Washington State coach Dick Bennett faced the media after his team’s devastating 30-point loss to the Ducks Saturday and did something very refreshing: He was real.
The 40-year coaching veteran did not deflect blame or try to find underlying optimism about a game in which his team was overmatched in nearly every facet (see: 10 points at halftime.)
Bennett simply spoke the truth: Washington State is not a good basketball team, and he is not shy about the reasons why.
“It’s embarrassing,” Bennett said. “Our young players who are not strong and not particularly gifted have just simply run out of steam.”
Bennett also was not timid about the overall status of the program after Saturday – the Cougars’ worst conference road loss during his three-year tenure.
“It’s apparent that the youthfulness and the recruiting issues maybe have caught up with us a bit,” Bennett said. “I’ve had a lot of teams for 40 years now, and they’ve always looked smart and tough on the floor. I haven’t been able to get that at WSU and that so disappoints me.”
In a time when the coaching scene is dominated by big-time, big-money personalities, Bennett’s blunt, ego-less approach is rare and admirable. Then again, he’s no slouch either.
Bennett’s well-documented success dates back to his coaching days at the high school, small college and Division I level. He led the Wisconsin Badgers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2000 Final Four.
But in Bennett-like fashion, he left the Badgers just three games into the season following his miraculous Final Four run, citing a lack of energy as the main cause for his resignation.
That is, rather than waiting for his lack of energy to force the athletic director to dismiss a fan favorite, Bennett left on his own terms after coming to the realization he may not have been the most qualified to handle the season.
What an anomaly in this day and age for a coach to come to such a realization.
It appears Bennett will soon head down the same road at Washington State. He anticipated three years in Pullman would provide enough time to resuscitate the program, but inconsistencies have plagued the Cougars.
Now the team is leaps behind where Bennett had hoped, and he saying what most coaches won’t ever admit about their own programs.
He exited the press conference Saturday by admitting that he was tired and that the game belongs to the younger people. But whether Dick Bennett calls it quits this year or hangs on for a few more, he’ll always be remembered for his no-nonsense manner off the court as much as his great (and not so great) teams on it.
“I heard some guy say that I was always good for sound bites,” Bennett said. “Quite frankly, right now, that’s about all I’m good for.”
I disagree. I think he’s good for bringing a bit of humility back to the coaching ranks.
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Blunt reality is refreshing to hear from WSU coach
Daily Emerald
February 20, 2006
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