Hotshot Penney shines in US
Sunday Star - Times;
Wellington
Apr 2, 2000
BASKETBALL
NORTH HARBOUR'S Kirk Penney has continued the dream year for New Zealand
basketballers in the US college game, prompting his mentor to declare him a
"must" for the Tall Blacks at the Sydney Olympics.
Penney, a freshman with the University of Wisconsin, today takes the stage
in one of the biggest weekends in American sport. His Wisconsin Badgers have
completed a Cinderella run to the final four of the NCAA tournament and the
Kiwi rookie has played a cameo role in a team that has captivated the nation.
And the man responsible for getting him to Wisconsin - his former Harbour
coach Tony Bennett - has no doubts the Kiwi hotshot should be one of the first
names down on Keith Mair's Olympic squad.
Bennett, the former Charlotte Hornet NBA player, is now back in the States
and has been filling the role of manager for the Badgers this year, with a view
to breaking into the coaching ranks next season. The side is coached by his
father, Dick.
Wisconsin meets hot favourite Michigan State University in one semifinal in
Indianapolis today, while Florida and North Carolina clash in the other to
decide Tuesday's finalists.
The final four - or Big Dance as it is known stateside - ranks alongside the
Super Bowl, baseball World Series and NBA Finals as the grandest American
sporting occasion and this year sellout crowds of around 50,000 will pack the
RCA Dome, some paying thousands for tickets on the black market.
And Penney, in just his first year of four in collegiate basketball,
stumbled right into a team that has come from nowhere to win the hearts of the
country. Fellow Tall Black Mark Dickel led the nation in assists for University
of Nevada Las Vegas, who were knocked out in the first round of the tournament.
Wisconsin, with a record of 22-13, is the lowest-ranked team in 14 years to
reach the final four and has been an underdog in every match in the field of
64. It is the first time since 1941 it has made the final four.
"How exciting for Kirk to come to the final four. He might have an
opportunity to be on an Olympic team later this year and it doesn't get much
better than that," Bennett told the Star-Times from Madison.
He said Penney had had a solid year and performed well above expectations,
given he is a freshman and a foreign player. The Kiwi started in six of 36
games, averaging just over 12 minutes, with 3.7 points and 1.4 rebounds -- not
bad considering the team's top scorer only totes up 11.9 an outing.
Bennett predicted Penney was set for a stellar career at Wisconsin and
pleaded for his inclusion in the Olympic squad. "I think it would be crazy
if that kid's not playing on the Olympic team. He is to me one of the premier
players in the country. If he doesn't make it I'd be scratching my head -- and
I know a lot of other people would be too."
As the stakes had risen and senior players had stepped up, Bennett said
Penney's playing time had been cut. But he did have a season- high 17 points
against Purdue in one Big Ten conference game.
"He's handling it great. When he was playing a lot he was on national
TV and there was a lot of pressure on him. He handled that very well and when
he hasn't played as much and had to sit, he's handled that really well.
"And he's still hungry. It's why he's going to be good, no question. He
goes night in, night out against probably one of the best defenders in America
and he's got so much better on offence."
Bennett said Penney was having the time of his life, with Wisconsin's
progress having the varsity town of Madison in raptures. When the team returned
from its last game 20,000 students were there to greet them. More than 30,000
watched their open practice in Indianapolis last week.
He said he was ecstatic to work alongside his father in the 35th year of his
coaching career. And the little slice of New Zealand influence rated a mention,
too.
"I think we brought some Kiwi magic to them," said Bennett, adding
that Penney had created quite a following on campus with his down-to- earth,
hard-working approach - not to mention his "funny accent".
