A look at how the younger coaches are doing:
TONY BENNETT, WASHINGTON STATE
Age: 38. Father: Dick Bennett. Won 490 career games at four schools, highlighted by taking Wisconsin to the 2000 Final Four. Also had an NAIA national runner-up finish with Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
Playing experience: A guard for his father, Bennett completed his college career at Wisconsin-Green Bay in 1992 as the NCAA’s all-time leading 3-point shooter (.497) and set a Mid-Continent Conference records for career points (2,285) and assists (601). Played four seasons for Charlotte Hornets.
Previous coaching experience: Four seasons as an assistant at Wisconsin prior to joining his father’s staff at WSU in 2003. Only head-coaching experience had been with a club team in New Zealand.
Since taking over last season: Is 46-13 at Washington State. The 2006-07 Cougars (26-8) tied the school record for victories and won an NCAA Tournament game for first time in 24 years. Last spring, Bennett became the first since John Wooden in 1972 to earn five national coach of the year awards.
KENO DAVIS, DRAKE
Age: 35. Father: Tom Davis. Won a total of 598 games at five schools. He is the winningest coach in University of Iowa history, reaching the NCAA Sweet 16 twice and the Elite Eight once. “Dr. Tom” was named national coach of the year in 1987.
Since taking over this season: Drake is 23-2 entering its game Tuesday night against Bradley. The Bulldogs are ranked (No. 16 by AP, No. 18 by USA Today-ESPN) for the first time since 1975. In a preseason poll of coaches and media, Drake was picked to finish ninth in the 10-team Missouri Valley Conference.
Playing experience: None in college.
Previous coaching experience: Assistant under his father at Drake for four seasons, and at Southeast Missouri State and Southern Indiana (under current Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl). Published a book, “Pressure Defense,” in 1994 while an undergraduate at Iowa, where he assisted his father. No prior head coaching experience.
PAT KNIGHT, TEXAS TECH
Age: 37. Father: Bob Knight. Resigned Feb. 4 with an NCAA Division I-best 902 victories. Coached Indiana to national championships in 1976, 1981 and 1987, and the 1984 U.S. Olympic Team to the gold medal.
Since taking over: Red Raiders (13-11, 4-6 Big 12) are 1-3 under Pat Knight entering tonight’s game at Colorado. Last week, Texas Tech upset then-No. 22 Kansas State (84-75) and lost 66-64 to Oklahoma on a 3-pointer by the Sooners’ David Godbold with 1.4 seconds remaining.
Playing experience: Lettered four years as a reserve at Indiana under his father, scoring a career-best 45 points in 31 games in 1995.
Previous coaching experience: After two years as an assistant under his father at Indiana, he worked one season as an assistant at Akron before joining his father at Texas Tech in 2001. Only head coaching experience was one season (1998-99) with the Wisconsin Blast of the International Basketball Association, compiling a 19-15 record. Also was an administrative assistant with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns and an assistant coach with the CBA’s Connecticut Pride.
SEAN SUTTON, OKLAHOMA STATE
Age: 39. Father: Eddie Sutton. Became the fifth Division I coach to record 800 victories Feb. 2 while coaching the University of San Francisco. He came out of retirement and took over the Dons in December when head coach Jesse Evans went on a leave of absence. Sutton guided Oklahoma State to two Final Fours and Arkansas to one.
Since taking over last season: Oklahoma State is 35-25, including 10-17 in the Big 12. Entering a game Saturday at Kansas, the Cowboys have won three of four and come off a 59-54 upset victory at then-No. 16 Texas A&M.
Playing experience: Point guard for his father in two seasons each at Kentucky and Oklahoma State. In 1990, he became the only player in Oklahoma State history to record 20 points and l0 assists in a game, against Centenary (21 points, 11 assists).
Previous coaching experience: Assistant coach at Mississippi for one season before joining his father’s staff at Oklahoma State in 1994. No prior head coaching experience.
