NO. 500 : Knight Raps Reporters After Reaching Milestone With Easy Victory Over Northwestern

Bob Knight used the occasion of his 500th coaching victory to take a stab at one of his favorite targets--sports reporters.

“If I can coach long enough to win 500 more, I’ll be the nicest guy in the world because all of you will be gone,” Knight said Saturday at his postgame news conference. “You can’t last that long with me. I’ve outlasted a lot of guys as it is.”

Jay Edwards scored 22 points and keyed a 14-point run in the second half that gave Indiana a 92-76 victory over Northwestern in a Big Ten game at Bloomington.

Only Oklahoma State’s Henry Iba reached 500 victories at a younger age than Knight, who is 48. Knight is 500-183 in 24 years of coaching. In 18 years at Indiana, his record is 398-133. Iba was 9 months younger when he won No. 500.

The Indiana players surprised Knight with a cake that read, “Congratulations on win No. 500, Coach Knight.”

“It’s a great accomplishment: 500 wins,” said Joe Hillman, who had 15 points. “It’s a great accomplishment.

“He prepares us so well, so nothing surprises us when we get into a game. That, and the way he gets the most out of everybody.”

The Hoosiers (13-4 overall, 3-0 in the Big Ten), led, 43-37, at halftime but were outscored, 10-3, in the first 2:28 of the second half. Northwestern (7-7, 0-4), took its first lead, 47-46, on Bryan Ross’ 2 free throws.

But Indiana scored the next 14 points, led by Edwards’ two 3-point baskets. The Hoosiers took a 60-47 lead on Eric Anderson’s 2 free throws. Anderson scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half.

Brian Schwabe scored 17 points for Northwestern.