RUMOR THAT WON'T GO AWAY: BENNETT TO LEAVE UVA?

 First, the good … no, the BEST news: JEFF JONES, who retired from coaching basketball at Old Dominion U., after suffering a heart attack compounded by prostate cancer, reports he’s doing well, thank you … The former U.Va., guard and later coach at alma mater has lost 30 pounds, with plans to drop at least 30 more by talking long walks “and eating a lot of rabbit food … and no meat,” Jones said earlier this week … Going cold turkey from something he’s been involved in for most of his 63 years has had its drawbacks, naturally, but the native of Kentucky sounds happy … much more so, in fact, than he’s been for most of the past five years trying to cope with major changes – some more subtle than others – in his chosen profession. Not that Jones, the son of a coach, is about to badmouth hoops even if he was so inclined. “It is what it is,” he said … But … well, like most people who love the college game, Jones is concerned such things as NIL are ruining athletics. When you have to recruit your own players to keep them from going elsewhere … it can lead to even more anxiety … which leads to … in his case, a heart that couldn’t take it any more and rebelled … The Monarchs were in Hawaii for a season-opening getaway/tournament. It was December. He had, what he thought, was a case of indigestion which no doubt a dose or two ... or three … of  Tums would resolve. Just to make sure he checked in with his brother-in-law, the heart doctor … described his symptoms and was told not to worry. It didn’t sound serious. “Keep doing what I was doing … but then it suddenly got worse,” Jones recalled. “I was hurting all over … chest, arms …” … Next he knew he was in an ambulance, speeding to the hospital. Because he is allergic to morphine, “they couldn’t give me anything … and I’ve never been in so much pain,” he said. “Never.” … Of the ambulance crew, Jones said, “They saved my life.” … His active coaching career, that also included a stop at American University, is over … but that doesn’t mean he’s retired. Jones said he’s not sure what’s next but golf won’t be part of it. “… and I don’t have any hobbies.” WOOD SELIG, the ODU athletic director, could use JJ. That’s a possibility. Jones is keeping his options open … “I’ve got to be doing something,” he said.

Chances are Jones would have left coaching after this season, 

regardless of the heart attack … Now, the prevailing rumor is 

that Virginia’s TONY BENNETT is considering leaving the rat 

race as well. In fact, one insider said Bennett had made up his 

mind before the Cavaliers stinkeroo in the NCAA playin round 

against Colorado State … “It’s not the athletic director 

[CARLA WILLIAMS] … but the school’s administration 

that’s become a problem.” … He did not elaborate.

For sure, TruTV, which televised U.Va./Colorado State, dealt 

Bennett and the Cavaliers with a low blow. After Reece 

Beekman hit from the field 3:22 into the second half to make it 

34-16, State, a graphic appeared informing the home audience 

they were Virginia’s “FIRST POINTS SCORED SINCE 9:48 

PM ET.” … It was 10:41 pm, at the time … “I don’t think that 

was [meant to be] sarcastic, do you?” said TruTV play by play 

man SPIROS DEDES … Said analyst JIM SPANARKEL, “I 

don’t know what it was.” … In his pregame look at the teams, 

Spanarkel noted their contrasting styles. “This should be a good 

one,” the former Duke standout said. Ouch!