Two heads better than one for Wildcats

Many experts -- or at least those preparing to fill out a bracket for the NCAA Tournament -- questioned how Arizona and its 19-13 record could be selected among the 65 best men's college basketball teams.

Without legendary coach Lute Olson to boot.

And with a two-headed, head coach.

Instead of having Olson, who retired on Oct. 23 to the surprise of many, Arizona is guided by interim head coach Russ Pennell and associate head coach Mike Dunlap.

So much for the naysayers as the 12th-seeded Wildcats have reached the Sweet 16, and Dunlap believes his and Pennell's resumes have been improved.

"It can't hurt us," Dunlap said of defeating No. 5 seed Utah and No. 13 seed Cleveland State to advance to play top-seeded Louisville at 4 p.m. Friday in Indianapolis.

Pennell was on ESPN's "Pardon the Interruption" on Monday when co-host Tony Kornheiser asked him how he and Dunlap exist as "co-head coaches."

"Well, the best part is I get paid more than him," Pennell said jokingly.

"Mike is an unbelievable basketball mind. ... I just felt like it would be very foolish for me to not draw upon his wisdom. He has just been really good helping our players, especially with their development and also on the defensive end of the floor.

"There is really no confusion. There is comfort in that. We can take turns playing like you guys do: good cop, bad cop," he said of the Kornheiser-Mike Wilbon on-air combo.

• INTEGRITY BONUS -- Larry Eustachy never would make it on Wall Street.

The Southern Mississippi basketball coach refused a $25,000 bonus from the school that is tied to his team's home attendance but is not part of his approximate $380,000 salary package.

The Golden Eagles went 15-17 this season after winning 20 games two seasons ago and 19 last year.

"I really compare it to AIG," Eustachy said of the insurance giant that stirred public outrage by handing out $165 million in bonuses after receiving a government bailout. "Why would I take a bonus when we went backward?

"I just felt particularly during this recession we are in and the situation our school is in, it just didn't go right with me to accept anything above and beyond my normal contract," Eustachy said.

"I'm not trying to make a statement. I'm just being myself."

• NO DEFENSE -- It's not the first time NBA star Allen Iverson has been accused of not showing an interest in defense, but it's the first time it will cost him $260,000.

Instead of watching guards blitz past him on the court, Iverson was accused of watching his bodyguard Jason Kane pummel Marlin Godfrey in a 2005 bar fight.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday upheld a 2007 jury verdict in support of Godfrey.

A three-judge appeals court panel wrote that Iverson stayed out of the fray in the back corner of the VIP area, standing on a couch or bench and observing.

COMPILED BY JEFF WOLF LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL