Could Knight really wind up at South Carolina?

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The search for the next South Carolina coach will undoubtedly be as hot as "American Idol" for many months to come. But longtime college basketball analyst and ambassador of the game Dick Vitale threw his two cents last week in the USA Today.The announcer endorsed none other than Bob Knight as the next head coach of the Gamecocks. Yes, I'll type that again: Bob Knight as the next head coach of the Gamecocks.That was in case you were either falling out of your chair laughing or spilling hot coffee all over that new blue blazer.While I'm not one to regularly write about rumors and hearsay, I had to at least touch on Dickie V's thought process.In his weekly column, Vitale said, "If I were South Carolina and had a vacancy coming up with the retirement of Dave Odom, I would find Knight's number. Can you imagine Steve Spurrier and Knight at the same school? There would be excitement galore like you wouldn't believe."That's an understatement coming from a man who visits this state maybe once or twice a year.But before Gamecocks fans get overly excited or entirely disgusted, depending on their opinion of Knight, it's nowhere near decided if "The General" will ever coach again.He left Texas Tech abruptly in the middle of the Big 12 season so he could turn the team over to his son, Pat. Bob Knight also said he just wasn't feeling it anymore in Lubbock, Texas.Does that mean a change of scenery in the Midlands of the beautiful state of South Carolina could spark the interest of the game's all-time leading victory holder?Maybe, considering the perks. The Gamecocks play in the SEC, among the most competitive conferences in the nation against historical schools like Kentucky and Florida. Although Columbia may not be a true hotbed for hoops, there is enough of a big-city feel that should appeal to youth all over the nation.Add in a terrific basketball arena and a top-notch practice facility needed for recruitment, and a turnaround at South Carolina isn't impossible.As for the fans, well, anything that motivates them to fill up the Colonial Center's seats wouldn't be a bad thing.But let's take it one step further. Would Knight be a good fit for South Carolina?That can be debated. Yes, grabbing the man with 902 career victories and a resume of issues would put the Gamecocks on the map. It's similar to the Lou Holtz era in football. Even though Holtz lost control near the end of his reign, the celebrity coach got people talking about SC nationally and opened the door for Spurrier to come in.But would passing on a young, energetic coach focused on recruiting be the real ticket to future success? You can probably go back and forth all day figuring that out, but bottom line is, Knight wins and his team go to the NCAA Tournament.It would be hard for Gamecock Nation to turn anything resembling that down if opportunity came knocking.(Contact Brad Senkiw of the Anderson Independent-Mail in Anderson, S.C., at www.andersonsc.com.)