America’s best

Washington State University men’s basketball is on the rebound, and its coach has been rewarded handsomely.

Tony Bennett, who led the Cougars to their best season in 60 years, was selected the Associated Press college basketball coach of the year Friday.

Bennett, 37, is just the second coach to win the award after his first season as a head coach, joining Bill Hodges of Indiana State in 1979. Bennett succeeded his father, Dick, who retired after three years at the helm.

The Cougars were picked in the preseason to finish ninth in the Pac-10 Conference. They posted an overall record of 26-8, placed second to UCLA in the Pac-10 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. It was their first tournament appearance since 1994.

Bennett received 40 votes from the 72-member national media panel that selects the weekly Top 25. Thad Matta of Ohio State and Billy Gillispie of Texas A&M each received 10 votes.

Full report in Sports, Page C1