Rivalry needs Knight

aise your hand if you miss Bob Knight.\nIf your hand is up, you're not the only one. Without the General, IU basketball is lacking something.\nThat something is an integral part of every major IU rivalry, most evident in tonight's clash against Purdue.\nWhat helped make the IU-Purdue matchups so electrifying in the past was the Gene Keady-Knight coaching battle. Nowhere in the country could a fan find two coaches who better reflected the intensity and passion of their players. \nEvery time the Hoosiers and Boilermakers played, the game seemed to take on added significance. Every game was a war, and players and coaches laid every ounce of determination on the line. \nWith Knight gone, the rivalry won't be the same.\nThe drama that the Red-sweatered messiah brought to the game was unequaled.\nIn 1985, Knight erupted at Assembly Hall, throwing a chair across the court during the Purdue game. He was ejected from the game and suspended for an additional game.\nBut that wasn't the first time Knight added fuel to the fire.\nIn 1981, Knight brought a donkey wearing a Purdue hat to his television show. Needless to say, he angered many Boilermaker fans and officials.\nKnight contributed a lot of energy and emotion to the showdowns with Purdue. \nInterim head coach Mike Davis, through no fault of his own, just hasn't had the time or shown the fire that built one of the greatest rivalries in collegiate athletics.\nIU has always placed an extra emphasis on beating its enemies in West Lafayette. This year should be no different.\nBut I just don't see it.\nI don't see how the struggling Hoosiers can match the effort against Purdue. And, with tough road games at Iowa and Ohio State looming, tonight's contest could be considered a must-win. \nIt could also be a show-me game.\nShow me that IU can defeat Purdue without Knight.\nShow me that the Hoosiers can bounce back after an overtime loss to Minnesota.\nShow me that our team has the heart and effort to beat the Boilermakers and begin a winning streak.\nGames are won by the players on the court, but a coach's motivation and demeanor will determine the attitude and effectiveness his team.\nKnight was a terrific motivator and his demeanor was shown through the never-say-die attitude of his players.\nKeady is a great coach who prepares, expects and receives the most out of his players.\nDavis has yet to prove he can challenge his Hoosiers and get results.\nBut, this is your game, coach Davis.\nThis is your chance to make your mark on a great rivalry. This is your chance to begin your own IU legacy. Show me something.