Arizona - O'Neill not return to Wildcat bball staff

by boston bruin on Apr 2, 2008 9:49 AM PDT

Sports Illustrated covered Lute Olsen's press meeting, which apparently didn't clear up all that much re events behind the scene. He did, however, inform reporters that Kevin O'Neill will not be back and that the Wildcats will return to showtime mode....

From SI.com:

Olson said he had assured athletic director Jim Livengood he was fit to return to the rigors of big-time coaching.

"Mr. Livengood said, 'Are you sure that you're ready to face this job and this stress?' And I said, 'Absolutely,' " Olson said.

O'Neill's status with the program has also been cloudy in recent weeks.

"When he said he's coming back, or that he's going to fulfill the terms of his contract, he won't be on the staff," Olson said.

O'Neill stressed defense last season. Olson said he had assured players that they would return to an up-tempo style.

"I apologize for what they had to go through this year in terms of the change," Olson said. "They came here to play a wide-open game, and they didn't. That's no one's fault, because that's not coach O'Neill's belief on the offensive end. It was his team once I left. But I said we're going to play Arizona basketball and we're going to have fun doing it."

Olson built a powerhouse in the desert after arriving from Iowa in 1983. But Arizona is no longer among the national elite.

Arizona went 19-15 last season and drew its 24th straight NCAA tournament appearance, extending the nation's longest active streak. The Wildcats were eliminated by West Virginia in the first round.

The Wildcats finished seventh in the Pac-10 -- their worst showing since 1982-83, the year before Olson arrived from Iowa -- and were swept by Arizona State for the first time since 1995.

"You know what, maybe the fans needed to realize that this program doesn't just operate -- we don't go into the gas station and fill the kids up with fuel and turn the key on," Olson said.

I wonder if last year was the beginning of the end. Have fun out there, guys.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Posted

I listed the link yesterday in another in nthe BB thread.

by artybruin on Apr 2, 2008 10:35 AM PDT reply actions

Rephrase

I listed the link in the BB notes thread yesterday.

by artybruin on Apr 2, 2008 10:42 AM PDT up reply actions

Olson

always like the guy. But I'm wondering if his best years' are behind him.

by Rich1996UCLA on Apr 2, 2008 10:40 AM PDT reply actions

Olson actually saw

some golden pastures in his rearview mirror. Then, as he gazed ahead, it was nothing but desolate, barren landscape.

by Htse005 on Apr 2, 2008 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions

UA and Lute

This may be a mistake, Lute coming back. The league has moved beyond run-and-gun. If BH has the talent he has now in the future, UCLA beats on UA like a drum, along with several other teams in the league. He recruits kids who want to run-and-gun, and BH recruits kids who want to win....
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on Apr 2, 2008 2:42 PM PDT reply actions

Pretty crummy of Lute to "apologize"

for what his players "had to go through this year." O'Neill is a respected coach with great credentials and knows what he's doing. Would UA been any better this year with Lute at the helm? Very doubtful. Probably would have been worse. Lute should have been apologizing for his players behavior (e.g., Bayliss's obnoxious attitude)and for himself for undermining O'Neill throughout the season.

by bonecar on Apr 2, 2008 4:18 PM PDT up reply actions

totally agree

Something is amiss... either he didn't want players to jump ship, or whatever else, but to throw your #2 guy under the bus to make yourself look better. But, he should know how bad this actually makes him look.

Vaya con dios.

by boston bruin on Apr 2, 2008 5:38 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't get it.....

Why would they allow O'Neill to make a fool of himself when he announced he was coming back? Why not make the decision a couple days after their loss? Way to burn a bridge Lute!

by Bruin in Denver on Apr 2, 2008 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

"Haawwww-haahhhhh.... hawwwww-haaahhhhh"

"You should not have come back... old mannnnn."

Used to check old Lute in all the time at gate 64 (circa '94). I was a systems intern at LAX and he was constantly back and fourth to/from sky harbor. He was always a gent (but aloof) and past the rivalry I always respected his work at Zona. Once, we had both he and George Zidek on the same manifest... needless to say George got the upgrade.

Now though, I'm struck by what seems to be clear evidence that Olsen isn't who he was and has lost much of what made the Wildcats' magic. The year Bobbi passed, I wondered how he'd take it. The night I saw his hands shaking and watched him fumble names and jersey numbers in that courtside interview, I knew there was trouble. The day I heard his players trying in vain to play us down, I knew it was ending. The first time I saw O'Neil's messy head, rumpled shirt and tie I just shook my head.

Miles Simon should hang around because this is going to be a short comeback.

GO BRUIN BLUE.

by theREAL_LOGAN5 on Apr 2, 2008 3:17 PM PDT reply actions

Olson has just distanced himself from reality

"They came here to play a wide-open game, and they didn't.... But I said we're going to play Arizona basketball and we're going to have fun doing it."

Nice take, Lute. I had a great team before I took my leave of absence. When I get back, we'll get that two-hand set shot going again.

Lute, the league doesn't play that way. If you do, you'll be alone and at the bottom looking up. 'Zona is no longer the standard, as if it ever was. The standard is UCLA, and the standard at UCLA is defense.

by Fox 71 on Apr 2, 2008 4:18 PM PDT reply actions

UCLA always has been, and will be

the epicenter of NCAA Basketball.

by Htse005 on Apr 2, 2008 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Let me get this straight...

Olson bring O'Neill to Arizona to get his kids to play defense.

Olson leaves, O'Neill gets his players to play some defense.

Olson comes back, says he wants to run up-tempo, makes O'Neill hit the road.

The man has completely lost it. Utterly and irreversibly. He probably saw a lonely retirement for himself and got scared. O'Neill was a class act and a good coach, and I think with the right players (i.e. some who gave a lick about defense) he would have been more successful.

Lute, buddy, go home. You'll make the hall of fame. Go around and give speeches and such. You will only bring pain upon yourself...go in dignity.

by tasser10 on Apr 4, 2008 12:57 PM PDT reply actions