Lavin Acknowledges Pitino Concerns

Is Coach Steve Lavin looking for an administrative vote of confidence--or maybe even a new contract--in the wake of the Rick Pitino brouhaha?

Lavin says he isn’t, that he’s focused on keeping his basketball team on the right track. But he did say Tuesday that he’s worried about Pitino’s name bubbling to the surface the next time the Bruins lose.

“The ongoing speculation, innuendoes, rumors can create a degree of distraction that will affect our players and our team,” Lavin said. “That’s a concern.”

Then again, the Bruins didn’t look at all rattled last week when they tore off victories over USC and Villanova, winning for the sixth and seventh times in eight games. They are 3-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference heading into this week’s games at Arizona State and Arizona.

“I’d say they’ve done a remarkable job of maintaining their focus in the midst of these distractions,” Lavin said. “I underline remarkable.”

So, what’s next? There’s some conjecture Lavin might turn to the school’s administration to give him an iron-clad contract to solidify his standing and make a coaching change more difficult. But Lavin denied he’s looking for a new deal.

“What I’m focusing on are the things within my control,” he said.

Under his current six-year roll-over deal, Lavin earns about $575,000 a year in total compensation. If the Bruins were to fire him after the season, they would owe him a severance package worth $765,000--five years’ worth of his $153,000 base salary.

Lavin’s status has been under scrutiny for some time, but particularly since last Monday, when Athletic Director Peter Dalis told reporters he had spoken to former Boston Celtic coach Pitino twice in the last month. Lavin and Dalis have not spoken at length since that disclosure, although they shook hands and exchanged pleasantries after the Villanova game. They were supposed to have their weekly meeting Monday, but scrubbed it because of the Martin Luther King holiday.