Another tournament, another hot coach

George Raveling wasn’t the last men’s basketball coach to leave Washington State for a seemingly better opportunity in the Midwest.

Raveling guided WSU to the second round of the NCAA tournament in 1983 before leaving to accept a head coaching position at Iowa. Kelvin Sampson later coached the Cougars into the 1994 NCAA tournament, the first time WSU qualified for the tournament since Raveling’s tenure. And like Raveling, Sampson parlayed the tournament berth into a lucrative contract coaching elsewhere, in his case Oklahoma.

This year Tony Bennett became the third coach in the last 25 years to lead the Cougars to the NCAA tournament. There is no shortage of rumors that Bennett will be among the most sought-after coaches on the market. Michigan’s firing of Tommy Amaker on Saturday opens yet another vacant position to which Bennett’s name is linked.

Raveling was in the Arena on Sunday to watch the NCAA tournament’s second-round games, with a particular eye on the Southern California team he formerly coached. He said Bennett’s situation is much different than the one he faced nearly 25 years ago.

“The only reason I left was because President (Glenn) Terrell was retiring and they were bringing in a new (athletic director),” Raveling said. “I didn’t want to work for a new A.D. But I was perfectly happy at Washington State.”

Theoretically, Bennett could expect an offer topping $1 million – perhaps even more – from a university with bottomless pockets like Michigan. Raveling, however, made it clear that money didn’t factor into his decision either, although he admitted “the most I ever made at Washington State was $45,000.”

Now employed by Nike, Raveling said he was scouting players and looking for NBA potential. Obviously, Texas’ Kevin Durant topped that list, but Raveling added he also was looking at USC’s Nick Young, among others.

Basketball analysts seem to be falling all over themselves to praise Durant, a 6-foot-9 freshman who appears to be the favorite to win the national player of the year award. Raveling cautioned there are aspects of Durant’s game that need improvement if he’s to maximize his talent at the NBA level.

“I think he’s the best player in college basketball,” Raveling said. “He’s got to get stronger. He’s got the perimeter skills, but strength is something he’ll need going forward. He could be more intense and focus on being more physical.”

Raveling stopped short of suggesting Durant should take his game to the NBA, although Durant almost unanimously is predicted to be one of the first two selections in the NBA draft on June 28.

“I think he’ll be the first or second guy selected in the draft,” Raveling said, “but that’s a decision best made by him and his parents.”