SportsLink is reporting that Tony Bennett, the current Washington State head coach, has declined to pursue the job at Indiana University.

According to the link above, here’s how it went down:

“I had an exploratory conversation with Indiana,” said Bennett Sunday afternoon, “and I am not going to pursue the Indiana job.”

Bennett said Indiana called Saturday evening to gauge his interest. He didn’t say whom he talked with, but added “they made contact last night and they went through the proper procedures by contacting (WSU athletic director) Jim Sterk and, like I said, I had an exploratory conversation with them.”

Well, that’s rather disappointing — both that Bennett turned down the job, and that IU now has egg on its face due to a second-year coach refusing the position.

More on this as events transpire.

UPDATE 6:46 PM: The Bennett thing is dead…but is the Sean Miller thing still alive? The HT blog notes that someone has gotten in touch with Miller through intermediaries and informed him that IU has put together the $2 Million for his buyout, if he’s interested in coming to IU. Granted, Miller came out pretty strongly about wanting to stay at Xavier after the game last night, but we’ll see.