In Brief : Arizona Coach Eyes Kentucky Post

Arizona basketball Coach Lute Olson said he had a preliminary discussion last week with Kentucky’s new athletic director, longtime friend C. M. Newton, about the Kentucky coaching position.

Olson, whose Wildcats won the Pacific-10 Conference regular season title and post-season tournament and made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 before losing to Nevada-Las Vegas, said late Tuesday he has not told Newton yet whether he wants to be considered a candidate for the opening created when Eddie Sutton resigned under fire last month. But he also said, “I haven’t ruled it out.”

Kentucky has perhaps the nation’s most storied basketball history and tradition, but the program has fallen on difficult times as a result of alleged recruiting violations that triggered an NCAA investigation. The NCAA has not informed the school yet of its decision as far as possible sanctions.