Texas Tech basketball: How notable coaches other than Beard did in their fourth year
Bob Knight’s fourth season ended in the Sweet 16
From the moment he first coached a game at Texas Tech, legendary head coach Bob Knight was able to make a massive difference in the program. But while his first three seasons saw him get to the NCAA Tournament twice and reach the Semifinals of the NIT in between, his fourth season was easily his best in the Hub City.
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In 2004-05, Knight secured his fourth-straight winning season at 20-10 in the regular season to finish fourth in the Big 12. And in the NCAA Tournament, he was able to take the Red Raiders to the Sweet 16.
In the regular season, the marquee game was Tech’s dramatic 80-79 win over No. 2 Kansas in Lubbock on Valentine’s Day. Of course, that was the game that was won when forward Darryl Dora drained a three-pointer from the top of the key with just seconds left to lift his team to victory.
In the Big Dance, Knight saw Tech take down UCLA and Gonzaga before falling to West Virginia in the Sweet 16. It would prove to be the 15th and final Sweet 16 appearance of Knight’s legendary career.
Prior to Beard’s arrival, Knight had produced unprecedented success as Texas Tech basketball coach. He went 90-43 (67.6%) and had four-straight 20-win seasons.
But just a year later, his team would fall below .500 at 15-17. That was due in large part to the graduation of star point guard Ronald Ross.
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We talk quite a bit about what Beard has done in his first four seasons, and rightfully so. But what Knight did from a record standpoint was almost the same. The difference is the incredible success Beard has had in the NCAA Tournament. Still, Knight’s first four years on the South Plains were nothing to sneeze at, and in year four, he had his best NCAA Tournament run in Lubbock by reaching the second weekend for the final time in his career.