Bennett back to celebrate seniors

PULLMAN – Trying to pin down the precise turning point in Washington State basketball’s recent history isn’t all that tough.

It’s the day the school hired former Wisconsin head coach Dick Bennett – and his son Tony as head-coach-in- waiting. However, Dick, now retired, will tell you the real turning point was when this year’s senior class decided to attend WSU.

In town to help celebrate Senior Day, Bennett sat down for an interview at practice Wednesday.

S-R: What was the single most important element here? Was it recruiting this group of seniors?

DB: Getting that group, which we felt at some point would become very competitive, was the key.

S-R: Did you think they would be this successful?

DB: I thought they would be competitive, but if you had said to me at the end of my third year these guys would make the NCAA tournament the next two years, I would have said that’s a great hope and a prayer, but I don’t know.

S-R: Who was the most important recruit? Derrick (Low)?

DB: Initially. That was clear at that time and it was played up that way. But now I’m not sure you could take any of them away. … Each of them has been responsible for the success they’ve had. Though Robbie (Cowgill) is a role player, I don’t see many players (around the country) who could assume his role. Derrick has won games with his play, as has Kyle (Weaver). … The one I feel worst about is Chris Henry. He’s fought so many injuries.

S-R: Talking with the seniors about the UW rivalry, they all said they discovered how important it was when (as freshmen) you flipped off the UW crowd.

DB: (Laughs) That’s when I was in one of the pits (of coaching). I wanted us to play well … and we weren’t (competitive) in that game. It was in the first half, we were getting blown out and I thought, ‘This isn’t going to work.’ I was so frustrated, and I just did it. It wasn’t out of anger. It was out of total frustration.

S-R: What did it cost you?

DB: Let’s put it this way. I gained more than I lost. I never realized I had so many fans (laughs). I felt bad because it was a violation of what I believe in, in light of what that gesture means, something I’ve never done before or since. I felt guilty, but then the support started rolling in. … (Bobby) Knight called me after that game and told me how much he used to like me, but now he absolutely loved me.