Bob Knight has already broken his silence as to his surprising mid-season retirement. It's all about family.
"There's a transition that's going to take place here from me to Pat and I've dwelt on this all year long -- about what would be the best way to do this, and how it would be best for him and for the team and for what we can do in the long run to make this the best thing for Texas Tech," said Knight, who retires with 902 career victories. "I didn't know, I've never really known when I was going to step down from this job. As I thought about it, my first thought was at the end of this season."
Knight said he spoke with Newell for about an hour and an half Sunday.
"My thinking was that for Pat and for this team -- most of which is returning next year -- the best thing for the long run for this team would be for Pat and his staff to coach these remaining 10 games," Knight said. "And (to) get an understanding, get a real feel for each other, be able to think over the course of the spring and summer going into next season about how people had played, how things had been done offensively or defensively, what could be done or couldn't be done, what to stay away from, what to work on and develop that from a game standpoint as the coach in charge of everything rather than as an assistant coach."
Left unsaid is that by retiring mid-season, Coach Knight not only gives his son a head-start on the main job but makes it harder for Texas Tech to reconsider Pat Knight taking over the program (especially with what's been happening to Oklahoma State since Sean Sutton took over for Eddie). Pat Knight is now in place and in charge, and it becomes harder to change the plan.
