JEFFRY SCOTT / ARIZONA DAILY STAR 2008

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LOS ANGELES — Lute Olson, speaking on the record for the first time in months, says he took a lot of flak for how his Senior Day appearance was handled, and acknowledges the rumors surrounding his unexplained departure.

The Arizona Wildcats basketball coach said in an interview with the Star on Saturday he doesn't know if his replacement, Kevin O'Neill, will return next season as an assistant.

Speaking publicly for the first time since Jan. 11, the 73-year-old coach declined to discuss the circumstances of his absence, saying he will address them "once the season is over."

Olson took a temporary leave Nov. 4, then extended it through the rest of the season Dec. 6.

Wearing a navy blazer, khaki pants and open-collar light blue dress shirt, Olson attended former player Miles Simon's introduction into the Pac-10 Hall of Honor at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown.

Olson did not say why he has been away from the team since Nov. 4 but he defended his decision to announce his return during this season, saying it was not a distraction to the team.

"Some people said, 'Why didn't he wait a couple more weeks?' " Olson said. "The thing that was hurting the players more than anything were all the rumors that were flying around.

"And so it was a case of, 'Let's get this over with right now.' Two days from now (the distraction) is over with. It's not going to be a factor."

Olson said his 12-week absence under the Family Medical Leave Act expired March 7. He wanted to return as soon as that ended. It was four months and three days from his first declaration on Nov. 4 through March 7.

Olson said he had heard rumors circulating about whether he would return — and why he was gone — but never considered clearing them up. "Neither the administration nor I" could comment during the 12-week stretch, Olson said.

Olson spoke publicly only once after his announcement — on Jan. 11 — to the Star just before the Wildcats played at Houston.

His lone public appearance at McKale Center came after the March 1 home finale against Stanford.

"When I went to Senior Day, Kevin had been the one who had suggested that to our seniors," he said. "Now all of a sudden it's like, 'What am I doing taking this time away from Kevin? And why didn't I get on the mic?'

"Well, I couldn't get on the mic. Because it wasn't the (return) date."

Olson said he received "all kinds of static" for having security guards flank him as he entered and left the floor that day.

"When the game was over, the security people took me down there and took me right back up," he said. "It wasn't a case of where anything could be (said), I couldn't say anything."

O'Neill, said this week he will evaluate his future at the end of the year.

When asked whether he wanted O'Neill to return, Olson took the same tack.

"We'll just have to go through those things," he said. "It's just like Kevin has said publicly — that he doesn't know exactly what he's going to do, and so he doesn't want to talk about it until after the season's over. That's the way it should be."

Instead of attending games, Olson has watched them on television. He found it to be an odd experience.

He said he found himself "being nervous — like fans."

"It's been hard watching it on TV," he said. "The thing about being a coach is you're so busy you don't get time to get nervous.

"As a fan, I go back to watching my grandkids play. I'd be more nervous sitting and watching (former UA player) Julie (Brase) play, for example, than I was when I was coached."

Olson will not attend the NCAA tournament, he said, choosing to watch it on television instead.

He has no doubt the Wildcats will be selected today at 3 p.m.

"I think they're in — strength of schedule, the RPI," he said. "But what I was concerned about was I wasn't sure they would take seven teams from the Pac.

"But now, Arizona has far and away the better RPI. And the fact the NCAA says they go on the whole season rather than league standings."