Bob Knight is really enjoying himself: A look at last night’s college hoops

February 14th, 2007 | Posted by PostmanE

Yahoo! Sports’ resident Bob Knight apologist had a fantastic opportunity to flex some RMK love today: Knight’s Texas Tech squad took a win away from No. 6 Texas A&M at A&M. (In case you didn’t see the highlights, Tech won on a full-court-navigating last second shot from the continually underrated Jarrius Jackson.)

Of course, Knight used his postgame to take a quick shot at the gathered media, who were more likely there to write a coronation of Billy Gillespie’s impressive Aggies.

Bob Knight had a floppy hat on his head and a look of satisfaction on his face, a bit of joy even.

Not so much because his Texas Tech team had finally figured out how to finish, ending a five game losing streak – one of the longest of his long career. But because he had ruined things for a bunch of national media who had descended here to hype up white-hot Texas A&M.

“You came here to write a big story about A&M and we just (expletive) you,” smiled Knight outside the Tech locker room as he prepared to head for the team bus.

Ah, a feeling of joy. Not because his team won, mind you, but because he got to stick it to the national media. Really showed them, Bobby. (I wonder what it’s like to live in such a joyless, angry and yes, brilliant mind.)

A&M’s unlikely loss wasn’t the only one of the night. In a (arguably) eerie coincidence, and perhaps an even bigger upset, No. 25 Virginia Tech knocked off No. 4 North Carolina in Chapel Hill. Apparently, it was “Lose to mediocre technical school” promotional night for UNC and A&M.

The question, as Dan Shanoff poses this morning in his Quickie: What do you make of the top-ranked squads after these losses? What do you make of both Techs getting the tough road wins?

First, Texas Tech. It’s easy to try to apply a win like this to the NCAA tournament, but that discussion might be irrevelant; the Red Raiders are still only 5-6 in the conference and 16-10 overall. If they pull it together and get in the tourney, I’d be deathly afraid to see them as a 10 or 11 seed. That could get ugly for whoever is in their side of the bracket. Or they could flame out again. That was a long way of saying: who knows?

UNC is UNC; no worries there. Roy Williams might need to step in and coach close games more tightly, but they’ll be fine. Still a Final Four team, I think.

Same with A&M. No worries. Still a sweet 16 team, as long as they’re shooting well.

Virginia Tech is perhaps the most interesting of the four, yeah? I mean, this team has wins at Duke (which, I suppose, don’t mean as much this year) and two over UNC, including last night’s in Chapel Hill. Talk about being afraid of a team in the tournament. Every game I see Va. Tech play, they look more and more appealing as that lower-seed Elite Eight team that always emerges. If you don’t have the horses to match up, stay away from those ultra-athletic Hokies. They will jump you into submission. Don’t believe me? Ask Greg Paulus.

One more college hoops note: I’ve just bought John Feinstein’s Last Dance: Behind the Scenes at the Final Four. Needless to say, I’m excited, and will report back with a full, ahem, report, sometime in the near future. (See my review of Blind Side to see what you’ll be breathlessly awaiting.)