As a HUGE Arizona Wildcats fan, I was a bit upset/depressed/bitter to see coaching legend, Lute Olson, walk off into the sunset last week.  After a few interviews this summer and fall it seemed as though Lute was going to stay until he was dust in the wind.  Now, with Lute's departure, the Wildcats' basketball program is in shambles. 

Let's take a look at what the team lost from last season:

• Freshman sensation, Jerryd Bayless, was drafted by the Indiana Pacers and traded to Portland
• Miles Simon, assistant coach, left the program
• Josh Pastner, assistant coach, left the program
• Kevin O'Neill, head assistant/interim coach/eventual successor, dropped from program

Now, when you are replacing THREE coaches from a staff that had kept the program together last season, things are not going to go well.  Simon and Pastner left due to Olson's leave of absence situation.  O'Neill was booted/quit because of the same issues.  Bayless apparently was not happy the whole season and decided that he would make his millions instead of sticking on campus another season...which is what he would have done either way in my opinion.

On top of replacing Bayless' production and three coaches, three recruits for next season have decommitted to Arizona and have opened themselves back up for recruitment. 

The best thing for the school to do, would be find a replacement ASAP!  But, with most of the coaches that the school would really want already coaching (great timing Lute!), they are sort of stuck with their hands tied behind their backs.  They can't go back to Kevin O'Neill, because the damage has already been done and they can't poach an assistant without getting into some tampering issues with the NCAA, so who do they turn to?

What about Bobby Knight?  He recently said that he wouldn't rule out coaching again.  I know it is sort of a crazy scenario, but if anyone is available, he certainly would be one of the top coaches out there.  I've always thought that maybe Steve Alford would be the next in line at Arizona, but with his recent jump to New Mexico, I'd say that is a few years away.  Mark Few of Gonzaga would be my next choice, but then again, he is already coaching this season.  If the administration waits until the end of the season, then they could make a huge run at Anthony Grant of VCU.  Now that I think about it, that is exactly what I would do.  Drop all kinds of money and incentives on Grant's lap and let him take the reigns.  Florida wanted him right after they won the national championship, so I think he has some skills/credentials.

This stings quite a bit right now.