Dramatic Effects

With news articles by Greg Hansen, Bruce "Columbo" Pascoe, Gary Parrish, the revolving door for assistant coaches (In: Pennell & Dunlap - Out:O'Neill, Simon, & possibly Pastner), and the interest of the 2009 recruits having been shaken, and the very public divorce between Lute & Christine.

The longer this goes on, the worse it gets for Arizona. Especially if Pastner does bolt for Memphis. Olson has been the best thing to happen to Arizona basketball. Heck, the best thing to happen to Arizona sports since he arrived on the scene back in the early 80's. But the program has become a side-show at a circus. It has already started to affect recruiting, and many players have thought about bailing because of the situation. I'm not heading for the hills and "jumping off the bandwagon" that I was never on, but it almost getting to the point where Lute is deconstructing the house that he built.

I'm not on the Lute bashing line yet, and consider the circumstances, he is going about business as usual and doing what needs to be done. But I think these circumstances have hurt Arizona basketball more than any PR Firm, smooth talking by Livengood and Olson, or return of any specific player can compensate for. It is going to take success in the PAC-10 and nothing less than a Sweet 16 appearance to keep Arizona in competition for elite recruits.  Arizona basketball isn't obsolete, but they have taken a huge step back 20 years to where they'll need to pony up and prove something on the court. With all the uncertainty swirling around the program, coaches, etc. it is going to be the teams performance that will get the better 2009 recruits interested in the program.

What do you think the effects of the drama have been?

1. Irrepairable - Only forcing out Olson and hiring a top tier coach will fix this.
2. Troublesome - It's going to take next year's performance to fix it.
3. Annoying - Livengood, Olson, and the new coaching staff are going to have to do some fancy footwork, but it's fixable.
4. Insignificant - Olson and Arizona are too big of names for this to be a problem.

I believe the main problem is Livengood not doing his job.   He should have prepared succession planning prior to the contract extension to 2010.   He could/should have Lute active in the process, but not an after thought once he's 73, not to mention the current circus going on now. 

Livengood also has done a horrific job with the football program, post Tomey. The two coaches are bad, we will miss a bowl again, and its back to the drawing board.  The recruiting fallout to ASU this football season is just another example.  Stoops can blame it on academics all he wants, but at the end of the day state schools have the same requirements. As a Cat Fan and alumni, it's hard to say the Lisa Love has done a great job in a short period of time (i.e. Erickson, Sendek) at ASU.

If Arizona took a step back 20 years, that wouldn't be a bad thing. The Wildcats went to the Final Four in 1988.

Yes, this is messy and the writers love the soap opera. Christine Olson is making this ugly. But Lute has been through much worse -- think about how he kept coaching through Bobbi's struggle with cancer.

He's going to be fine and he'll be energized for working with the team. Arizona is not going to fall off the basketball map.

Our bigger concern is to make sure Mr. Jennings gets his academics in order so he can play next year.

who cares about football...lol...jk.... I agree with a lot of things that are being said about the negative things happenening in the program I have 2 thoughts

1. succession plan

Why is this becoming so poular the last couple years.  call them "coaches in waiting".  I think it works in some situations, but sometimes it isn't great.  AZ doesn't have to figure out who they're going to hire today for when Lute retires. No one really knows when he's going to be done.  I don't personally beleive they need to find out who their next head coach is going to be... and I have a feeling they won't make that mistale again (COUGH.. Kevin O'neil... COUGH)

2. Recruits still getting to the league

AZ is still having players get to the NBA.. Let's face it, the majortiy of players want to go to a school who is going to better prepare them to play professional (NBA).  I believe U of A has the most NBA players behind UCONN in the NBA...

Agree 100%.  Arizona should be fine this year, especially if Budinger and Wise stick around.  The coaching staff has been upgraded (pending Pastner's replacement if he bolts for another position) and as NE2WA mentioned, Olson is energized and determined to restore the program to elite status before he leaves.  My only concern (maybe not my only concern, but certainly the biggest) at this point is that we've lost so much ground in recruiting and it's going to be tough to make up.  We only have one 2009 commitment and he (Gaddy) will be tough to keep - Simon and Pastner were the two who recruited him - but he still says he's committed to Arizona.  If we lose him, Hill, Jennings and Budinger (if he returns), we could be in deep s...  That said, Wise, Withey, Lavender, Negedu and Horne would still be a more talented lineup than most teams in the Pac 10 and is capable of having a great season under the staff that's being assembled.  Talent wouldn't be the biggest issue, depth would (again).