Hoops Search News for UGA and Bama

Since we're likely competing with each other in this search, I'll do some quick links from both of us. First off, let's get the latest Bobby Knight stuff out of the way.

Essentially, Knight is leveraging ESPN and his connections to land a job here. It's like a political campaign at this point with Jay Bilas, Dick Vitale and Brent Musburger acting as surrogates for him on the talk shows and media circuit. Also, Anthony Dasher says that Knight may try to work his way into the process via the Georgia Governor's Office. It's a high pressure, heavy handed tactic, and I can't imagine it'll sit well with those involved in the UGA search.

Mark Bradley says the rumor makes no sense to him, and he points out that the last elite player to suit up for Knight was Calbert Cheaney at Indiana...in 1993. If you think Bobby Knight can still recruit, I encourage you to conduct a test. Have your wife watch this clip and this clip (warning: profanity). Then ask her if she'd let her kid play for that guy.

Update: DoubleTNation (a Texas Tech Blog) says this about Knight at UGA rumors:

"I said it yesterday and I'll say it again, Bob Knight is done recruiting, so if you want a guy who is just going to coach and that's it, then [Robert Montgomery Knight] is your guy. I don't think that Georgia has so much talent that this is the case, and there's a strong possibility that [Knight] will make the team better, but I'm pretty sure that most elite athletes just don't want to play for him anymore."

Regardless, I don't think that it's going to happen unless it's literally shoved down Damon and Adams' throat.

Separately, Hugh Durham shared his thoughts on the UGA job with Chip Towers of the AJC. He talks about our facilities, our recruiting base, and the Bobby Knight rumors.

To our west, the Bama folks are looking at two names right now -- Mike Anderson (Missouri) and Anthony Grant (VCU). Anderson is a Birmingham native with Arkansas assistant coaching ties and UAB head coaching experience. I can't imagine a better fit for them. He's not backing away from rumors around the UA job. Grant is more cautious.

It's going to be a long 45 or so days til we both get our guys lined up.


(To Clarify a Point Above: I don't care if Knight cusses or if he's a jerk. My point was that he's not a great recruiter, and he hasn't been a great -- or even good -- recruiter in a long time. I would simply suggest that his antics are the thing that keeps mothers from letting their kids sign with him. That's the only reason for posting the video. I don't care if he uses "dirty" words.)

PWD