Personally, I don't think Bennett is going anywhere (maybe I'm naive).

Here's why:

The Washington State job isn't a bad gig (it used to be). Everyone is talking about how Bennett can "make the jump" to the Big Ten. What is the Pac-10, chopped liver? I understand that Indiana is a desirable job and it's a program with a lot of tradition (and they can offer more money), but there's nothing wrong with coaching a team that's more than competitive in the Pac-10. It bothers me that because it's Wazzu people think other jobs are automatically "better." I don't hear people saying Ben Howland (UCLA) and Trent Johnson (Stanford) should be candidates...that's because they already have "good jobs." Sure they are perennial NCAA teams, but Wazzu is heading in that direction. (The point I'm trying to make is: For the last two years, Washington State is as good as anyone, but because it's Wazzu people assume he's better off somewhere else...that stinks).

Sanctions could be another big deal when it comes to Indiana. If they aren't handed sanctions by the NCAA, Indiana will probably (or should) punish themselves. Inland Northwest basketball fans saw what happened to Dan Monson when he left Gonzaga for a sanctioned-riddled Minnesota program...he flopped.

I don't know if he's ever said it publicly or if people just assume, but Bennett's dream job is at Wisconsin. That's where he's from, that's where his dad coached, etc. So, here's a question: How often do coaches change teams within a conference? Never (at least that I can think of)...it's like trading your best player to a division rival in any professional sport, you just shouldn't do it. If the Badgers job opened up while he was coaching at Indiana, the Hoosiers wouldn't let him leave very easily.

A couple more things before I let the point go...

Many people, like ESPN.com's Pat Forde, argue that there's no better time for Bennett to leave. The Cougars lose Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill after the season (plus, bench players like Chris Henry and Jeremy Cross). Don't get me wrong...Low, Weaver and Cowgill have meant more to the Cougar basketball program than most in the past, but there's a lot coming back (and more coming in). Taylor Rochestie, Daven Harmeling, and Aron Baynes are the biggest pieces of the puzzle returning (those guys average 28 points and 12 rebounds per game this season). Caleb Forrest and Nikola Koprivica are more than serviceable and a year of development will have helped Thomas Abercrombie, Fabian Boeke and Abe Lodwick. Plus, you can't forget Michael Harthun, Klay Thompson, Marcus Capers and the two others who will be freshman next year. I think Washington State will be just fine.

Finally, it's not a knock on the guy, but you can tell Tony doesn't like dealing with the media sometimes. He's always been great to me and he does a great job when we interview him, but there's a part of me that realizes he doesn't really care to be surrounded by cameras and microphones...he just wants to coach. Sorry, but you can't avoid the media at Indiana. It's part of the job (much more than it is at Wazzu).

I know all good things must come to an end, but I don't think the end is near. Tony will leave someday...I hope it's not yet.

P.S. When asked about the Indiana job, Bennett said he wouldn't talk about it. One other thing to keep in mind...Tony's sister, Kathi coached women's basketball at IU from 2000-2005. It doesn't seem like it was the best situation. She resigned after several losing seasons with the Hoosiers.

P.S.S. The Cougars are looking to sweep the Bay Area road trip for the first time since the '92-'93 season. They start against Cal on Thursday (WSU lost the first meeting, 69-64) and play Stanford on Saturday (the Cougs fell to the Cardinal 67-65 in overtime on February 2nd).