Washington State College
CM: Man, it was a dream taking part in for Tony Bennett. He’s the most effective coaches I’ve ever had in my life. However what individuals don’t know – that is loopy – is that I really performed for his father first. The legendary Dick Bennett, who was the pinnacle coach at Wisconsin-Milwaukee earlier than changing into a dwelling legend, was my coach within the Pac-10 throughout my first yr. Then, in my second yr, when Tony took over, we went all the way in which as much as No. 12 within the nation. That was the yr Coach Tony received Coach of the Yr.
I used to be there for the final yr of his father, and, he handed the job on to Tony. Yep, I used to be there for that, man. Properly, such as you mentioned, it’s all about timing. I can’t actually look again and need issues had gone in a different way. However, the explanation I left the varsity – I’d say it was as a result of I wasn’t affected person. Coach Tony was telling me, “Hey, you’re about to be a junior. Simply be affected person, as a result of Kyle Weaver and Derek Low are about to graduate, and the group goes to be yours. Your senior yr, we’re going to provide the group. Don’t go away.”
However again then, I used to be simply impatient. And what individuals don’t notice is that within the Pac-10, when you averaged 10 factors, you have been going within the first spherical as a result of that’s how laborious it was to attain within the Pac-10 again then. I wasn’t affected person and ended up going to St. Bonaventure, which was a blessing. I used to be No. 1 within the convention in three-pointers made and three-point proportion. I used to be additionally No. 7 in the whole nation in threes made throughout my senior yr at St. Bonaventure. So, it wasn’t prefer it was a flop.
However, if I had stayed within the Pac-10 and put up nice numbers there, who is aware of? I might need made it to the NBA. Nonetheless, I’m honored to have performed for Coach Schmidt at St. Bonaventure.
