What the heck's going on at Arizona?

[Mr. Neutral]

Lute Olson says that Kevin O'Neill won't be on his staff next year, certainly won't succeed him (Olson), and apologizes to the players for having to play O'Neill's slowdown, defensive game.

O'Neill says that he's honoring his two-year commitment to UA, and intends to be Olson's successor as well.

If Olson and O'Neill's philosophies differ so much, why did Lute bring him in? And why would the university promise Kevin that he'd be Lute's successor, and then have Lute say that's not going to happen?

Weird. Somehow I see a buyout coming.

[muskieman]

[quote="Mr. Neutral"]Lute Olson says that Kevin O'Neill won't be on his staff next year, certainly won't succeed him (Olson), and apologizes to the players for having to play O'Neill's slowdown, defensive game.

O'Neill says that he's honoring his two-year commitment to UA, and intends to be Olson's successor as well.

If Olson and O'Neill's philosophies differ so much, why did Lute bring him in? And why would the university promise Kevin that he'd be Lute's successor, and then have Lute say that's not going to happen?

Weird. Somehow I see a buyout coming.[/quote]
The question is who will get the buyout? Somebody is getting the wrong advice it seems.

This just for MOR. Sean to Oklahoma. St and O'Neill to X. Oops I forgot it was April fools Tuesday.

[Masterofreality]

If Olson and O'Neill's philosophies differ so much, why did Lute bring him in? And why would the university promise Kevin that he'd be Lute's successor, and then have Lute say that's not going to happen?

Weird. Somehow I see a buyout coming.

I said early in the year that if O'Neill was the successor, that he'd drive Arizona right into the Grand Canyon. Hell yeah, it was happening.

Me thinks that ol' Lute just hadn't seen O'Neill's act up close for a while. When he did see it, he was appalled.

After all, nothing like having a successor who has a below .500 career record as a college coach.

BTW. Tom Crean should be ecstatatic at that deal he has at Indiana. He'd better enjoy it while he can. In about 5 years, the woves in Bloomington will be at his door. It would be before that, but he's got a couple of years grace period due to the upheaval, tumult and possible NCAA probabtion.

Crean = the next great overrated "genius" coach in the bloodline behind Pat Kennedy, Bob Thuggins, and K O'Neill.

[Mr. Neutral]

You may be right, MOR, but Olson's acting kind of oddly as well.

But, as O'Neill's Wikipedia entry points out, (1) Olson and O'Neill had worked together previously, and (2) the Arizona AD may be to blame for making the succession announcement.

"On May 1, 2007 it was announced that O'Neill would replacing Jim Rosborough as the assistant coach to Hall of Famer Lute Olson at the University of Arizona.[1]. O'Neill was an assistant under Olson during Arizona's rise to national prominence in the 1980s, and used it as a launching board to attain his first major head coaching position at Marquette.

On November 4, 2007, Olson announced that he was taking an "indefinite leave of absence", and that O'Neill would assume Olson's head coaching duties in his absence. [2]. Then, on December 6, Olson released a statement that said he would be extending his leave of absence for the remainder of the season. He cited personal family reasons that required his immediate attention; the next day, his attorney revealed that Olson filed for divorce from his second wife.[1] It was announced on December 6 that O'Neill would remain the interim head coach for the rest of the season. [3] Later, on December 18, Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood announced O'Neill as the designated successor to Olson. While Olson has said he plans to return for the 2008-09 season, O'Neill will succeed him when he decides to retire.[2] In recent weeks, however, Olson has announced he is returning as head coach at the end of the 2007-2008 season.[3] With the announcement of Olson's return, the O'Neill succession plan is now in question amidst recent rumors of disagreement between Olson and O'Neill.[4] As of Lute Olsen's Tuesday, April 1st news conference, O'Neill will not be retained on the U of A staff."

[muskieman]

the sun got to them.

Send O'Neil back to Marquette...last revenge