The Best Post-Game Interviews in College Basketball

Unscripted is a dangerous word.

When sports reporters ask questions meant to trigger answers to fuel a story, responses are unpredictable.  Coaches and players understandably don’t react well to being provoked.

But not all memorable post-game interviews are the result of a writer’s attempt to stir the pot.  Many tirades are simply ignited because the competitors’ minds still aren’t removed from the heat of battle.  And of course, a number of press conferences end in humor that involves laughing with the interviewee and not necessarily at them.

Here are the best post-game interviews in college basketball.

10. Pat Knight

Like father like son.

Knight didn’t blurt out a single expletive, but he was definitely explicit with his message.  He roasted his seniors completely throwing them under the bus.  The Lamar head coach put it bluntly without hesitation and labeled them part of the problem in society and thieves.

9. DeMarcus Cousins

Peter.  Parker.  Swag.

As you can tell by his hat, Boogie didn’t know at this point in his basketball career if he was going to make it to the NBA.  Plan B: become an Eskimo.

And unless you possess a thick southern Alabama accent or are at least used to one, trying to understand what he says after the word swag will be done in vain.

8. Roy Williams

Roy is offended.

Williams’ two pet peeves: Duke and people who aren’t sensitive.  Well, maybe I jumped the gun on the Blue Devils because he doesn’t give a…hoot about North Carolina.  How ironic.

7. Jim Boeheim

Gerry McNamara is the Syracuse Orange.

I’d like to see one of those assistant coaches come up and say that McNamara is overrated to Boeheim as well.  He’d either, A, spit in their faces, B, rip their heads off or, C, murder their families.  And just judging by the tone of his voice, I’m leaning toward C.

6. Cincinnati-Xavier Aftermath

Interview at 1:37

“We’re grown men over here.  We got a whole bunch of gangstas in the locker room.  Not thugs, but tough guys on the court.  And we went out there and zipped em up at the end of the game.  That’s our motto: zip em up.”

Best. Quote. Ever.

I really don’t think Mick Cronin was as psyched about the fight as Tu Holloway.

5. Jim Calhoun

Yeah, about those gangsters in the locker room Tu Holloway was talking about, Calhoun just so happened to be in for a visit that day. 

And for how precisely he spit out those numbers, it sure didn’t sound like it was the first time the old ball coach felt it necessary to defend his pay check.  Lesson of the Day: Don’t question Jim Calhoun’s scouting or salary.  

4. Joakim Noah

Just imagine how much more awesome this clip would be if you knew what Noah was talking about.

From the same championship celebration, perhaps this is what he was talking about.

3. Kevin Borseth

Take a chill pill man, its just women’s basketball.  Just kidding, I watch women ball all the time – the Lakers and Heat are on television every other day – Pau Gasol, Chris Bosh.

But in all seriousness, the shoulder pads proposal isn’t a bad idea.

2. John Chaney

Maybe it’s just me, but at least at first glance, Chaney looks like such an innocent old man.  But obviously John Calipari would lead you to believe otherwise.  Of course, the death threat alone pretty much blew the sheep’s clothing off the wolf.

1. Bob Knight

You didn’t need a crystal ball, or empty glass, to see this one coming. 

Instead of filling up half of the countdown with Bob Knight tirades, one compilation will do.  Naturally, such a list would start and end with a Knight.  With this one, though, there’s more personality, more intensity and more censored language. 

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.  Check out his Immortals of March Madness.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels