Auburn basketball analyst rips Tony Bennett for 'd*** move' retiring from UVA when he did

The War Eagle Reader's Jerry Hinnen believes Tony Bennett pulled a "dick move" by retiring from UVA less than a month before the start of the Cavaliers' regular season since it's not health-related and it gives off the vibe he did it without first thinking of his players.

"Assuming reports this isn't health related are correct, what an absolute dick move this is," Hinnen prefaced before saying, "Would no doubt love to tell you how much he cares about his players until it's time to actually take their interests to heart over his and his successor's, and then it's good luck, chumps."

Bennett was believed to have retired in the fashion he did, curiously less than half a year after signing an extension through 2031, to potentially install his top assistant as the new head coach; at least on an interim basis. Associate head coaches Ron Sanchez and Jason Williford are the likeliest to get the promotion.

247Sports' Ross Martin sees parallels with what Bennett did to Dean Smith at UNC in 1997.

"Remember Dean Smith unexpectedly announced his retirement on Oct. 9, 1997 - about a month or so before the season," Martin prefaced before saying, "Tony Bennett taking a similar timeline. Oct. 17 - three weeks before the season starts.

"Allows your top assistant to at least get the interim head coaching tag..."

Tony Bennett will always be hated by Auburn basketball fans

Bennett's UVA squad handed Auburn the most heartbreaking postseason loss the Tiger fanbase has ever endured in hoops back in the 2019 Final Four. It may have been the most heartbreaking Auburn loss in any sport given the circumstances: a missed double-dribble and a phantom foul call in the final minute, all with the chance to go to the championship game on the line.

The orange and blue faithful aren't going to miss Bennett. And evidently, they're not going to forgive him for how he left his team high and dry as his final act as head coach either.