Indianapolis, IN (U-WIRE) -- Indiana University basketball has seen better days. The day Bobby Knight was fired Indiana Basketball took a hit that's still in its recovery stage. Myles Brand decided that academics were more important than athletics and fired legendary coach Bobby Knight. Whether or not you agreed with Brand's decision to fire Knight it was clear he took a bold stance against arguably the most powerful man in Indiana. Two years after firing Bobby Knight, Myles Brand bolted from IU to be the President of the National Collegiate Athletics Association, which was clearly a move some forecasted in the political calculation to fire Bobby Knight. Indiana University is the biggest loser in this whole situation; the university lost one of the greatest coaches to ever teach the game. They lost a man who has brought Indiana basketball to legendary status. Despite all of Knight's flaws, Knight's basketball program had an exemplary graduation rate of his players. Former players would often come back to see Knight long after their playing career to say thank you. Knight would even help those less fortunate players get jobs. He donated and helped raise thousands of dollars for the University. The legendary coaches of our time have all been honored is some form or fashion. North Carolina renamed their Dome "The Dean Dome" after retired all-time wins leader Dean Smith (879 wins). Duke University has already enshrined their coach Mike Kryzweski (713 wins) by renaming their basketball court "Coach K Court." Syracuse even jumped into the act by renaming their court "Jim Boeheim Court" after their current coach Jim Boeheim. (698 wins). Sitting on 849 wins, Knight is long overdue for his recognition. He won nearly 700 games as the head coach of Indiana University; Indiana University should not let Texas Tech claim Knight as their own. Knight has won less than 100 games in four seasons since he has been at Texas Tech. They should not let his 29 years of service and dedication to Indiana University be robbed by Texas Tech. I've been on their message boards, and there is already talk about renaming their arena after coach Knight. This is no disrespect for Mike Davis, but without question we can see in hindsight what Knight has meant to Indiana and Indiana Basketball. On the basketball resume coach Knight is untouchable. Knight has won three national championships, including coaching the 1976 championship team which was the last team to go undefeated. He's the only coach to win a NCAA championship, NIT title, the Pan American Gold and an Olympic gold medal. Pretty impressive right; well that's not it. Coach Knight has been named coach of the year four times. Oh yeah, all this was done under his tenure as the head coach of Indiana University. You heard it here first; Texas Tech will rename their arena after coach Bobby Knight when he breaks the Division I record for all-time wins. Bob Knight's legend was made here in Indiana. The legend of Indiana basketball was made by Knight. The university should not let Texas Tech steal anymore glory. Now, Brand and Knight are gone and the university has nothing to show for it. As a gesture of respect and thankfulness Indiana University should reclaim some of its basketball luster and rename Assembly Hall after coach Bobby Knight.

Contact Pete Luster at pluster@iupui.edu.

(C) 2004 The IUPUI Sagamore via U-WIRE