Shooter: Sleeper possibility for the Gophers' job: Virginia's Tony Bennett

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MadtownGopher said:
Throwing *&^!#*&^!#*&^!#*&^!# at the wall to see what sticks.
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He did fly way under the radar when he got the UVa job. The rumors were Tubby, Tubby, Tubby, Tubby, Rick Carlisle, Tubby, Tubby, Tubby, Rick Barnes, Tubby, Tubby Tubby.
 

If Bennett gets the job I am done with this program...his style of play makes watching paint dry seem exciting.
 

I can see the big Badger game at The Barn. "In what can only be described as a barn burner, our Gophers dismantled the Bagers 36-32" Ahhh...no Thanks.
 

One thing (among others) Bennett has going for him?

He doesn't like Bo Ryan.
 



SelectionSunday said:
One thing (among others) Bennett has going for him?

He doesn't like Bo Ryan.
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What's the back story there? Tony worked for Bo for two years and has been quoted many times about how much he appreciated the chance to work for Bo.

I'm likely in the minority, but I would have no problem if Tony Bennett was the next Gopher coach. Young guy who can coach Xs and Os, recruit, and win in a power conference. Minnesota probably gives him more weapons than WSU or UVA did.
 

I am personlly tired of picking my favorite candidate, who is realistic, what is NT's plan. I am truly drained.

I just want to tweet again, which I am sue you are tired of hearing about, and I just trust NT to make the right hire. Even if it isn't the splash pick, the up and comer, Flip, etc. I trust you Norwod.

Just please, decide soon so I can stop sressing about this and make sure that I am the first to know! Did I mention I want to tweet again?
 

tjgopher said:
What's the back story there? Tony worked for Bo for two years and has been quoted many times about how much he appreciated the chance to work for Bo.

I'm likely in the minority, but I would have no problem if Tony Bennett was the next Gopher coach. Young guy who can coach Xs and Os, recruit, and win in a power conference. Minnesota probably gives him more weapons than WSU or UVA did.
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I would be good with Tony, too.
 



StCroix said:
Serious question because I don't know. Has Bruce Pearls name ever come up?
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Dan Dakich mentioned Pearl's name on Barreiro's show the other day, not as a serious possibility, but as someone who can coach and is looking for work.
 

50PoundHead said:
Dan Dakich mentioned Pearl's name on Barreiro's show the other day, not as a serious possibility, but as someone who can coach and is looking for work.
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Pearl received a three year show cause by NCAA in August 2011. He can't look for college work until August 2014.

Go Gophers!!
 

Bad Gopher said:
I would be good with Tony, too.
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No problems with Tony, either. He hits the most important checkmarks for me:

1. Head Coaching Experience at Major Program (Wazzu, Virginia)
2. Coached in NCAA Tournament (3 appearances, 2 at Wazzu, 1 at Virginia)
3. Success in NCAA Tournament (3 wins, including a Sweet 16 at a school that doesn't have 'em very often)
4. Still a young man (43)
5. Midwest/Big Ten ties -- this is a bigee for me

It does not scare me for one second that Dick Bennett is his father, nor would it bother me if we hired a guy with Badger ties. Irrelevant. ... he can coach. Plus, he's not really a Badger; he played at UWGB.

One thing does concern me, and it's probably my biggest pet peeve; his nonconference schedules during his time at Wazzu and UVa have been nothing short of atrocious:

2006-07 (Wazzu): #312
2007-08 (Wazzu): #190
2008-09 (Wazzu): #141
2009-10 (UVa): #277
2010-11 (UVa): #297
2011-12 (UVa): #233
2012-13 (UVa): #303
 

SelectionSunday said:
No problems with Tony, either. He hits the most important checkmarks for me:

1. Head Coaching Experience at Major Program (Wazzu, Virginia)
2. Coached in NCAA Tournament (3 appearances, 2 at Wazzu, 1 at Virginia)
3. Success in NCAA Tournament (3 wins, including a Sweet 16 at a school that doesn't have 'em very often)
4. Still a young man (43)
5. Midwest/Big Ten ties -- this is a bigee for me

It does not scare me for one second that Dick Bennett is his father, nor would it bother me if we hired a guy with Badger ties. Irrelevant. ... he can coach. Plus, he's not really a Badger; he played at UWGB.

One thing does concern me, and it's probably my biggest pet peeve; his nonconference schedules during his time at Wazzu and UVa have been nothing short of atrocious:

2006-07 (Wazzu): #312
2007-08 (Wazzu): #190
2008-09 (Wazzu): #141
2009-10 (UVa): #277
2010-11 (UVa): #297
2011-12 (UVa): #233
2012-13 (UVa): #303
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And this thing about boring offense. You know, to me the most boring offense is the one where everyone stands around and you jack up a 30-footer to avoid a shot clock violation or you dump it into the post with 10 seconds on the shot clock and the guy doesn't know what to do so he dribbles a few times and gets the ball stripped. So pretty much what we watched much of this last season. Even if Tony's teams use most of the shot clock, at least we'd see some passing and off-ball movement, and I doubt if he'd be satisfied playing shooting guards and small forwards who can't shoot.
 



