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Indiana's coaching search centers on Bennett

Washington State coach main candidate, but he refutes job offer

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NBCSports.com news services
updated 5:09 p.m. ET March 29, 2008

Indiana wants its new coach in place before the Final Four begins next week, though that coach may or may not be Washington State's Tony Bennett.

Bennett was reportedly offered the Hoosiers job a day after his Cougars were eliminated in the NCAA Tournament by North Carolina, according to a story on FOXSports.com.

An ESPN.com story refuted that report, quoting Bennett, "I haven't had one conversation with [Indiana] and so, no, I haven't been offered the job."

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Athletic director Rick Greenspan reportedly wants to have a coach in place by Thursday.

Kelvin Sampson resigned as Indiana's coach in February after recruiting violations stemming from phone call abuse cast the school in a bad light. Those violations could result in NCAA sanctions. Interim coach Dan Dakich went 3-4 after replacing Sampson, including an 86-72 loss to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament's first round.

Along with Bennett, Indiana is pursuing ex-Stanford coach Mike Montgomery because the buyout for Xavier's Sean Miller would be too expensive, ESPN.com reported.

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