LUBBOCK, TEX. ? Bob Knight almost certainly is going to go over the top again this season.

In a good way.

The Texas Tech coach known for tossing a chair, berating players and throwing temper tantrums during a 41-year career needs 11 wins to become the winningest men’s coach in NCAA Division I history.

“That record has never even entered my mind,” Knight said. “I couldn’t have told you a couple of years ago what the number was or what I needed to get there.”

The number is 880.

Knight has 869 wins, third on the all-time list and seven behind Kentucky’s Adolph Rupp. North Carolina’s Dean Smith retired in 1997 with 879 victories, a number Knight could reach by the new year.

Texas Tech will open its season at home Saturday against Sam Houston State.