Lute Olson returns, throws Kevin O'Neill under bus

Now that Lute Olson has resumed his head coaching duties at Arizona, feel free to put Kevin O'Neill at the top of any "Who's Not" list in sports.

Not only has the 73-year-old Olson returned from his leave of absence to coach the team, but he's also stripped O'Neill of the "handpicked predecessor" label. At a press conference Tuesday, Olson said that O'Neill would not be on the coaching staff next season, the last of his contract.

Following Olson's departure in December to attend to personal issues -- Arizona assistant O'Neill assumed interim coaching duties. He led the Wildcats to a 19-15 season and their 24th consecutive NCAA tournament berth, but apparently that wasn't enough for the looming Olson. O'Neill's coaching style didn't fit the bill, apparently.

"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 also reminded anyone who cared to know that he's the one who built the program, and it won't just continue winning by itself, you know. Another dagger to O'Neill.

"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.

And lastly, to anyone who thinks his age is a problem, one more up yours.

"Well, they're all gone and I'm still here," he said.

So much for riding off into the sunset.

Olson says O'Neill won't remain on Arizona staff (AP, via ESPN.com)