Knight-Sampson feud could reach new heights

The hiring of Kelvin Sampson puts Indiana firmly at the polar opposite of the RBK (Robert Montgomery Knight) school of thinking.

Steve Alford and Randy Wittman are IU guys; Sampson is not. Knight has run his programs free of NCAA violations; Sampson, recently, has not. RBK has had an incredibly high graduation rate; Sampson has not. Knight's faction does not believe in using a zone defense; Sampson does … in doses. Knight hunts; Sampson plays golf. Knight usually has a dictator's relationship with his players; Sampson's way is to hug, hold hands and cry together.

The true irony of the hire, though, is not just how different the two camps are -- it is in the bitterness between the Knight camp and Sampson that was present long before this hire. In what probably doesn't even qualify as a poorly kept secret at this point, Knight cannot stand Sampson. The feud is one that Sampson has tried to ignore, but it has been around for quite a while.

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