Arizona
New Arizona State coach Randy Bennett ‘catching my stride’ after health issue arose in March
TEMPE, Ariz. — Randy Bennett on Thursday shed light on the health situation that delayed his start as Arizona State’s new men’s basketball coach for several weeks. Although Bennett did not disclose the exact details of his condition, he made clear it was serious and expressed appreciation for those involved in his recovery.
“Thank God for Mayo Clinic,” Bennett said. “I don’t know where I’d be without them.”
Arizona State hired Bennett on March 23, but the 63-year-old coach started feeling ill shortly after his arrival to the Phoenix area. After meeting with the team, Bennett left work early. The next morning a program trainer took him to Mayo Clinic, where he stayed for 10 days.
“Threw me off a little,” Bennett said at Thursday’s official introduction, nearly six weeks after the first event had been scheduled, which Bennett jokingly referred to as a “pump fake.”
“But the last thing I needed to be doing was stressing out about the (transfer) portal or the job,” said Bennett, crediting his staff for leading the transition in his absence. “But now I’m catching my stride and am able to work longer days. We’ve gotten a lot done in five weeks. I feel good now.”
This is a homecoming of sorts for Bennett. The son of legendary high school and junior college coach Tom Bennett, he grew up in nearby Mesa, Ariz., at a time when stars such as Lafayette Lever and Alton Lister had the Arizona State program rolling. Over 25 years at Saint Mary’s, where he led the Gaels to 12 NCAA Tournaments, Bennett said he always had Arizona State in the back of his mind as a future destination.
Bennett, who is known for his work ethic, said he did not consider retirement because of the health scare. He said it was a blessing that the Mayo staff caught the undisclosed issue early. Then he had to deal with the recovery process, which initially left him powerless to start rebuilding Arizona State’s roster.
“Hard,’’ Bennett said, describing the hospital stretch. “You just got this job. You want to get going. You want to start building. You feel a sense of urgency that you need to be in the office. But it just wasn’t going to happen. It was tough.”
Once Bennett returned to work, he joined his staff and helped rebuild the Sun Devils, which had missed six of the last seven NCAA Tournaments under previous coach Bobby Hurley. Among their portal additions: Saint Mary’s forward Paulius Murauskas (18.4 points per game in 2025-26), Portland guard Joel Foxwell (15.6), Boston University forward Ben Defty (15.1) and Saint Mary’s guard Dillan Shaw (7.5).
There are still issues to resolve. The Arizona Board of Regents in April approved Bennett’s contract, which starts at $3.5 million and runs five years. The Arizona Republic reported this week that Bennett had not signed it, but athletic director Graham Rossini said Thursday the parties were simply working through the “legal red lines” and suggested Bennett’s signature was simply a formality.
Rossini also said Bennett has no physical limitations the rest of the summer. However, Bennett admitted he needed to do a better job of taking care of himself.
“We’re resourced a lot better here,” he said. “I mean, this program is powerful. I think all that helps. I don’t want to say it’s easier — it’s definitely not easier because of the league (Big 12) you’re in — but it’s resourced better. And I think I can do a better job as far as managing my time and days.”
Arizona families looking to stretch their budgets this summer have a new option: Fry’s Food Stores has partnered with Upside, a free cash-back app that rewards users for everyday purchases like groceries, gas, and restaurant meals.
Shoppers download the app, link a payment card, and select offers before shopping or filling up to earn cash back. Rewards can be transferred directly to a bank account or redeemed as gift cards.
“Fry’s has now partnered with Upside. So Upside is a free app to download that helps you get all of those additional savings on gas, groceries, and restaurants,” Daniella Lerma, Fry’s Multicultural Specialist, said.
Are you a Smart Shopper? What are your go-to saving tips and tricks?
Share your deals or ways to save here!
The partnership means shopping at Fry’s can now unlock rewards at other businesses, including Circle K, Taco Bell, and movie theaters. According to Upside data, some Arizona users are saving up to $255 a year.
Upside says users can maximize savings by using the app across multiple purchases and combining it with existing rewards programs like Fry’s digital coupons and fuel points. Mike McNamee of Upside said people in Arizona have earned nearly half a million dollars in cash back in a short amount of time.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy
Former Iowa State Cyclones star Milan Momcilovic is the player everyone is keeping an eye on during deadline day for prospects to make their final decision about the 2026 NBA Draft.
Will the sharpshooting forward keep his name in the player pool or withdraw to maintain his eligibility to play college basketball? Indications are leaning toward the latter, with NBA executives unanimously voting that he should return to school.
Which school would he be returning to? That is something that will have to be figured out because Momcilovic is currently in the transfer portal, as his focus has been entirely on the NBA draft and turning pro the last few weeks.
