Pat Knight will roam the sideline his father once commanded for 29 years on Nov. 1.
But he’ll do it from the opposing bench.
That’s the date Knight, the new head coach of Marian University, will bring his team to Bloomington for an exhibition against Indiana.
Nov. 1 falls on a Friday, so this will almost certainly be an evening contest. The tip-time and television will be announced later. So far it is the only announced exhibition IU will play before their season opener Nov. 6 vs. SIU Edwardsville.
Knight, son of legendary IU basketball coach Bob Knight, was announced as the new head coach of Marian in May.
Pat Knight played at IU under his father for five years, from 1990 through 1995. He was on the 1991 and 1993 Big Ten title teams, and the 1992 Final Four squad. He was also an assistant coach at IU under his father during his final two years in Bloomington (1998-2000) and was later a head coach at Texas Tech and Lamar.
This is the third straight year Marian will come to Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall for an exhibition. IU coach Mike Woodson is close friends with Marian Athletic Director Steve Downing, a former IU basketball star and longtime administrator at both Indiana and Texas Tech with the Knights.
After IU played Marian in 2022, Woodson hinted that preseason game could be an annual occurrence.
“Steve and I have been friends for a long time, and I’m proud of the job he’s done as an AD at Marian and giving them an opportunity,” Woodson said. “I’m going to do it every year that I’m here; that they can come in here and play.”
Downing was named the Crossroads League Athletic Director of the Year for the second straight year earlier this month.
This will be the first time in Pat Knight’s career he’ll take on IU from the opposing bench.
Knight’s staff also includes assistant coach Todd Howard, father of newly named IU assistant director of recruiting Adam Howard.
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