First UofA commit to reopen recruiting will be?
A) Jennings
B) Withey
C) None
Answer: C
Good article on the situation. ESPN's Andy Katz has a similar take.
Olson making the right move
Jeff Goodman
FOXSports.com
Coaches always talk about how much they dislike distractions. Finally, Lute Olson realized that he had become one.
The 73-year-old Arizona coach made the decision to step away from his team for the rest of this season on Thursday — and it was the right move.
"I do this with great reluctance, because I care greatly about the University of Arizona, the basketball program and the players on this team," Olson said in a statement. "But there are personal issues within my family that need to be addressed, and I must devote my full energy to that."
Now the Wildcats finally have some stability. At least for this season.
"This is what needed to happen," said one person associated with the program. "We needed to move forward one way or the other."
In the meantime, Olson can try and straighten out the family matters in his life and try to return for what could be one final go-around with the Wildcats next year. Olson said in the statement that he plans to be back for the 2008-09 campaign.
The players have fared well considering the circumstances. After a loss to Virginia on Nov. 17, Arizona has won four of its last five — with the lone setback coming in overtime at No. 3 Kansas. The Wildcats, who play Illinois on Saturday in Chicago, are coming off a win against one of the hottest teams in the country — then No. 9 Texas A&M.
Interim coach Kevin O'Neill has been in a difficult situation since he was put in charge of the program on Nov. 4. In his first season back with the program, the former NBA head coach has had to coach a new group of guys with a Hall of Famer literally looking over his shoulder.
For the past 10 days or so, Olson has been present for nearly all of the team's practices. However, he opted not to roam the sidelines during the games.
This is a guy who is Arizona basketball. There's no more popular figure in Tucson. He took Arizona from the doldrums and turned it into one of the elite programs in the country.
Imagine trying to do your job with your boss literally sitting next to you the entire time you are working. Not to mention the confusion with the players on the team. Who do they ultimately listen to — Olson or O'Neill?
Just think of how many times they have been asked the question of when Olson will return to the sidelines in the past week or so.
It was a recipe for disaster for nearly everyone involved — including Olson.
Now Chase Budinger, Jerryd Bayless and Co. have some closure and they can focus on trying to prepare for a brutal Pac-10 slate and trying to extend the program's active streak of NCAA tournament appearances to 24.
The reasons for Olson's absence don't matter. Various rumors have circulated throughout Tucson, but Olson and those close to him maintain it's not his health.
I spent the afternoon with Olson a little more than two months ago when he flew into Boston and took the drive to New Hampshire to meet with Brewster Academy's Emmanuel Negedu.
There was nothing noticeably lacking physically or mentally with Olson.
"My health is great, but this is a year-round job and if I didn't feel good, I wouldn't be doing it," Olson said that afternoon. "It's not a case where I'm looking at it as though I'll coach for a certain number of years."
Negedu is part of a stellar four-man recruiting class expected to arrive in Tucson next fall. It's led by the nation's top point guard, Oak Hill Academy's Brandon Jennings, who is committed to the Wildcats whether Olson returns or not.
"I hope everything works out and Coach Olson comes back next year," Jennings said late Thursday night from his dorm at Oak Hill. "But if not, we'll roll with Kevin O'Neill. I love Kevin O'Neill."
Negedu appeared more confused — largely because he hasn't had much of a relationship with O'Neill throughout the process. It's been Olson and Arizona assistant Josh Pastner who have done the brunt of the work to get the ultra-athletic forward on board.
"I'm already committed and signed and I really want to go to Arizona," Negedu said. "I wish Coach Olson well and I hope he's back soon."
Jennings, Negedu, 7-footer Jeff Withey and solid in-state wing Brendan Lavender have already signed with the Wildcats. There's not all that much they can do. However, the questions surrounding Olson were starting to affect future recruits — and this move probably won't help all that much in that regard.
Olson departs temporarily with 780 career victories, a 589-187 record at Arizona and personal issues that he'd rather not discuss in a public venue.
He's earned that right.
But Olson also owes it to the school to do what's best for the program — and that's exactly what he did on Thursday.
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