Top coach in Pac-10? It’s Bennett

PULLMAN – Unprecedented events are becoming normal around Washington State this winter, so it should come as no surprise that the Pac-10 honored the Cougars as never before on Monday.

First-year head coach Tony Bennett was named the conference’s coach of the year, as voted by his fellow coaches, and guards Derrick Low and Kyle Weaver were both named to the two-deep All-Pac-10 team.

Bennett is only the third Cougar coach to win the honor, joining George Raveling and Kelvin Sampson. And Low and Weaver, both juniors, are just the third WSU duo to make the all-league team in the same season. Never before had a pair of Cougar underclassmen earned such recognition.

“I’m very thankful,” said Bennett, who is the first coach to win the Pac-10’s award in his first season since Cal’s Ben Braun did so 10 years ago. “Any time you get an award like that, that is a representation of your team, your players, the staff you have.”

And obviously, the Cougars’ 13-5 finish in the conference, good for second place, had a lot to do with the number of awards received on Monday.

“How well we did, I think that might have had a factor in it,” Low said. “It’s definitely proof that hard work paid off.”

Low scored 13.5 points a game in the regular season to lead WSU, and he became the focal point of one defense after another. Bennett credited his increased aggressiveness on offense to the scoring production.

But it seemed appropriate that both guards were honored, since Weaver’s assumption of the point guard duties this year helped free up Low to shoot more and handle the ball less.

Weaver was second for the Cougars in scoring and blocks while leading them in rebounding, assists and steals.

“I try not to be just one-dimensional or just be known as a shooter or known as a ballhandler. I just want to be known as a player,” Weaver said. “I just try to do anything I can to make this team better. I don’t really have to go out and score a bunch of points or do one specific thing to help this team.”

Another junior, UCLA’s Arron Afflalo, won the conference player of the year award, and Arizona’s Chase Budinger was named the Pac-10 freshman of the year.

“It’s an honor to have your name on a list of guys that talented in this league,” Weaver said.

While both Low and Weaver were not considered surprises to make the team, Bennett was considered a slam dunk to win the coaching honors.

The 37-year-old said he thought UCLA’s Ben Howland would win, but just about every outside observer had Bennett tabbed as the conference – and possibly the national – coach of the year after the Cougars finished in last place a year ago under his father.

“I think because you guys picked us last, we had the biggest jump and that probably helped,” Bennett said, referring to WSU’s place in the preseason poll. “I’m kind of overwhelmed that I’m picked for that. In this league, with the caliber of coaches in this league, to be recognized as that, that’s something that I really am appreciative for.”

Before the season, some had wondered if Bennett was getting the job simply because of his father, but any concerns about nepotism seem to have disappeared in the midst of this 24-6 season, which will continue in the Pac-10 tournament on Thursday against either Washington or Arizona State.

Still, the coach chose not to see the award as proof of his own abilities on the sideline.

“The only thing in my opinion that validates us here is us having a good year and playing quality basketball, winning some games,” Bennett said.