that he'd forgotten to thank Dean Smith, the former North Carolina coach whose record he broke. He also had a parting piece of advice.

``You make damn sure you put Frank Sinatra's song in your article,'' Knight said.

The game's outcome wasn't decided until a long 3-pointer by J.R. Giddens of New Mexico (11-4) bounced off the rim at the buzzer.

Red and black confetti fell, and Sinatra's song blared. There were speeches by Knight and administrators, plus videotaped tributes from Smith, Duke's Mike Krzyzewski and Texas' Rick Barnes. Knight also received two trophies and the game ball; a banner was unfurled marking this achievement.

Also worth noting: Tennessee women's coach Pat Summitt has won the most NCAA games, 925; and Harry Statham of NAIA McKendree College in Lebanon, Ill., has won the most men's games at a four-year college, 925.

Knight, whose career record is 880-354, won't say how much longer he'll coach, but he recently agreed to a contract extension through the 2010-11 season. That doesn't bode well for anyone hoping to break his record. Consider this: Krzyzewski has 765 wins and is 59; he'll be 64 in 2011 and might still be 100 wins behind.

``I've simply tried to do what I think is best,'' Knight said. ``Regrets? Sure. Just like the song. I have regrets. I wish I could done things better at times. I wish I would have had a better answer, a better way, at times. But just like he said, I did it my way, and when I look back on it, I don't think my way was all that bad.''