Bill Walton tells a great story about playing for John Wooden. Bill is in the middle of his freshman year, he's playing well, practicing well. The team has a rule against facial hair. Being the hippy he is, he decides he is going to ask coach Wooden. He says "coach I practice hard, play hard, grades are good, do everything you ask, I'm a grown man and I should be able to choose how I wear my facial hair". Coach Wooden replies "Bill you are absolutely right, you are a grown man and make your own choices and you absolutely CAN grow facial hair"...…..
"We sure are going to miss having you on the team though"
Heard a very similar story about Knight when Mike Midday was a freshman. Midday showed up at first practice with long hair and Knight told him to not show up again without a haircut. Midday retorted something to the effect of "but coach, Jesus Christ had long hair." Knight escorted Midday to Royer pool and challenged Midday to walk across it saying "if you can do that, you can keep your hair long."