On being back as head coach:

"It feels good. When I came here I said I wanted five years on the job. I indicated then that I would like five years to see where the program is and at that time I hoped I could make five years. I really wasn't all that sure partly because I had been coaching then for 30 years and been in a lot of rebuilding projects. That takes its toll because you're probably going to lose a few more games than you would care to early. So, I wanted to take a good look at things and at the end of five years make a decision. So I was very serious about going either way because I'd had my status in the Wisconsin State Retirement System in order, a full pension and so on. My wife and I needed to talk about things. I had to consider how much time I could spend with my grandkids as well as following my own children. After I did that I realized I still love the game. I'll always love the game, but still enjoyed coaching. It was an easy decision but I did take basically a weekend and think about it."

On whether this past season was his most satisfying year or have there been others that have matched it?

"Well, each season offers satisfying moments. If we as coaches were to take our satisfaction strictly from the end of the season based on how well we did, I don't know that many of us would last. You pick up your enjoyment as you go along. I think if the process or journey isn't enjoyable or challenging or fulfilling or whatever else, you wouldn't be able to stay because there's too much tension and everything connected with it from basically November through March. You have to enjoy it along the way. And then when it goes well, you can carry some of that into the off-season. That makes this off-season a lot more enjoyable."

On the Iowa game, when the team was 13-12 and down by 9 at halftime. Did he think the team was capable of that kind of surge?

"I did because they were good off and on throughtout the season. We had played well early against good teams and had some games that were difficult. I said throughout, and a lot of people understood, that this year in the Big Ten, you could be decent and lose because the league was strong from top to bottom."

"At that time though, I didn't feel we had come together as much as I thought we would. Being a relatively veteran group I thought we would come together and we hadn't. And that game did serve as a catalyst. I give much credit to Brad Soderberg, my assistant, who , when I had lost my head and was chasing down a referee, grabbed the kids and made mention to them that, 'Listen, if you cared as much as he did, we wouldn't be having the problems we are.'"

"He probably said look at him make a fool of himself (laughs). But, in essence they came to understand the sense of urgency that was surrounding us. From that time on, we became a better team."

On the criticizm/questioning about his coaching style, style of play, etc. Was he able to block it out?

"Well, it wears on you. It wore on me this year. I'd like to say it just goes in one ear and out the other and sometimes it does. But when you want something to happen as badly as I did and its not taking the shape the way you had hoped and you're hearing about it...and I definitely wasn't reading the newspapers or listening to the talk shows, but I know it was coming. I knew. I was getting my share of mail, but more than that, I knew it was out there. I must admit that I did question much of what I was doing. And I thought perhaps this is a bit more that I can do at this time and maybe the game is played at a pace or a level or style that is one that I am unable to coach."

"So I had some doubts, some self-doubts, and they were serious for I would say about a month. I learned a great deal from that and that is before you can answer anyone else's criticizms, you better solve your own. So I really fought that hard. There was a lot of prayer. My wife and I don't talk that much about those things anymore. We used to. Once I got passed my own doubts, then I was better. Even the criticizm didn't sting as much. I kind of relocated the passion and said, 'Look, this is how we have to do it and I need your help.'"

"The kids, because they're good kids, bought in again and said we'll help you. We believe in what we're doing. Don't doubt, in essence they said to me."

"But everybody goes through that. Everybody gets criticizm but when it starts getting to you, you have to battle that one first. Once you've beat yourself, you can handle most anything."

On whether he has any regrets about the Final Four and how they played against Michigan State. Was he disappointed?"

"I was. Not defensively because it was much pretty much a carbon copy of all of teh other games. We played as well as could defensively. we made them earn everything. We were unable to crack their defense the fourth time in a month really. And I thought at that point we might be able to do a little better because we were certainly playing our best ball fo the year. We were certainly confident. We certainly had support. We had a beautiful role, that of an underdog. The stage was set I thought for us to perform a little better offensively. But, as much as we wanted it, so did Michigan State."

"I think as I look back on it, they might have taken offense over all the fuss that was made over us, particularly regarding our defense. And they were the best defensive team in the league and perhaps resented that everyone was talking about us. So it appeared to me they were pretty determined to shut us down and put on a clinic defensively and they did that."

On the MSU team in general, particularly their versatility.

"I've not seen many (teams) like that over the years. I think the beauty of that team was that each of those players, as good as they were, really checked their egos outside the lines. What was important to them was to be a great team. Whatever honors that came individually wer really secondary."

"It is easy to talk about about that stuff but when you see a group of really good players, its remarkable and the credit has to go to those kids and that coaching staff. Tom Izzo is a remarkably gifted coach."

Next year's goals? Can they contend for the Big Ten title?

