Looks like O'Neil is out

[Lefty]

ESPN article on O'Neil and the future of the Cats. Looks like O'Neil is gone, which is the best news I have heard. If Chase and Hill come back, with Jennings and the #2 recruiting class, I really like this team. Horne will blossom in Lute's offense, he'll let him run. I don't always agree with Gambo but he said the UofA next year will be very tough.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney08/notebook?page=notebook/atr080320

 

[Black Jesus]

Some pretty telling quotes in there. Chase clearly didn't like ONeil and obviously Jamelle Horne didn't either, hopefully horne doesn't transfer. Bayless is gone for sure, but that is fine because we can run a duel point next year similar to Villanova with Jennings and Wise, and with that seven footer mixed in with Hill and Budinger- he has to stay, I don't think scouts are as high on his softness and lack of FT shooting this year. Chase has the talent to be THE BEST player in the country but the personality and drive to be the worst. What a waste of wonderful gifts

 

[Skkorpion]

And the reality show that is UA hoops just keeps on entertaining. This beats anything currently on any of the networks.

 

[Gaddabout]

So is there any Olson assistant left to take over the heir-apparent position? One thing I'm certain to never hear: "Head Coach Miles Simon."

 

[Lefty]

So is there any Olson assistant left to take over the heir-apparent position? One thing I'm certain to never hear: "Head Coach Miles Simon."

Once Lute retires they will probably hire someone outside the UofA, that is as long as O'Neil does not come back.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

So is there any Olson assistant left to take over the heir-apparent position?.

No, the successor will come from outside the program. Lute and Livengood want that done this summer though, but I imagine it's going to be someone Lute has good ties with considering he will have major input after Livengod's track record of hiring coaches. There are some rumors out there though...

One thing I'm certain to never hear: "Head Coach Miles Simon."

I don't even think Miles Simon has the capacity to be a team manager at the college level. It wouldn't surprise me if he was asked to leave this summer, he still has a name and can probably find a job somewhere in Tucson that pays the bills.

 

[Dback Jon]

U of A would be stupid not to put a full court press on Jamie Dixon.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

U of A would be stupid not to put a full court press on Jamie Dixon.

Dixon would be a terrific hire and I'm sure if Lute didn't come back he'd be someone at or near the top off the list. The issue with Dixon is that Lute HAD to come back for at least this year or else the entire program and team would've imploded from defection. And when you factor in Lute and the administration wanting a successor named this summer then Dixon becomes extremely unlikely unless he was willing to sit out head coaching for a season and either take a spot on the bench or re-establish West Coast recruiting contacts.

There's one coach out there who makes sense in the situation, but getting him here is probably going to take some manuevering. He'll basically solve most if not all of the current problems in the program the minute he signs the contract. Thankfully Lute is a part of the process so Livengood won't have the sole authority to hire another Mackovic or Stoops, but the program is at a crossroads and the next few months will tell us a lot about where it's going.

 

[Dback Jon]

There's one coach out there who makes sense in the situation, but getting him here is probably going to take some manuevering. He'll basically solve most if not all of the current problems in the program the minute he signs the contract. Thankfully Lute is a part of the process so Livengood won't have the sole authority to hire another Mackovic or Stoops, but the program is at a crossroads and the next few months will tell us a lot about where it's going.

Steve Lavin?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Steve Lavin?

I'm sure the rest of the Pac-10 is hoping for that.

Although I do think if Lavin gets another gig he'll probably do better than he did at UCLA. I heard that Oregon State is considering him for their job which I think would be a nice fit for both parties as any job in Corvallis needs a recruiter.

The reality is UA is very interested in Henry Bibby and will do anything it takes to lock him up. If he's unavailable they'll move on to Rob Evans or Jim Harrick.

 

[Dback Jon]

The reality is UA is very interested in Henry Bibby and will do anything it takes to lock him up. If he's unavailable they'll move on to Rob Evans or Jim Harrick.

They get one of those three, then it is final four for them every year!

 

[Gaddabout]

So what are we talking about? Calipari? Few? Dixon would be a great choice and I think he'd be enticed back to the West Coast for the UA program, but it seems like it'd be a rocky transition. Dixon likes the big men.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

So what are we talking about? Calipari? Few? Dixon would be a great choice and I think he'd be enticed back to the West Coast for the UA program, but it seems like it'd be a rocky transition. Dixon likes the big men.

