McIver: Looking forward to Bennett return as adviser

The news that former UW-Green Bay men’s basketball head coach and Phoenix Hall of Famer Dick Bennett will serve as a periodic adviser to head coach Brian Wardle and the men’s basketball program is getting positive reviews… off campus and on. Interim AD Dan McIver is quoted as follows in a Phoenix Athletics news release: “I was extremely excited to hear that Chancellor Harden had chosen Dick Bennett as the adviser. Coach Bennett has always been dedicated to this program and his willingness to serve in this capacity is another example of that dedication. Coach Wardle and his staff are building a strong, competitive basketball program, and having Coach Bennett involved will provide a valuable asset to the program moving forward.” See the full story.

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Dick and Tony — The nature of Dick Bennett’s assistance to Phoenix Coach Brian Wardle is expected to involve mostly general discussions of player motivation, development and coaching philosophy, and not team-by-team scouting or game-by-game strategy. That’s a good thing with regard to at least one marquee game on the 2013-14 schedule that would otherwise put Bennett in a bit of a tough spot. Bennett’s son Tony, Green Bay’s all-time leading scorer and a Phoenix Hall of Famer, is the head coach of Virginia. The Cavaliers will visit the Resch Center to take on Green Bay this season on Saturday, Dec. 7.