Hillman Says Knight Is Down

Another storm is raging around Bob Knight, but this time there is real fear among his most loyal Indiana basketball supporters that he could be swept away for good.

“This is as serious as it’s ever been,” said Joe Hillman, a member of Knight’s 1987 NCAA championship team. “This is the first time there’s serious doubt he may be gone.”

Sixteen years ago, Hillman graduated from Glendale Hoover High, packed his bags and left the Southern California sunshine behind to become Knight’s first recruit west of the Mississippi River. Hillman didn’t know anything about Indiana, only that he wanted to play for Knight.

He started for two seasons, graduated with a degree in business and real estate and made Indiana his home. He’s a businessman and co-host of a sports radio talk show on WIBC in Indianapolis. Callers have in recent weeks expressed strong opinions--pro and con--about Knight’s future after coaching 29 years and winning three NCAA titles at Indiana.

“I think unless you’re there every single day and are part of it, you can’t judge what he does or doesn’t do,” Hillman said. “Knight has some faults, but the positives have outweighed the negatives 10 to 1.”

Hillman said he spoke with Knight several weeks ago and came away with the feeling that continuing allegations of physical and verbal abuse were affecting him.

“He’s down, there’s no doubt about it,” Hillman said. “He doesn’t like what’s going on. He wouldn’t be human if it didn’t bother him. He’s somewhat close to saying, ‘If this is what everybody wants, maybe I should just get out.’ I don’t think he’ll quit.”

University officials launched an investigation last month after former player Neil Reed alleged Knight choked him during a 1997 practice. Others have come forward with stories of abusive behavior dating back 20 years.

On Saturday, the 59-year-old Knight issued a 330-word statement apologizing for his temper outbursts.

Hillman said one of Knight’s problems is that he can’t accept losing. The Hoosiers have made early exits from the NCAA tournament the last six seasons, hardly acceptable to Knight or Hoosier fans.

“I’ve never been around anybody who gets so bent out of shape about losing,” Hillman said. “I was a very competitive guy and hated to lose. But he’d be miserable for two or three days. You’d win and he’d still be thinking of the loss. I went through five years and it isn’t that tough because when you’re winning, he’s funny, you don’t practice that long, he keeps everything upbeat. He just despises losing.”

Hillman said he doesn’t condone the choking claim by Reed, but he insisted, “It wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. If it was so bad, his father should have been down there the next day.”

Hillman said playing for Knight is certainly not for everybody.

“It takes a special kind of kid to go to Indiana,” he said. “You know you’re not going to get away without going to class. You know it isn’t going to be easy. But when it’s all said and done, it’s going to be very rewarding. If you can’t hack it, just leave.”

The question swirling around Indiana these days is whether Knight should leave, willingly or not.