On February 13, 1994, UMass edged Temple 56-55 in a tightly contested game, a result that ignited a volatile outburst from former UMass coach John Chaney, whose temper had long been compared to that of the legendary Bob Knight and earned him the nickname the Black Knight.
The Heat of the Moment
Later that day, Chaney entered the press room and confronted Duke coach John Calipari, believing the latter had pressured the officials. When Calipari denied any involvement, Chaney shouted “shut up!” and threatened to “kill you,” prompting those around him to restrain him and resulting in a game‑day suspension.
While Bob Knight never publicly admitted wrongdoing, Chaney acknowledged that he had gone too far, accepted his suspension, and expressed remorse for the excess.
In the aftermath, the two coaches forged an unlikely friendship, speaking positively about each other and with Chaney defending Calipari against criticism at Memphis, illustrating a surprising bond that emerged from the 1994 incident.