I'm kind of curious as to why Minnesota fans think Bennett would consider leaving Virginia. I suspect, even with its money from the B1G, the Minnesota athletic department cannot outbid Virginia if it is only a case of money. Furthermore, I seriously doubt that the Minnesota facilities are even the equal of UVa's, and Charlottesville is consistently ranked as one of the nicest places to live in America. Bennett has Virginia poised for a pretty special season next year. Only one player graduates from a 23-12 squad. He'll have two All ACC players returning. The 2012 recruiting class was pretty exceptional and now they have their rookie season behind them, and two very good redshirts (one transfer and one injury) will join two nice recruits for the next campaign. Everything is looking very good, if not out right special. I cannot imagine why Bennett would abandon the opportunity to coach this squad next season. Furthermore, Virginia has consistently outrecruited Minnesota (if ESPN is to be believed) and the Old Dominion produces some exceptional basketball talent. The only real advantage that Minnesota offers is the ability to get some prospects into school that wouldn't have a chance at UVa, and, so far, that hasn't been an issue for Bennett. Of course, you do have ice fishing and we don't. Finally, for those concerned about the pace, I believe the last time UVa visited Minnesota the score was 87 - 79, Virginia.
 


73CAV said:
I'm kind of curious as to why Minnesota fans think Bennett would consider leaving Virginia. I suspect, even with its money from the B1G, the Minnesota athletic department cannot outbid Virginia if it is only a case of money. Furthermore, I seriously doubt that the Minnesota facilities are even the equal of UVa's, and Charlottesville is consistently ranked as one of the nicest places to live in America. Bennett has Virginia poised for a pretty special season next year. Only one player graduates from a 23-12 squad. He'll have two All ACC players returning. The 2012 recruiting class was pretty exceptional and now they have their rookie season behind them, and two very good redshirts (one transfer and one injury) will join two nice recruits for the next campaign. Everything is looking very good, if not out right special. I cannot imagine why Bennett would abandon the opportunity to coach this squad next season. Furthermore, Virginia has consistently outrecruited Minnesota (if ESPN is to be believed) and the Old Dominion produces some exceptional basketball talent. The only real advantage that Minnesota offers is the ability to get some prospects into school that wouldn't have a chance at UVa, and, so far, that hasn't been an issue for Bennett. Of course, you do have ice fishing and we don't. Finally, for those concerned about the pace, I believe the last time UVa visited Minnesota the score was 87 - 79, Virginia.
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Any Gopher fan that thinks Bennett would leave UVa for Minnesota is delusional. This thread should be deleted. Only place in the B10 he'd consider leaving UVa for (and I don't even think that would happen) would be Wisconsin. People forget he turned down IU before they went with Crean -- http://www.insidethehall.com/tag/tony-bennett/
 

He was coaching at Washington State when turned down the IU opening. Which by the way was a cf thanks to Calvin Sampson.
 

I know that Tony did have interest at one time in getting back to the Midwest when he was at Washington State, but not with Wisconsin. His time as an assistant with Bo Ryan was not good and Ryan would call him out and blame him from issues with the past. That was the reason that he left after one season under Ryan to work with his father. When the Marquette job came open his wife was against him going after it at first. Steve Cottingham was just named the AD at Marquette taking over for Bill Cords. Cottingham knew that this was going to be a big hire and his legacy would be attached to it much like Cords was to Crean. Williams was lobbying hard for the job since he left the HC job at New Orleans to be an assistant at Marquette. The boosters and Cottingham were not seeing eye to eye because they did not believe Cottingham was the right hire to begin with and that they were not taking any advice. So there was two different searches going on. A group of boosters lead by Mark Marotta (former player at Marquette, Milwaukee attorney and very politically connected) flew to meet with Bennett to convince him, but his wife pushed back. After the trip, Bennett changed his mind and called for the job but it was too late and Williams got hired. Would Bennett want to come back to the Midwest, it would not shock me; but I would be shocked if he went to Wisconsin. They would really have to work hard to repair that relationship. I dont have a relationship with Bennett but I have friends who do have the relationship. They believe he would come back but they all believe that it would be tough until he gets into the Tournament. I will say that money does talk, but you just don't know. He is a lot like his father in that he truly loves the game.
 

