SPOKANE, Wash., March 28 (UPI) -- Washington State men's basketball coach Tony Bennett Wednesday received a three-year contract extension.
He guided the Cougars to a 26-8 record and a No. 12 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll during the 2006-07 season.
The 26 wins tied a single-season record, set in 1941.
The Cougars were second in the Pacific-10 Conference with a mark of 13-5, one season after they were 11-17 overall and only 4-14 in the Pac-10, good for last place.
They had been picked for last place again this season, but qualified for an NCAA Tournament berth -- and recorded their first NCAA Tournament win in 24 years with a first-round, 70-54, victory against Oral Roberts in the East Region in Sacramento.
Bennett, 37, is a finalist for the Naismith Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year award.
The other finalists are Billy Gillispie (Texas A&M), Bo Ryan (Wisconsin) and John Thompson III (Georgetown).
