ESPN analyst Bob Knight on Thursday night announced he would not return to the net as part of its college basketball coverage next season. Knight called the Stanford-Miami NIT championship game along with Bob Wischusen and Fran Fraschilla, and near the end of the first half, he said, "I have really enjoyed my time with ESPN. ... I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to be part of it with you guys.” Knight thanked ESPN Exec VP/Production, Program Scheduling & Development Norby Williamson, who was the “guy that brought me to ESPN and the guy that I’ve really relied on.” Knight: “You broadcasters and analysts that I’ve worked have just been great guys and I have enjoyed, not just you two, but everybody that does what you two do. ... Our producers and the guys that do all the work upstairs and out in the bus make it a great thing for us as broadcasters and analysts. I leave tonight really pleased with the chance that I had the opportunity to work at ESPN.” Knight toward the end of the second half again addressed his departure, saying, “I appreciate having had the opportunity to visit with you fans over the last four years about this game that I loved so much during my entire life. You fans, I appreciate you more than I could ever tell you. Thanks” (“Stanford-Miami,” ESPN, 4/2). SI.com's Richard Deitsch noted Knight was hired by ESPN in February '08 after his resignation from Texas Tech, and during his time with the net, he "worked in a number of capacities, including as an on-site analyst as well as appearing on select shows and platforms." He was an "interesting and distinctive voice early on, but he had some hiccups as a broadcaster, including in 2012 when he remarkably declined to utter the word 'Kentucky' on air." He took on "fewer games in the past couple of years" (SI.com, 4/2).
