Bennett Court Dedication

A couple of weekends ago we had the honor to be part of Pointer (UWSP) history. Jack and Dick Bennett had the Quandt Fieldhouse floor renamed after the two of them; Bennett Court.  It was amazing to see all of the Pointer fans come out and support the two of them. There were Alumni from both generations of the two coaches. What a tribute!  We just wish that everyone would have been able to make it. Unfortunately, the family members who chose to follow in their fathers footsteps were not able to make it. Nick is coaching down at FGCU.  Dick's son and one daughter are coaches as well. Tony is at Washington State and Kathi is at UW.  

Both Dick and Jack getting honored by the Pointer fans!

This is what the floor will look like next year.

The Bennett Family 

Seven kids between our family and Dick's other daughter's family...YIKES!

Drew thought it was so cool that we were actually able to go out onto the floor during half time. Something he always wants to do. 

I think this is where Jay was pretending that the floor was getting name after him. 

What a goof ball!

Some of the Alumni that came to honor Jack. 

Of course they all went to the Final Score afterwards. What a great time it was!

Below is an article that I found online at bleachreport.com, that sums of the two brothers accomplishments.

Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009 was a big day for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point basketball family.

The Pointers honored two former coaches, Dick and Jack Bennett, by naming the UWSP home floor in the Quandt Fieldhouse "Bennett Court."

The Bennett brothers had tremendous success while at the Division III college in Central Wisconsin. Dick started his career at UWSP in 1976, and Jack ended his there in 2005 after winning back-to-back National Championships.

Dick's career as a Pointer stretched from 1976-85, in which he won 173 games and coached former NBA player and now Phoenix Suns head coach Terry Porter. Saint Louis University head coach Brad Soderberg also played under the elder Bennett.

Dick then moved east in the state to take on a struggling UW-Green Bay Phoenix team. He spent 10 years there, and eventually his son Tony became the star player.

One year after Tony's graduation, the 1993-94 12th-seeded Phoenix beat fifth-seeded California, who had Jason Kidd and Lamond Murray on the Bears roster.In 1995, Dick took over for Stan Van Gundy to lead the Wisconsin Badgers. In five seasons with the Badgers, Bennett had a 94-68 mark and led the 1999-2000 team to a Final Four birth.

Prior to that season, the Badgers had appeared in just three NCAA Tournaments in the previous 97 years. Dick resigned just three games into the 2000-01 season, claiming he was "just simply drained."

Dick made a comeback for three seasons (2003-06) as head coach of the Washington State Cougars. After his retirement, his son Tony took over the helm.

Where Dick Bennett started his coaching career, his younger brother Jack, ended his.

Jack spent a total of 34 years coaching various high schools in Wisconsin, and then landed the head job for the Pointers in 1996.

In his nine seasons at UWSP, Jack became the all-time winningest coach in school history, amassing a 200-56 overall record.

He led the Pointers to five consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) championships and appeared in five NCAA Div. III tournaments.

In his final two seasons at UWSP, Jack led the Pointers to back-to-back National Championships.

Jack also had his son, Nick, as one of the leaders of those two teams. Nick Bennett was second in team scoring both of those seasons.

Jack retired after his repeat title with a career coaching record of 480-175.

Together, the Bennett brothers accounted for 373 wins in their 18 combined seasons at Stevens Point.

As a UWSP alum (class of 2007), and now a Pointer fan for life, I would like to congratulate both Jack and Dick Bennett for all of their accomplishments with UWSP basketball.

We are so proud of what the two of you have accomplished. What great role models you are for your children and grandchildren.

Reed's basketball season 09'

Reed's basketball team 09'

Sorry the pictures aren't that clear.

This blog is long over due.  Reed had another great season this year playing Y basketball.  He had a couple of the same players on his team this year as he did last year.  It was a little frustrating for him this season with his grade being the oldest grade on his team. We had to keep reminding Reed that he and Hunter were not the only ones on the team.  Jay also reminded him that, "you are only as strong as your weakest link."  That helped a lot!  The next practices and games he really made sure that he was including everyone on the team.  He didn't shoot every time he touched the ball and he made a lot more effort to pass the ball.  Coach Pap-Pap was able to make it to a game a gave Reed some good "Pointers." We were very proud of how he matured as a ball player this year.  

These pictures below are what Drew does during Reed's game. He is such a trooper going to all of Reed's sporting events and cheering him on!

Boys will be boys

Reed had a day off from school today and Drew was home sick with the flu (hopefully it is only the 24hr bug).  They have been playing great together.  They got up this morning and started building legos and didn't even ask to watch TV. I love these mornings! 

Some of you have asked for some more pictures of Reed.  Well, I tried to take some this morning and this is what I get from him. You now know why I don't have that many of him. He is not as willing as the other two boys to take his picture lately.

They made all their legos by themselves and without any directions.

Happy Birthday Kean!

Kean I still remember your mom calling us and telling us you were born. Just like your sister Taelyn you decided to come early.  The first pictures we saw of you, were in your "cool shades" that you had to wear in the NICU.  You were so tiny and fragile. You quickly got over the tiny part and were a ton on love!  We wish we could be there to celebrate with you. We love you and Happy Birthday.....Love, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Jay, Reed, Drew and Brett

Brett's new trick

You have to listen to Brett and the silly noises he now makes when you are feeding him. It usually means he doesn't like what you are giving him or he is full.

Drew's broken arm

I think this was Drew's favorite part of his getting his cast.  Reed Drew pictures on it for him. 

Am I surprised that Drew has a broken arm? No!  But I am surprised how it happened. Drew is always jumping off of things and falling down and playing rough and tough.  But of course he doesn't get hurt doing that.  He gets hurt jumping off a 2ft wall and landing on very padded mats. I am still not sure how he did it. 

One of my friends saw him jump and didn't think anything of it until he started to cry and grab his arm.  As most of you know usually when Drew gets hurt he barely even cries he just gets up and keeps going.  But today I could not get him to stop crying.  He just kept holding on to his arm and saying that it hurt.  We tried everything to get him to stop....food, candy, etc. But he just wouldn't. When we got him to finally calm down a little bit he told me, that "his arm hurt inside."  That was my clue that he must have done something.  He was such a big guy at the ER. Once we got there and the doctors and nurses looked him he was doing much better.  He loved that they took X-rays of his arm and that he was able to see them.  He felt even better once his daddy came down and saw him.  

I think he was most bummed that he couldn't do his swim lessons anymore.  He told me, "If  I go in the pool my cast will pull me down to the bottom because it is too heavy."  He also told me, "when your arm breaks it still stays together but just hurts."

What a strong little boy!  We hope that he gets better soon, especially since the weather is getting nice outside.

We love you boom boom!  (doesn't that name fit him)

Drew got a new cast on today.  He was wonderful! He never once cried or even winced in pain when they were putting the cast on him.  Of course he had a lot of questions for the  tech and myself.  I am curious to see how he is when they have to saw the cast off.  He saw what the machine looked like so hopefully that will help.