It was all Cougars fans wanted to talk about after their team lost to North Carolina in the NCAA East Regional semifinal.

Would coach Tony Bennett be back?

"Right now, I'm coach at Washington State," he said after the 68-47 loss to the Tar Heels.

Bennett, 38, elevated the Cougars to new levels after taking the reins from his father, Dick, prior to the 2006-07 season.

WSU reached the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back seasons for the first time and won twice in the event for the first time since reaching the Final Four in 1941.

Led by seniors Derrick Low, Kyle Weaver and Robbie Cowgill, the Cougars went 26-9 this season, 52-17 the past two years.

The two seasons before that, they were 23-33.

And now Low, Weaver and Cowgill are departing.

But what of Bennett?

Within hours of WSU's exit from the NCAAs, Bennett was rumored to be headed to Indiana. Then word was Cal wanted him to replace Ben Braun, who was fired earlier in the week.

Bennett reportedly pulled out of consideration for the Indiana job before the Final Four.

"I'm confident he's coming back and hopeful he's coming back," said junior guard Taylor Rochestie.

But until the matter is settled once and for all, WSU fans won't sleep easily.

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