On Sunday, February 23, the Indiana Hoosiers hosted the Purdue Boilermakers in Assembly Hall, exactly 40 years since the very same game took place where Bob Knight was the head coach.
Forty years ago, when the Hoosiers were taking on the Boilermakers, Bob Knight was unhappy with a call made during the game, so unhappy that he took the chair he was sitting in on the bench and threw it onto the court.
That very chair was saved all these years and reappeared in Assembly Hall yesterday adn was placed right when head coach Mike Woodson would be sitting. While some may not believe it is the same chair, it truly is, and Woodson, even in timeouts, sat in the famous chair all these years later.
Feb 23, 1985 - Indiana hosts Purdue
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) February 23, 2025
• Bob Knight throws a chair across the floor
Feb 23, 2025 - Indiana hosts Purdue
• Mike Woodson sits in the chair Bob Knight threw across the floor
In 49 other states, it’s just basketball…pic.twitter.com/5XCqLvEEBj
Woodson chose to bring out the chair on the 40th anniversary to pay tribute to the late Bob Knight, but he told the media before the game that he had no plans on throwing the chair like Knight did all those years ago.
Woodson played under Knight from 1976 to 1980 at Indiana and while his time as the Indiana head coach will be coming to an end in the coming weeks, he was able to find a way to honor his former head coach. Woodson had some words about the chair after the game.
"What you guys don't realize, that is probably the chair," Woodson said in his post-game press conference. "I've had it awhile. I know a lot of people say they have the chair."
The chair seemed to have a little bit of luck left in it as the Hoosiers were able to overcome the No. 13 Purdue Boilermakers, ending a three-game skid against their bitter rival. While Indiana may not make the NCAA Tournament, they are certainly trying to make a push for it at the end of the regular season.