Friday, October 9, 2009

COACH KNIGHT ON CHANGES IN THE COLLEGE GAME

From some clinic notes I received from Steve Smiley are some thought from Coach Bob Knight at a clinic in Spain:

Once the desserts had been served, questions were collected from the room and a translator read them out to Coach Knight who then answered them.

I asked Coach Knight, "I'm sure over the years you have Witnessed many changes in college basketball and in the way the game has been played. Which changes do you consider to be positive for college basketball and which to be
negative?"

He responded by saying that the two major changes he has experienced are the shot clock and the introduction of the 3 point line. He doesn't believe the shot clock has changed the game that much, as he said 24 seconds is plenty enough time for a team to set up and get a good shot.

But he did say that the 3 point line has damaged the game considerably. Coach Knight said that the 3 point shot is not a difficult shot and has meant that teams rely on penetrate and kick for the majority of their offence. This has reduced the frequency and quality of cuts and screening away from the basketball. Someone else asked, 'Why have you never coached in the NBA?'

Coach Knight quickly responded, saying he didn't think a player should ever be paid more than a coach!