73CAV said:
I'm kind of curious as to why Minnesota fans think Bennett would consider leaving Virginia. I suspect, even with its money from the B1G, the Minnesota athletic department cannot outbid Virginia if it is only a case of money. Furthermore, I seriously doubt that the Minnesota facilities are even the equal of UVa's, and Charlottesville is consistently ranked as one of the nicest places to live in America. Bennett has Virginia poised for a pretty special season next year. Only one player graduates from a 23-12 squad. He'll have two All ACC players returning. The 2012 recruiting class was pretty exceptional and now they have their rookie season behind them, and two very good redshirts (one transfer and one injury) will join two nice recruits for the next campaign. Everything is looking very good, if not out right special. I cannot imagine why Bennett would abandon the opportunity to coach this squad next season. Furthermore, Virginia has consistently outrecruited Minnesota (if ESPN is to be believed) and the Old Dominion produces some exceptional basketball talent. The only real advantage that Minnesota offers is the ability to get some prospects into school that wouldn't have a chance at UVa, and, so far, that hasn't been an issue for Bennett. Of course, you do have ice fishing and we don't. Finally, for those concerned about the pace, I believe the last time UVa visited Minnesota the score was 87 - 79, Virginia.
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Then you have nothing to worry about, nor any reason to grace us with your presence on GopherHole.
 

IDFM said:
I know that Tony did have interest at one time in getting back to the Midwest when he was at Washington State, but not with Wisconsin. His time as an assistant with Bo Ryan was not good and Ryan would call him out and blame him from issues with the past. That was the reason that he left after one season under Ryan to work with his father. When the Marquette job came open his wife was against him going after it at first. Steve Cottingham was just named the AD at Marquette taking over for Bill Cords. Cottingham knew that this was going to be a big hire and his legacy would be attached to it much like Cords was to Crean. Williams was lobbying hard for the job since he left the HC job at New Orleans to be an assistant at Marquette. The boosters and Cottingham were not seeing eye to eye because they did not believe Cottingham was the right hire to begin with and that they were not taking any advice. So there was two different searches going on. A group of boosters lead by Mark Marotta (former player at Marquette, Milwaukee attorney and very politically connected) flew to meet with Bennett to convince him, but his wife pushed back. After the trip, Bennett changed his mind and called for the job but it was too late and Williams got hired. Would Bennett want to come back to the Midwest, it would not shock me; but I would be shocked if he went to Wisconsin. They would really have to work hard to repair that relationship. I dont have a relationship with Bennett but I have friends who do have the relationship. They believe he would come back but they all believe that it would be tough until he gets into the Tournament. I will say that money does talk, but you just don't know. He is a lot like his father in that he truly loves the game.
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One of the rumors that surfaced when Bennett left WSU for Virginia also concerned his wife. Supposedly, she is from North Carolina and Bennett met her when he was playing for Charlotte. It was said that she didn't particularly like Pullman. Some suggested that it was her desire to return to the region that prompted Bennett to accept the UVa position, or, perhaps, it was just another straw. I have no idea if any of this is true, but it would seem consistent with your post. Her preferences will be a factor in any decision he makes. Maybe not the deciding factor, but significant nonetheless.
 


73CAV said:
One of the rumors that surfaced when Bennett left WSU for Virginia also concerned his wife. Supposedly, she is from North Carolina and Bennett met her when he was playing for Charlotte. It was said that she didn't particularly like Pullman. Some suggested that it was her desire to return to the region that prompted Bennett to accept the UVa position, or, perhaps, it was just another straw. I have no idea if any of this is true, but it would seem consistent with your post. Her preferences will be a factor in any decision he makes. Maybe not the deciding factor, but significant nonetheless.
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I thought that Laurel was from Louisiana, but may have been North Carolina. I know that it was somewhere down south. I do know that she did not like living in Madison.
 

73CAV said:
I'm kind of curious as to why Minnesota fans think Bennett would consider leaving Virginia. I suspect, even with its money from the B1G, the Minnesota athletic department cannot outbid Virginia if it is only a case of money. Furthermore, I seriously doubt that the Minnesota facilities are even the equal of UVa's, and Charlottesville is consistently ranked as one of the nicest places to live in America. Bennett has Virginia poised for a pretty special season next year. Only one player graduates from a 23-12 squad. He'll have two All ACC players returning. The 2012 recruiting class was pretty exceptional and now they have their rookie season behind them, and two very good redshirts (one transfer and one injury) will join two nice recruits for the next campaign. Everything is looking very good, if not out right special. I cannot imagine why Bennett would abandon the opportunity to coach this squad next season. Furthermore, Virginia has consistently outrecruited Minnesota (if ESPN is to be believed) and the Old Dominion produces some exceptional basketball talent. The only real advantage that Minnesota offers is the ability to get some prospects into school that wouldn't have a chance at UVa, and, so far, that hasn't been an issue for Bennett. Of course, you do have ice fishing and we don't. Finally, for those concerned about the pace, I believe the last time UVa visited Minnesota the score was 87 - 79, Virginia.
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No one said it was likely. UVa has plenty of $$, we won't outbid them. But you don't have Coach K and Roy in your backyard here. And you don't have to fight VCU or VT for the second level recruits. You don't have the same academic hurdles at MN. (That's what tripped up UVa getting Tubby.) I would say MN has better fan support too. There are a few advantages.

Overall they're jobs on the same level once MN gets a practice facility. Would he make a lateral move? Probably not. But it's certainly not impossible.
 

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