"It's a hope. I note the difference between a dream and a hope. I've had to define dreams in the past. I see no reason why we cannot compete. Again it will be a matter of remembering who we are. People want you to change drastically often when you 've come close to the ultimate...they're thinking, well gosh, if you would just do this, they you'd get the rest of the way. If we did that , we wouldn't be who we are and that's the first lesson I've always tried to teach....a team. I've tried to develop a personality and remember who it is because it give you a chance to be as good as you can be."

"And then I think the challenge wil be, as many have found out, to deal with the praise. I always quote this spot in Proverbs about testing gold in a furnace, testing silver in a crucible, but testing man with praise. Well, we've gotten more than our share of praise and if it makes us very contented and comfortable, I suspect we will not play with that sense of urgency. But, if we remember who we are adn some of those humility lessons that we were given by teams like Michigan State, we can play hungry. And then anything is possible."

"We will be a year older. Everybody will improve in inches if not feet and yards. If indeed they want it as badly ad they did late in the year, that would be enough to put us over the top."

On the potential contributions of Mike Wilkenson and Dave Mader:

"I hope they do (have an impact). I think they can. Mike Wilkenson is a very gifted young man. But, he's also self-made. He doesn't take his gifts for granted. He really has a nice shot, good hands, very good offensive skills, tremendous work ethic, and has some size to boot. He's raw boned. I'm very excited about his future and what he offers right off the bat."

"Dave Mader is a different kind of guy. Dave's got a nasty streak in him which I like and its the best kind of nasty streak. All of the years I watched football, basketball, and baseball, the best kind of nasty streak is found in the really nice people. It's natural. They don't have to "put-on". Dave doesn't even know he's mean. He just throws his body around. If you get in the way, you're in trouble. He certainly will pick you up but he clearly will put you down and I like that. I think that's going to be an asset. He will screen. He will bang. He will defend. He will run. And he will be a nice guy to spell some of our bigger people."

On the entire Bobby Knight situation:

"I'm still upset about that whole affair. I'm not here to defend Bob Knight. He can do that himself. But, it needs to be understood that passion is part of our job. To care deeply, one has to be involved on more than an intellectual level. And since we participate in an emotional sport, highly competitive situations, trying to meet expectations, there are circumstances which are close to that line, from gestures, to body language, to words. We say and do the wrong thing...the wrong thins in normal everyday society. But in terms of motivation and dealing with very emotional circumstances, it might be exactly the right thing."

"I've heard Coach Knight credited over the years , perhaps before falling out of favor, for turning games around, seasons around, players around because of his passion, perhaps because of his temper, his intensity. Now he's being condemned for it. And he is being condemned largely on the basis of a bit of circumstances that occurred over a long period of time. And he's been in the limelight."

"Guys like me aren't. Nobody knows what I've done. But I'll bet there are players from New London High School, Marion High School, Eau Claire Memorial High School, UW-Stevens Point, and UW-Green Bay saying, 'Oh my gosh, if they only knew what Bennett did at times.'"

"And so there is a place you can step over the line and if it's too serious it needs to be addressed. I'll never dispute that. But, to be judging him, and most of the film clips showed him yelling at somebody, confronting somebody, or throwing his arms up in disguest, what 's that?"

On the Neil Reed incident in particular:

"That bothered me. Yes, it did. But that's one small shot. I can't tell what was even said at the time. I'm not excusing it, and I'm certainly not condemning it. But, I just somehow can't accept that as being enough reason, the primary reaons, for him to be gone. Mistakes have been made. I think he's the first to admit it. Again, when something happens to a guy like that , most of us take a look inward and say how do I stack up in light of this criticizm? And I would not get an "A" in that sense."

On not being a buddy buddy friend with his players:

"I guess I want them to know that if it's ever a serious situation I'm going to be there. That they need to know. And I think I can go back and point some of those circumstances out. I tell them that."

"I'm 57 years old though and I have some pretty good friends who are closer to my age than you (the players) are. I'm probably not going to try to please you or entertain you. I might not be as hospitable as you would like but I'll be there for you and I'll try to teach you in the arena or classroom I am most familiar with and that is the basketball areana."

"But, by the same token, young people need to know they're being respected for who they are and what they are doing. And even though I may make mistakes there, that is important to me."

"And as I watch the gifted young coaches, they have the ability to distances themselves at the right time but to also demonstrate a genuine respect and there are a lot of good ones (coaches). In fact, I think there are a lot of good ones in our state who are like that. I think of Tom Crean. I've watched him work. Bo Ryan, I've watched him work. Mike Heidemann, and a host of other coaches at other levels and in high school."

"It's something you learn or you have but I've probably had to learn it over the years because I've coached from the time I was a few years older than the guys playing for me and now I'm old enough to be...let's not say grandfather...let's say an older uncle."

On playing the other D1 programs in the state in a tournament format:

"I would favor that. Having been on the other end, it's healthy competition. I know we take grief if it doesn't go well, but that's the time we have to take a step back and say it isn't war. It's a simple game of basketball in a very competitive arena. It's good for the state. It's good for our young players. And I know the coaches and fans like it. I'd like to see it."