I was very sad to hear that Dick Bennett would be leaving coaching. He is a purist in the world of teaching on the hardwood.

	As Dick Bennett announces his retirement, athletics director Pat Ricter listens glumly Thursday.

He did a brilliant job Wednesday beating a talented Maryland team that will make noise before the year ends despite some early losses. Dick's kids came to play and it was obvious they were prepared.

Bennett is an outstanding teacher, an outstanding motivator and just a totally outstanding man who really meant so much to college basketball. I wish him the best in his retirement.

I was a little surprised with the timing of Bennett's announcement, but I'm not totally shocked. If you remember last year at the Final Four, he gave an inkling that he was definitely leaning toward leaving the game.

People don't realize the unbelievable pressure and amount of time that coaches have to dedicate to a season. And today, with all the exposure and visibility that coaches receive compared to years ago, it's just unreal. Coaches undergo such scrutiny. Then there's the evaluation of the recruiting process, and the rules and regulations. It just never ends. I know they are paid mega-dollars, but they flat-out earn it. Their bodies take an unbelievable pounding.

A coaching change at this time of the year is not something that's usually healthy, but the one good thing at Wisconsin is that the school has hired the assistant coach, Brad Soderberg. So there will be continuity in terms of the system. That gives the program some stability.

The other thing in the Badgers' favor is their experience, with Mark Vershaw, Mike Kelley and company. Those kids are very resilient and will find a way to respond to Soderberg's teachings.