Lute Olson quitting Arizona -- for the second and final time

Kevin O'Neill needs to be a head coach again so we can see a return of his in-game and press conference tirades.

 

I have actually heard quite the opposite from some folks. I know two writers who have been around the college game for a long time who have said that Olson is a major league asshole.

 

Chef, it happened only once with the last one. Lute's first wife, Bobbi, died from cancer a few years back.

Lute and Kevin O'Neill are pretty much opposite personalities, at least when it comes to outside appearances and dealing with the media. That probably didn't help O'Neill and had to contribute to why Lute booted him out of there when all thought he was back to assume the throne again in Tucson.

I hope this isn't a health-related resignation. But if not, he's leaving U of A pretty high and dry given the time of the season.

 

Agreed. His Metro State teams were a treat to watch.

I hope he gets the gig and things work out well for him.

 

Why?

His Arizona teams are loaded every year. Carolina and Duke loaded if you look at the rosters over the past 20 years.

 

The 1997 run Arizona made was one of the best tournament runs ever. Zona either beat all four No. 1 seeds or at least three.

The all Wildcat final cost me a lot of money in the tournament pool when Zona won. ;D

 

Can't beat all four since two of them are on the other side of the bracket, from which you can only face one.

 

And he's the only living coach to have guided Iowa to a Big 10 hoops title, they shared it but it's still the only one they've won. And that was, what, 31, 32 years ago?

You have to wonder if, in some way, he never got over the death of his wife. This erratic streak pretty much started after she died.

 

That makes sense... I guess it was three No. 1s then. Either way, it's an amazing accomplishment.

 

He was no saint, but I'm sure the folks in Tempe would love to have a Lute Olson clone. They've been face up in his ass cheeks after a bowl of chili for years.

 

I think they were ranked #1 at various times during the season.

 

Could have been early in the season, but since they finished fifth in the Pac-10, the run was still damn improbable.