Last night, between watching as much basketball as possible and wondering why the Bills defense couldn't do my fantasy team one solid, just once, by not letting Brady Quinn march down the field on them, Bob Knight came on the screen. You've probably seen this clip. Since Pete Newell passed away yesterday at the age of 93, ESPN has been playing it almost on a loop, and it's been included in the AP versions of stories running everywhere:

“Nobody contributed more to the game and its history than Pete,” Knight said. “I just don’t think anybody has contributed more to my life in more ways than Pete Newell did,” Knight said. “Jerry West and I had a very tearful conversation about an hour after Pete had passed away this morning and I think Jerry felt exactly the same about Pete as I did.”

Whatever your feelings on Bob Knight -- that, my friends, is high praise.

Newell is perhaps underrated outside of coaching circles, for obvious reasons: He didn't win as many titles as John Wooden. He didn't have Adolph Rupp's high profile. His accomplishments seem almost exaggerated by those within coaching, and whether that is a reaction to a lack of outside praise or not is an argument for another day. If people believe Newell was that important to them, then he was.

He will be remembered not only for his patriarchical status among coaching legends, or for being one of the only three men in college basketball history along with Knight and Dean Smith, to win and NCAA Tournament, NIT and an Olympic gold medal, but for his Big Man Camp, which fostered the talent of people like Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Walton, and so forth. Of these centers, only Shaq has gone on to have his own Twitter page. I doubt he learned that at Big Man Camp. But all of those players went on to greatness, and likely have Newell and his staff to thank for some small part of it.

So here's to you, Pete Newell. You were well before my time, but your acolytes weren't. I'll remember you all the same.

Related: College Basketball Media, Pac-10 Basketball