NEW ORLEANS — Bobby Knight, who coached Mike Woodson at Indiana, dropped by the Knicks practice facility Monday and gave the coaching staff a lecture on his philosophy, The Post has learned. Knight also taped a segment for Woodson’s TV show on MSG Network.
At one point, Woodson showed the irascible Knight the white board with his Knicks defensive tactics to which Knight cracked to the cameras, “I guarantee you there is not one original thing up there.”
Knight, in town for ESPN’s college-basketball coverage, then asked for an eraser so he could remove a line on Woodson’s board that read: “Have Fun.” Knight added, “We have to get rid of that. They can have fun after the game.”
Coach Knight said, “Mike is one of the best kids I ever coached. If I had to pick a team from all the players I coached, Mike would be on it.”
Knight coached Woodson, Isiah Thomas and Knicks GM Glen Grunwald on the same squad. “This is the only story you need to know about [Coach Woodson],’’ Knight said at the facility. “He got hurt and he came back and he played the last six games of the Big Ten season and in six games he ended up being the Most Valuable Player in the league. That’s how good he was.” [Woodson was named Big Ten MVP in 1980, his senior season, despite midseason back surgery.]
The Knight segment will air on MSG Network at 6 p.m. Friday before the Knicks face the Rockets and Jeremy Lin.
* Though Anthony Davis, the No. 1 draft pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, said he would play following Monday’s practice, he was held out of last night’s game against the Knicks.
The Hornets’ young star tweaked his left ankle during Monday’s practice, and the team said it wouldn’t put him on the injury report.
Yesterday, the Hornets said Davis’ injury was a “stress reaction.”
“I guess you could say he was frustrated [about not playing],” Hornets coach Monty Williams said.
Responding to Davis saying he had helped him quite a bit during the Olympics, Tyson Chandler said the rookie was willing to listen to advice.
“I hope I helped him,” he said. “I always try to be positive, sharing things with him I picked up during my career. He was very quiet. I’m sure it was intimidating. He took that time to learn like a sponge. He’s such a respectful young kid. He was like everybody’s rookie on that team. And that’s rare when you had a group of guys like we had willing to share and teach the young kid.
“It was only because of his personality. He’s a good kid. Everyone wanted him to do well.’’
Williams said of Davis, “If you don’t like Anthony, you got issues. I’m sure they all wanted to help him.’’
* Responding to the Knicks’ turnover contest in which the coaches run if the team commits less than 13, Williams said, “Maybe Woodson’s trying to lose some weight. We motivate guys a different way. It’s called embarrassment by film.’’
The Knicks, who lead the league in fewest turnovers — 10.4, turned it over 10 times.