Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight on Wednesday denied a report that said he was interested in talking to the University of Tennessee about its coaching vacancy.

The Tennesseean newspaper reported Wednesday morning that a search firm contacting candidates for the Vols' coaching vacancy contacted Knight.

Knight didn't directly address the report when asked, but made clear he wasn't interested.

"I remember earlier this season that I read a report that said I was interested in a job that I wouldn't take if it was the last one on earth," Knight said Wednesday in a news conference for the NCAA Tournament.

Texas Tech plays UCLA in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.

"If you can't get an answer from that, you need to go back to school," Knight added as a reporter tried to follow up.

Two sources in the Tennessee athletic department denied the report, ESPN reported.

Buzz Peterson was fired as Tennessee’s basketball coach after the Volunteers failed to make the NCAA tournament during his four years at the school.

The Vols finished 14-17 overall and 6-10 in the Southeastern Conference this season after losing to Kentucky in the second round of the league tournament. It was Peterson’s second losing season in Knoxville, leaving him with a 61-59 record in his four years.

Athletic director Mike Hamilton informed Peterson of his decision Sunday evening. Peterson seemed somewhat surprised but handled the news in a “first-class” manner, Hamilton said. Assistant coach Chuck Benson was asked to manage basketball operations in the absence of a head coach.

Peterson, whose contract is worth $769,500 a year and runs through the 2008-09 season, was the fourth coach at Tennessee since Don DeVoe was fired in 1989.

Peterson, 41, was hired in April 2001 to replace Jerry Green, who was ousted after taking the Vols to the NCAA tournament four straight seasons. The Peterson buyout will Tennessee nearly $1.4 million, and the university still owes Green a final payment of his buyout next January.

Tennessee loses two senior starters from this year’s team — guard Scooter McFadgon and center Brandon Crump. Next season the Vols will return point guard C.J. Watson for his final year and guard Chris Lofton, who set the SEC mark this season for the most 3-pointers scored by a freshman.

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