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Thursday, April 5
Olson's family of players sticking together
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
MINNEAPOLIS – Three of Lute Olson's five grown children were next to their father within seconds of his emergence from the locker room. They rode with him to the postgame podium. They were there when he was finished talking to the media. They were there for the hugs and to share the tears with the players after they exited the locker room.
And they'll be there for their father every day from here on out like they were the past few months.
The Olson family is missing its matriarch in Bobbi, who died New Year's Day. But it's easy to see that their love for one another is real and genuine in how they have come together during this traumatic time in their lives.
But they aren't about to let Olson slide away from the game he loves. Greg Olson said his father would continue to coach. They want and need him to continue on with his life. The family will take its usual June trip to Coronado, Calif., and be Lute's rock during the summer, as always.
|  | | Loren Woods won't be back, but the other four Arizona starters should return as part of Lute Olson's extended family. |
Olson, 66, isn't dreading the coming months of down time. He's got his family around him now more than ever.
"I think I would have (dreaded it) if I didn't have the family that I have," Olson said. "They'll keep me occupied. I have some new inhabitants in the house – Christi, and her four kids, who are (ages) 11 down to five. If that's not going to keep you occupied, then I don't know what will. They will all make sure the old man isn't by himself too much.
"I've heard from so many people who have lost life partners and they said it's those memories that will be there all your life and the pain will start diminishing eventually, not totally. So, it's a fact of life, so it's there. And like I've said, thank goodness for family and great friends."
The Olson family also will rejoice this summer over Monday night's news that the team seems to be staying intact, at least for the time being.
Why? Because the Olson family has grown up around the Arizona program that their father has built the past two decades. The program's continued success can help ease some of the pain their father feels.
That's why the children – Jodi, Christi and Greg – were so happy when they were told that junior Richard Jefferson said he would return next season instead of declaring for the NBA draft.
"I'll be back," Jefferson said. "I love these guys. We talk so much about a family. I've got my best friend right here (sophomore Luke Walton). I want to play with these guys as long as I can."
Sophomore guard Gilbert Arenas wasn't as definitive on whether he'll return or declare for the NBA draft.
"Right now I'm going to just have fun with my family and teammates," Arenas said. "When the time comes I'll make my decision."
The Wildcats lose center Loren Woods, sixth-man Eugene Edgerson, along with backups Justin Wessel and Lamont Frazier. If Jefferson and Arenas stay (the consensus is that point guard Jason Gardner and forward Michael Wright will return), then the Wildcats have a strong chance for another deep NCAA Tournament run. Olson's staff has signed four players who could help immediately. Two playmaking guards, Will Bynum and Salim Stoudamire (Damon's cousin), and three frontcourt players – Dennis Latimore, Channing Frye and Isaiah Fox – should fill the void left by Woods. The 'Cats also get shooting forward Ricky Anderson off redshirt status.
But before worrying about next season, this team should be remembered for its character and heart through an extremely difficult time.
"This team was very resilient," Woods said after the Wildcats lost the title game to Duke, some three months after they started the season 8-5 amid disappointment that they weren't living up to their preseason No. 1 status. "We still won't get the respect we deserved because we came up short. But these guys are great players. We had a great season."
Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.
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