Originally published Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Tony Bennett mum on Indiana rumors

Tony Bennett has tunnel vision, at least until Washington State's basketball season ends. Asked about the Indiana job made vacant Friday...

By Bud Withers

Seattle Times staff reporter

Cougars forum

PULLMAN — Tony Bennett has tunnel vision, at least until Washington State's basketball season ends.

Asked about the Indiana job made vacant Friday with the ouster of Kelvin Sampson, Bennett said, "I'm not going to comment on anything that doesn't pertain to our season. That's all you're going to get out of me."

The name of Bennett, 47-13 in two seasons as Washington State coach since taking over from his father Dick, has already been advanced by some national writers. Friday, one wrote on ESPN.com that Bennett is the most logical choice at Indiana, where his sister Kathi was once women's coach.

Bennett last year was linked by rumor to a couple of jobs, but ended up signing a new seven-year contract with WSU that doubled his salary to about $800,000 annually.

His WSU team (21-5 overall, 9-5 Pac-10) hosts Arizona (16-10, 6-7) tonight. The Wildcats won 76-64 in Tucson in January in one of the poorer showings by the Cougars in Bennett's two years.

"They embarrassed us in Tucson, exposed our weaknesses," guard Taylor Rochestie said. "If we come out and play Washington State basketball, it's going to be a lot different."

Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com

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