Let’s wait to hear from all the players that feel “wronged”. Based on what I have read the assistant coaches were doing all the heavy lifting on recruiting etc, for the last two years, so the players have “relationships” with the assistants, not necessarily with Bennett. Plus if you listen to VT, no basketball player in their right mind wants to play Bennetts style of basketball anyway, so is it a big issue?
It is simply another significant loss to the coaching ranks as college basketball slowly adjusts to the “new world”. Nothing else to see here.
We won't know from the players if they felt "wronged" unless they publicly say so, but that is not something they should do. Yes, players build relationships with assistants, but a head coach - especially one of Bennett's pedigree - likely plays a big role in their decision to play at UVA with his coaching ability, higher level connections, and I am sure he is an overall good guy that players like to be around. Would you want your child's college professor to leave 3 weeks before classes start because they don't like the direction academia is heading, and instead picked the teaching assistant they wanted to lead the class? I don't know what went on behind the scenes, and while I am sure the assistant coaches had a strong idea/flat out knew (why Ron Sanchez left a head coaching position at Charlotte to go to UVA) it may have blindsided the players.
Also, I see where VT is coming from when saying that perhaps UVA would want to explore other coaching options instead of immediately hiring whomever the coach wants as his successor. While I think Bennett has earned the right to pick his successor, I can see the argument for why he shouldn't. Bennett is a hall of fame coach and led UVA to heights never reached before. However, his way of coaching and recruiting may not work in today's college world anymore, with more emphasis on immediate impact transfers, players for 1-2 years, and less development from high school. He retired for this reason, so it does make sense for UVA to consider hiring a coach who is more adapt to today's world of basketball, rather than immediately hiring who Bennett wanted and is likely more of the same thing. Not saying UVA should or shouldn't do it, but I am sure they would've appreciated more time considering their options. Because of Bennett's 11th hour retiring, the department has their hands tied and kind of forced to go the direction of hiring who Bennett wanted (even on an interim basis), which in my opinion is not a fair thing to do to your department that has given you so much over the years.
Just guessing UVA gave them the most money? Has the guy that took over been on TB's staff long?
