Knight was better

So far, men's basketball coach Mike Davis has an all-time record of 21-13. He took the role of the interim head coach, and produced a winning season. \nHe should have never had the chance. Davis is more than 700 victories short of catching Knight.\nIt's far too early to claim Davis brings more to the program than Knight, who brought more to IU basketball than just victories. Davis is entering his second season as head coach, one that is already tainted by the controversial firing of Knight.\nOne thing IU President Myles Brand and Knight still have in common is they both want student-athletes to graduate. After the departure of Tom Geyer, who did not get along with Davis, IU played last season with no seniors. This took the one ingredient the Hoosiers were missing last season -- leadership.\nNow that Kirk Haston left early to enter the NBA draft, the senior leadership role will rest on the hands of Jarrad Odle and Dane Fife. This is a role that was not necessary when Knight was the head coach. Davis lacks the leadership it takes to win big games -- this was evident in IU's first round loss to Kent State in the NCAA Tournament. Under Knight, this leadership would have been established.\nBracey Wright, a senior who has verbally committed to play basketball for the Hoosiers, said one of the reasons he likes IU is because of Davis. He did not like Knight's discipline and hard work ethic.\nBut what is so bad with a little discipline? This is a basketball team composed of players between the ages of 18-22 -- discipline is necessary in a winning program.\nKnight made his teams both physically and mentally strong. He pushed teams through rigid practices, earning the nickname "The General." He is honest with his players and was not afraid to make a scene at times. By making a scene, it gave a sense of motivation.\nDavis has not done a bad job as the men's basketball coach, but he is lacking the discipline his players are going to need to win in the Big Ten. One year later, Davis is running an IU program that will need someone to assume the leadership role. A role that Knight never had a problem filling.