Knight Pulls Players From Soviet Game

Bob Knight, whose coaching career has been filled with controversy, created another stir Saturday night.

Knight, furious with a referee’s decision, took his Indiana University players off the court with him after he got his third technical foul and automatic ejection, forfeiting an exhibition game to the Soviet national team.

The Soviets, leading, 66-43, with 15:05 remaining, were declared the winners by referee Jim Burr.

Knight and his players refused to talk to the media after the game. The Soviets also had no comment.

Last week, Knight said: “I don’t know why the hell we’re letting them over here to play. Let them (the Soviets) go play the Czechs, because we’re going to play them in the Olympics in Seoul and don’t need to be letting them train here.”

But before Saturday night’s game, Knight said: “The reason I wanted to play them--I have no interest in beating the Russians, that’s not any big thing with me--the Russians just happened to be the best (foreign) team here for us to play, and that’s why I’m always interested in playing them.”

Indiana, the defending NCAA champion, trailed the entire game but narrowed the gap from 13 points to 5 early in the second half.

But, the Soviets outscored Indiana, 20-2, after that, as Sharunas Marchulenis made 11 free throws, including those on the three technicals against Knight.

After the third technical, Knight refused to leave the court, saying if he had to go, his team would, too. Burr asked if that decision was final, and when Knight said yes, Burr declared the game a forfeit.

Chuck Crabb, the public address announcer at Assembly Hall, overheard the conversation between Burr and Knight at the official’s table. According to Crabb, Burr said: “After three technicals, the Indiana coach is out.” Crabb said Knight responded by saying: “If I go, my team goes too.”

The first two technical fouls were called after Knight came on court protesting what he thought was a lane violation by one Russian player during the shooting of two free throws by Marchulenis with 15:39 to go.

Marchulenis made one free throw, then teammate Aleksandr Volkov stepped off his spot along the lane before Marchulenis shot again.

Indiana assistant coach Ron Felling said, “Anytime a shooter has the ball and a player walks out of the lane, that’s a violation in any rules.”

But Burr motioned Volkov back to the lane and gave the ball back to Marchulenis, who hit the second shot and four more for the technicals against Knight, who stormed onto the court in protest.

The Soviets kept possession, and Aleksandr Belosteni scored. Eighteen seconds later, the third technical on Knight--still protesting the earlier call--sent Marchulenis back to the free throw line for two more, the final points of the game.

Marchulenis led all players with 28 points, including three three-point goals.