Recently, it was reported that the Arizona Wildcats were an emerging suitor for him. It looks as if they are going to have a void in their lineup at one of the forward spots with Koa Peat expected to remain in the NBA draft.
Is Arizona truly in the running for Milan Momcilovic?
However, that may have been more smoke and mirrors than their reported interest. As shared by Tristian Pharis of KY Insider and A Sea of Blue during an appearance on ESPN Radio Lexington, Arizona isn’t a team he has really heard connected to Momcilovic.
“I haven’t really heard Arizona. Most of the time it’s just the agent doing their job spreading rumors,” Pharis said, via their account on X.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68, who shared the Momcilovic and Wildcats connection, responded to the post saying, “It wasn’t the agent who gave me the info.”
It will certainly be something worth keeping an eye on because the former Iowa State star is the No. 1-ranked player in the transfer portal. Any team that lands him is going to have its 2026-27 season outlook changed drastically, and in a good way.
It wasn’t the agent who gave me the info.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) May 26, 2026
There may be some flaws in his skill set, which he is aware of, that made NBA teams hesitant to want to select him in the 2026 NBA Draft. But his 3-point shooting is a truly elite skill that will improve any program he elects to join.
The Kentucky Wildcats have been viewed as the favorites to land him. The St. John’s Red Storm and Louisville Cardinals have been mentioned as possible suitors as well before Arizona came into the mix.
Whoever lands a commitment from Momcilovic is going to be paying a pretty penny. Reportedly, he could command $7 million in the transfer portal.
This past season, AJ Dybantsa of the BYU Cougars had the highest NIL valuation, somewhere between $4.1 million and $4.4 million. There were reports that some of the top big men on the market this year could get upwards of $5 million, which makes the reported $7 million number for Momcilovic truly shocking.
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Phoenix double murder-suicide: Parental filicide happens ‘too often’
A child safety advocate is weighing in after a Phoenix mother shot and killed her two young children, before turning the gun on herself. FOX 10’s Taylor Wirtz learns more about the marital separation that was in the works and the push for legislative change in these types of situations.
PHOENIX – A Phoenix community is still reeling from the murder of two children who police say were killed by their own mother. A memorial of balloons and stuffed animals continues to grow in the neighborhood where it happened near 47th Avenue and Bell Road.
Big picture view:
A cousin explained that the children’s father and the rest of the family are still trying to process the incident. Another mother who knows the pain of losing her children in this way also spoke about the situation.
It is a tragedy community members are still wrapping their heads around.
“Our brains can’t conceptualize that a parent, of any kind, a mother or father, can possibly kill their own children,” said Hope Hooton, a child safety advocate.
The backstory:
Phoenix Police said 38-year-old Andrea Davis shot and killed her 18-month-old daughter and 10-year-old son, Austin, before killing herself at their home. Prior to the double murder-suicide, Glendale Police said she shot and wounded a woman who was with her husband, Nolan, in the parking lot of Tailgaters Sports Bar & Grill, located near 59th Avenue and Bell Road, texting him that she planned to hurt their children.
What we know:
“I can’t even imagine what my cousin’s going through right now,” said Felicia Queen, Nolan’s cousin.
Family members said the couple was heading toward a separation.
“Divorce papers were in the works,” Queen said.
Local perspective:
It is a pain that Hooton knows too well.
“It was 20 minutes away from where my children were murdered by their father in Surprise,” Hooton said.
Her two children were shot and killed by their father in 2024 following a custody dispute.
“My son Alec was seven, and my daughter Lydia was six,” Hooton said.
Dig deeper:
The act of killing one’s own children, filicide, is a term she wants everyone to know.
“From 2008 to 2024, there have been 989 filicide cases within the state of Arizona,” Hooton said.
Why you should care:
Hooton is now channeling her grief into change. The Alec and Lydia Act is now moving through the state legislature to protect children in custody disputes. Hooton shares this message with the Davis family.
“My heart is with you because I know exactly what you’re going through,” Hooton said.
What we don’t know:
It is not clear what the relationship is between Nolan and the woman shot in the Glendale parking lot, but when speaking with family members, they called her a friend.
What you can do:
Help is available. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans. Support in Spanish is also available. You can also chat with crisis counselors via online chat.
CLICK HERE for the warning signs and risk factors of suicide.
What’s next:
Phoenix police say they did not have any prior calls for behavioral health or domestic violence to their home.
Phoenix police will investigate the murder-suicide. Meanwhile, Glendale police will investigate the bar shooting.
The Source: This information was gathered from the victim’s family member, a child safety advocate and previous FOX 10 reports.
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