2009.03.30
Virginia hires Washington State's Bennett
A University of Virginia source has confirmed that Virginia has reached agreement with three-year Washington State head coach Tony Bennett as its new head.
Bennett, 39, was named Associated Press national coach of the year following his first season in Pullman, Wash., when Washington State was a preseason choice for last in the Pac-10 Conference before posting the first of back-to-back 26-win seasons
Washington State was 17-16 this year but finished first in Division I in scoring defense with an average field of 54.9 points per game.
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Newspaper comment areas are good places to post! They're free!
I hope he's not a "defensive specialist" who has a "walk-it-up-the-court-and-pass-it-around-ten-times-before-we-shoot" style of play kind of a coach!
Comment by Nelson — March 30, 2009 @ 6:55 pm
I am in shock! I can't believe with all of the big names out there such as Tubby Smith, Jeff Capel, heck even Bob Knight or Billy Gillespie, this is the best that UVA can find! Just when I think UVA Athletics can't do anything more idiotic, they go and do something like this. They have this nice new arena, so why not go out and get a coach with a name to get some recruits interested in the program???!!! But no, they go out and get a 38 year old who nobody has EVER heard of, coming from a school that most people don't realize even has a basketball program. Littlepaige needs to GO!!!!!!
Comment by Matt Smith — March 30, 2009 @ 7:57 pm
I fear that Craig has fouled up again. First appearances make it look like he has hired a "slow it down" defense-defense coach to inherit a bunch of guys who want to play ACC style fast-break run and shoot.
Unless this guy is able to sell his philosophy to the team,I hope that I'm wrong, but I fear that some guys will be asking for transfer relief.
Comment by Norm — March 30, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
Nelson, I hope for your sake you were being sarcastic... because Coach Bennett is *exactly* the kind of coach you described. (Well, maybe it's more like pass-it-around-15-times-before-we-shoot...) His father was big in the state of Wisconsin coaching that style of play, and Tony played for him and then followed in his footsteps.
Get a strong cup of coffee, and get ready to watch basketball set back about 50 years, Big 10 style! Final scores in the low 50's! Who knows, they might bring back the two-handed set shot!
He (and his father) has been successful elsewhere, so who knows... but man, will it be painful to watch. The upside is that, if you have young children, you can take them to games and teach them to count down backwards all the way from 35 as they watch the shot clock on each offensive possession...
Comment by Fred — March 30, 2009 @ 10:09 pm
Please tell me this an early April fools joke??????
Comment by Nita Change — March 30, 2009 @ 10:29 pm
Mills Too Much in Cougar NIT Loss
Washington State's season comes to an end in a loss to Saint Mary's.
March 17, 2009 Final Stats
MORAGA, Calif. (AP) -- Patty Mills scored 27 points, 17 in the first half, leading St. Mary's to a 68-57 victory over Washington State in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night. As a team, WSU was just 3-for-15 from 3-point range, while St. Mary's was 7-for-18.
Sounds like he'll fit in perfectly!
Comment by Nita Change — March 30, 2009 @ 10:38 pm
I guess I'll take a "wait-and-see" approach. Bennett at least deserves a chance, now that he's the guy. But for now, with Grant and Capel apparently not having even been contacted by the AD - this is pretty underwhelming.
I don't at all mind the emphasis on "D". Whether or not Bennett can recruit at the level required for this job seems to be the biggest question mark.
Comment by Spartan80 — March 31, 2009 @ 12:23 am
this guy went to the sweet 16 with guys he recruited. he had a down year this year because he had mostly all freshmen. have you not seen the jobs this guy has turned down? who cares what kind of style of basketball it is as long as he wins. dont trash him till we see what he's got. bennett was way more successful than our last 2 coaches.
Comment by Travbo — March 31, 2009 @ 1:23 am
From what I've read in the last few hours, "in-the-know" basketball people are unanimously raving about Bennett, and saying that UVa made a great hire. Wally Walker being one of those experts.
So, perhaps there's hope. Time will tell!
Comment by Spartan80 — March 31, 2009 @ 1:29 am
Hey Nita: Did you read what you put in the blog? unless Patty Mills is a guy, I believe that was a GIRL. Remember when girls would wear skirts to play? Anyway.....this is kind of like our President O. TB is now the coach at UVA, I am behind him until he is not. I love the University of VA and I am sure they looked long and hard before this decision. So what the scores are in the 50s. The WHOLE thing is NCAA, not NIT or SOFA. Ya gotta wanna....can he instill that spirit? I think so.
Comment by Big Poppy — March 31, 2009 @ 8:16 am
Hiring the pop corn vendor in JPJ would have been an upgrade to Leitao. So now UVa has a coach with playing experience in the NBA, coaching experience in a major conference, and trips to the NCAA with a school that is not usually known as a basketball powerhouse. There is also speculation that one of his 2009-10 recruits might request to get out of his letter of intent with WSU and follow Bennett to UVa. Next year will definitely be better than this year. Hopefully, a lot better.
Comment by Henry — March 31, 2009 @ 2:29 pm
Hokie fans are dancing in the street today! I big name hire with big time recruiting ability would have been devastating to the Hokies. Way to keep the state's ACC basketball programs mediocre Virginia. What a joke.
Comment by Greg — March 31, 2009 @ 6:48 pm
It's interesting how people say that we can't get the blue-chippers to come to UVa, so this style of play is what UVa needs to compete- a style of play that gets the most out of the available talent. Maybe they're right!
But on the other hand, VMI is nearby and led the nation in scoring for 2 out of the past 3 years! So why didn't UVa hire VMI's coach?
Comment by Nelson — April 1, 2009 @ 4:47 am
All I know is I think Stinespring is behind this all. If you look at this from thirty thousand feet it is apparent to all of us that this has Stinesprings fingerprinnts on it. Bare with me as I flesh this out. Bryan Stinespring was brought up in the late 50's and early 60's, His parents used to play music in his crib to lull him asleep. The preferred record of choice was, you guessed it, Tony Bennett. Stinespring grew up with a love for Tony's music. He would do his homework by Tony he would fall asleep by Tony. Stinespring ached so much to one day meet Tony Bennett that he was able to influence the UVA athletic department enough to hire his favorite musical artist. Next November in Charlottesville when the Hokies play the Cavs will be a special day in that young man's life, God Bless Tony Bennett. I love to hear him scat.
Comment by Golfman2 — April 1, 2009 @ 10:52 am
JUST WHAT UVA NEEDS,A COACH WHOSE RECORD GOT WORSE WHEN HE PLAYED THE PLAYERS HE RECRUITED. NO RECRUITING SUCESS EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI! RECRUITED MOSTLY 2 AND 3 STAR PLAYERS. BUT HAVE FAITH FANS THE UVA PLAYERS SAY THE CUPBOARD IS LOADED SO THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY EXCUSES!!!
Comment by WALTER AREHART — April 2, 2009 @ 6:56 am
UVA had a possible shot at Tubby Smith and took this coach!! You blew it when you did not consider Tubby Smith. Look what he did at Minnesota. Basketball at UVA will be so boring as one comment pointed out parents can take the kids to the game so they can learn to count backward as the shot clock winds down. Washington State kept their opponents from scoring by playing keep away from their opponent. Most boring games to attend next year will be all of UVA's games. Let us all go to VMI and watch real basketball- run and gun.....
Comment by Leon — April 6, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
Heh Golfman2, Ignorance is bliss isn't it
Comment by george — April 8, 2009 @ 7:58 am