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Mike Woodson reflects on former Indiana coach Bob Knight, passing of ‘an icon’

Parker Gillam

By Parker Gillam

Published:

Indiana men’s basketball coach Mike Woodson had a chance to speak about legendary IU basketball coach Bob Knight’s passing on Thursday.

Knight passed away on Wednesday at age 83 due to chronic health issues over the last few years.

“This program will truly miss an icon,” Woodson said, per The Indy Star’s Zach Osterman. “It’s hard to really describe in words what he meant to me, but boy, I wouldn’t be sitting in this seat today if it wasn’t for Bob Knight.”

Knight won three national titles with the Hoosiers and spearheaded an undefeated 1976 IU team that has yet to be matched by any other squad. He won a school-record 661 games and reached the NCAA Tournament in 24 of his 29 seasons at the helm, but he is perhaps most well-known for his passion for the game and energy on the sidelines.

“We were always prepared to play. That’s so important,” Woodson said. “You can will yourself to win, but can you really prepare yourself to really win? That’s what he did.”

Woodson played for Knight from 1976-80. He averaged nearly 20 points a game across his four seasons with the program. Woodson said Knight made a call to an NBA team to help Woodson get his first job.

“Let me just say it’s a tough day in Indiana basketball,” Woodson said. “When you lose a legend like Bob Knight… he basically shaped my whole career.”

Indiana will open the 2023-24 season with a game against Florida Gulf Coast on Nov. 7 at 7:30 EST on the Big Ten Network. Here’s more of what Woodson had to say on Knight and their relationship:

Parker Gillam