None of the above, at this point whoever it is would have to come sit under Lute or do what Floyd did at USC when he got hired for a year. Lute must be the head coach next year or the fallout will be too great to overcome no matter who we hire. Mike Montgomery is the logical choice.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Going along with what Mao said, Lute coming back this year and the NEED for a succession plan this summer/year takes all the big names (Dixon, Few, Wright) out of the equation. There is no way any of those guys agree to publicly be named the successor, thus leaving one option... Someone who isnt coaching now.

Monty is the obvious choice, considering his realtionship with Lute and the possibility that he could come on the UA staff for one year then takeover.

 

[devilfan02]

I heard on the radio that Lute is resuming duties today and is meeting with the players today. They also said that Lute doesn't like the commits that O'Neil has coming in because they're short term players. Truth to this?

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Lute is and has met with some of the players. Lute doesnt want to extend offer to the recruit KO did, bceause he is turning all his attention right now to getting Chase, Bayless, and Hill to return; all of whom he thinks will return.

Keep in mind that if they all return, UA still has one open scholarship...

 

[devilfan02]

Lute is and has met with some of the players. Lute doesnt want to extend offer to the recruit KO did, bceause he is turning all his attention right now to getting Chase, Bayless, and Hill to return; all of whom he thinks will return.

Keep in mind that if they all return, UA still has one open scholarship...

Are the recruits we're speaking of the 7 footer and Jennings or is it the class after them?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I heard on the radio that Lute is resuming duties today and is meeting with the players today. They also said that Lute doesn't like the commits that O'Neil has coming in because they're short term players. Truth to this?

Lute met with the guys yesterday and will meet with the incoming recruits later on this week. Lute also pulled the scholarship offers on the 2008 guys O'Neill offered to make up for early departures or transfers as Lute is confident he can convince most if not all the guys to come back. All this is per Tucson newspapers.

Lute also offered guys like Brandon Jennings and Jeff Withey many years ago before KO as coach was even thought about so it's highly doubtful he's upset about their commitments. That and I don't think Lute will be the coach much longer so whether a kid is a candidate for early NBA departure or not is somewhat irrelevant.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Are the recruits we're speaking of the 7 footer and Jennings or is it the class after them?

It's probably a false report, the only 2009 kid we have is someone Lute's been after for years as well. I'm sure he's pulled some of the 2009 offers along with the 2008's that KO sent out but most of those were system guys and not NBA-types. Lute wants athletes.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Yeah, the guys KO offered were East coast guys who definately fit into his system. Some of there werent the most athletic players, but they had size, toughness, and either played defense or could attack the basket. Without KO, I doubt we land any of those guys anyway, because most of them KO had ties to in some way.

 

[Renz]

O'Neill plans to stay as assistant
Steve Rivera
Tucson Citizen

Former Arizona interim basketball coach Kevin O’Neill said he intends on being an assistant under Lute Olson next season.

“I have a two-year commitment and I plan on honoring that commitment,”

O’Neill said at his season-end news conference Wednesday. “To me, if you have a commitment you should honor them. I plan on doing that."

But O’Neill added that if a job comes open that he likes, he won't be opposed to going after it.

“You should always listen to everybody. It doesn’t make sense not to listen."

http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/frontpage/80817.php

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Of course KO's going to say that, he does want a nice buyout.

O'Neill's not coming back, him and Lute are barely on speaking terms and the wavering players will not come back if he's still the coach or successor. It will be a cold day in hell before that guy gets the chance to be a head coach at Arizona, you can't burn that many bridges in three months and expect good treatment in return.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

montegomery (sp?) would be nice. and some of you might think i'm nuts here, but i always thought that josh pastner had the makings of a great coach. didn't he routinely coach AAU teams to championships? and he was also the kid who helped bibby straighten out his shot and he was on lute's bench for a while, right? i always saw him as the heir apparent. i realize he's not a "name" . . . but the continuity from lute might be important.

 

[Mr. Boldin]

Giving the job to Pastner would be the biggest mistake Livengood could make. I love Josh, but you cant give a guy with no collegiate head coaching experience the job at Arizona.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Giving the job to Pastner would be the biggest mistake Livengood could make.

Bigger mistake than hiring Mackovic? Bigger mistake than hiring Stoops? Bigger mistake than firing Tomey? Bigger mistake than officially naming KO successor and forcing the UA to a summer of litigation? Bigger mistake than forcing out Jerry Kindall and turning the baseball program into a mess it still hasn't fully recovered from? Bigger mistake that letting the women's hoops program turn into a complete disaster? Bigger than creating a complete sense of apathy from a potential fan base of 1 million people with no other sports option in twon?

Given Livengood's embarrassing track record at Arizona, I'd imagine he probably names Rob Evans or Roz the successor to Lute. They at least would only be slightly worse than giving the reigns to that d-bag P12.