IDS Sports Editor Matt Mattucci spoke with former IU standout Kent Benson, member of the 1976 championship team and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Here are his comments on IU's head coach search.
On Mike Davis' resignation:\n"I'm glad that Mike Davis realized he needed to step aside and move on down the road. He handled the situation with a lot integrity."
On the search committee:\n"Rick Greenspan and his staff used a lot of diligence to find the best coach to fit the program. They're looking for expertise, knowledge, experience and especially a history of winning. The new coach has to have the ability and personality to reach out to IU fans and alums and help bring them back into Indiana basketball."
On the necessity of one of 'Indiana's own':\n"Whoever that may be, former player or not, I still think whoever that may be needs to have a former player on staff as an assistant. People have not supported (IU basketball) for a lot of reasons, and they need to help rally players around the new coach. A former player knows the game, and knows how to the teach game. They need a coach to get to where players are improving throughout their career. Former players know how to do that. That's integral. They need to have a former player who can reach out to alums and IU basketball fans who have quit supporting."
On former players' input:\n"Several former players have been contacted. I am one of several former players contacted and talked to. I think that it's smart on the athletic department's part to do that. We have a good understanding of what IU basketball is all about. We were involved for 4 years on some level, some for much longer as supporters of the program. We know the game and type of coach that it's going to take to bring us back and bring IU basketball back into the top 10."
On potential coaching candidates:\n"There are a lot of qualified coaches out there and a lot that would probably fit our program that are available. I have enough confidence in our department and Rick Greenspan and his selection committee to find the right coach for IU basketball who can be here for the long term. I have confidence in the committee by the way in which they've handled the whole process. They've handled it in a very professional manner. I commend them and congratulate them. They've conducted this (search) in a very good business manner. I feel like whatever decision they make that they've done it with diligence. The new coach will be qualified if not more qualified enough for the position."
On a timetable for a hiring announcement:\n"I feel like they're holding off until after the Final Four. In due respect to all coaches they're making a wise decision to do that. They're allowing plenty of time to go through the process."
On Davis' tenure:\n"Mike Davis was out of his league here at IU. He's a good person though. He has an assistant-coach-friend-of-the-players mentality. At some point in time you've got to become the head coach and the boss -- he never did that. He knows enough about the game to find a job. He ran an NBA offense with kids that couldn't run it. I think he could find a way to be part of an NBA team. I wish Mike the best though"
