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Checking In from Ames
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March 20, 2010
5:55 p.m.
AMES, Iowa — Women’s basketball will dominate the spotlight at Iowa State’s Hilton Coliseum through Tuesday night, but Tony Bennett’s name came up there a couple of times today.
UVa’s first-round opponent in the NCAA tournament is Wisconsin-Green Bay, which, of course, happens to Bennett’s alma mater. He starred at Green Bay for his father, Dick Bennett.
At a news conference today, a reporter from the Midwest asked Debbie Ryan if she knew where the UVa men’s coach’s allegiance will lie Sunday night.
Bennett said on his radio show last week that he’ll be rooting for the ‘Hoos, and Ryan would expect nothing else from him.
“He has to share an office space [in John Paul Jones Arena] with me,” Ryan said with a smile.
Later today, during Virginia’s practice at Hilton Coliseum, Jimmy Dykes walked up to Craig Littlepage, who was seated courtside.
Dykes, now an analyst for ESPN, is a former NBA scout who was a men’s assistant at five colleges, including Kentucky and Oklahoma State.
“I just wanted to tell you what a big fan I am of Tony Bennett,” Dykes said after shaking hands with Littlepage. “He’s got the whole package.”
Dykes also praised Ritchie McKay, Bennett’s top assistant. Dykes is working the first- and second-round women’s games at Iowa State. The UVa-Green Bay winner will meet Iowa State or Lehigh on Tuesday night.