We'll buy all this Steve Alford love for Bobby Knight up to a point — the point of winning or losing.

We'll also acknowledge that Texas Tech's Knight, the winningest coach in men's college basketball and a darn fine teacher of fundamentals, deserves some R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

Let Aretha Franklin sing it to Knight's introduction. It would be kind of cute.

But when Alford talks about the importance of filling The Pit on Saturday out of respect for this West Texas Bad Boy, it's time to jump in and take this respect thing a bit further.

Point it in another direction.

Sure, let's fill the joint for Bobby.

But let's also fill University Arena out of respect for itself.

And then when these two old timers of college basketball - Knight and The Pit - are all warm and cozy under this blanket of homage, let's hope The Pit turns nasty on Knight.

Which would really be a tremendous sign of respect.

The Pit loves to hate its bad boys and in order to become a Pit bad boy you have to be good.

Good at kicking the Lobos' butt.

The Pit's naughty list includes bad boys like New Mexico State's nasty Neil McCarthy, Arizona's aloof Lute Olson, Utah's pompous Rick Majerus, Oklahoma/TCU's annoying Billy Tubbs, UTEP's pig-eyed Don "The Bear" Haskins, UNLV/Fresno State's nervous Jerry "Tark The Shark" Tarkanian, Wyoming's weasel-like Steve McLain.

The list also includes the pompous, annoying, pig-eyed, often-rude Bobby Knight.

And when The Pit bites at Knight, he should wear the teeth marks like badges of honor.

You see, The Pit doesn't just accept any old coach into this bad boy fraternity.

Alford, who was coached by Knight at Indiana, says, "There is no excuse," for not filling The Pit for Knight's visit.

"This would be out of respect for (Knight) and what he's done for this game," said Alford.

OK. Sure.

Knight became a head coach in 1965. The Pit has been around since 1966. We have a pair of living legends here.

But while The Pit is honoring Knight for all he has done, maybe Knight can return the favor and use his presence to remind The Pit of what it used to be.

A great gym.

An unbelievable home-court advantage.

Something special.

Saturday's game could be a symbiotic relationship between two greats of the game.

One thing is for sure. Knight will be there.

But will The Pit show up?