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Lute Olson's return to a 24/7 work schedule does not just begin with the start of full-length practices in October or even the first games of November.

It starts now.

Olson and his active two-man staff have hit the road for the first of two open weekends in the critical spring recruiting period, planning to attend events in Houston and Denver this week.

More than ever, the open period of evaluation is a time to refine recruiting lists and appear at the games of top high school juniors, showing them their interest at a time when more and more of them are committing.

Dave Telep, national recruiting analyst for Scout.com, said about one-third of his 2009 Top 100 players are already committed and that he expects about a half will have already decided on a school before open recruiting reopens in July.

What's more, coaches are allowed only two open weekends to watch the traveling team events before the window closes April 30, creating even more pressure to get busy. There were three open weekends last spring.

"After a weekend like this, the urgency of recruiting will be turned up," Telep said. "There's not much time for evaluation. So if you're a player, you better get your act together in a hurry, and if you're a staff, you better get going. Everybody's moving so fast. The best players in the country are committing earlier and earlier."

Arizona already has one top commitment from the class of 2009, Washington point guard Abdul Gaddy, but the Wildcats could have at least five spots to fill. They are already short two scholarship players (three if Chase Budinger stays in the NBA draft) — assuming they do not add another 2008 player this spring — and could have another three openings created next spring. Fendi Onobun's eligibility expires, and Jordan Hill and Brandon Jennings could leave for professional basketball.

But the Wildcats will have to overcome the instability of last season, when Olson took an unexplained season-long leave of absence, was replaced by interim head coach Kevin O'Neill, then announced O'Neill would not be back.

Olson has not returned phone messages for two weeks, but O'Neill still says he expects to remain an assistant coach, preventing Olson from hiring a replacement, and creating continued questions that recruits — and rival recruiters — may be bringing up.

Clark Francis, publisher of Hoop Scoop recruiting service, said Arizona's reputation can still get it in the doors of many top recruits. But he said he wondered if the Wildcats can close any of those doors behind them, considering their situation.

"There's no continuity," said Francis. "The longer it goes on, the more it hurts. Are you going to hire an assistant to be your heir apparent, or a new (head) coach? There are a lot of question marks that need to be answered. … If I'm an elite player, I'm probably not going there."

The other problem is that the Wildcats have only reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament once in the past five seasons. That lack of valuable exposure helps keep Arizona off top recruits' minds.

"To some kids, Arizona is not cool," said Jim Hicks, publisher of RCS Sports, which focuses on high school basketball in Houston, one of UA's top recruiting grounds. "They're still Arizona, but they're not the new flavor of the week or the month. You know how it is. It's like kids and cereal boxes: Whichever has the best commercial is the one they ask their moms to buy."

But the Wildcats still have some effective sales tools. One, of course, is playing time: All but one of last season's starters will likely be gone by the 2009-10 season, with only Nic Wise still around, if he decides to remain at the UA this spring.

They can also brag about June, when the Wildcats tend to make up for their lack of March exposure by placing guys in the NBA draft. Arizona has had 15 players taken in the two-round draft since 1998, and it could have two players in the lottery this June (Jerryd Bayless, Budinger) and at least one other in 2009 (Brandon Jennings).

Then there is Olson himself, still a recruiting presence in many analysts' eyes at age 73.

"Lute Olson, by being back, can walk into living rooms, and he'll get help from a lot of high school coaches," Jim Hicks said. "With certain guys, all he's got to do is show up and shake some hands."

Greg Hicks, Scout's West Coast analyst, said Olson's reputation should help Arizona make up any lost ground with top regional targets such as guard Elijah Johnson, guard Michael Snaer and forward Brendan Lane, all of whom may not commit until later this summer.

"In general, I think it's fair to say any sort of disruption on the program has an impact, because it gives (other) coaches something to point to," Greg Hicks said. "But my guess is they're still in on (the regional players), and it'll be a case of how Lute and his staff do this summer."

The fact that Olson returned convincingly during late March, announcing during a combative news conference that O'Neill would not be back, also sends a message that he is firmly in charge.

"I think there's been a sense of order that's been restored," Telep said. "People have an idea of who's driving the bus right now. As long as Lute Olson is still around … that's what's really important."