Knight will shoot for record

Bob Knight gets his first shot at his 880th victory tonight, and a win at home against Nevada Las Vegas will make him the winningest Division I men’s coach in history.

For his part, Knight has played down the march to overtaking former North Carolina coach Dean Smith’s mark of 879 victories.

He said the record won’t “have any impact whatsoever” on the basketball program or the school.

“Anything that can happen good through athletics does have some reflection on the university, certainly,” said Knight, 66. “But I don’t think it’s a monumental thing. I think Texas Tech would be a great institution without a basketball team.”

Knight, known through the years for his volatile temper, three national titles and 11 Big Ten championships, tied Smith on Saturday when Texas Tech beat Bucknell, 72-60.

Smith, who had no plans to travel to Lubbock for tonight’s game, said he will be in touch with Knight once No. 880 is in the books.

“I’ll sure be one of the first to call and congratulate him,” Smith said. “He knows that.”