Iconic as he was controversial, Bob Knight for decades embodied the spirit of basketball in a corner of the world mad about it. His hard-nosed, fundamentals-driven style and attention to detail became deeply rooted in the culture of the sport for basketball fans in southern Indiana and elsewhere, his admirers standing as ardently by him as his critics often chastised him.
At the height of his success, few in the sport were more recognizable, or more noteworthy.
Knight died in Bloomington, according to a post on bobknight.com, a website that represents Knight and his foundation. The school later confirmed Knight’s death, announcing his passing ahead of IU women’s exhibition game Wednesday at Assembly Hall. He was 83.