Well before Arizona Coach Lute Olson knew...

Well before Arizona Coach Lute Olson knew his team would be meeting Kansas in Friday’s West regional in Denver, he criticized the Jayhawks and some of the team’s players.

Olson called Jacque Vaughn, the Big Eight’s player of the year, a “fine point guard who can’t shoot.” And in the April issue of Inside Sports magazine, Olson said Kansas’ depth was not what it used to be.

“The key is to get their big guys in foul trouble,” he said.

Olson made his remarks while discussing several teams that were expected to advance to the NCAA tournament.

Olson, however, praises Kansas now.

“We both have scoring balance, and Jacque Vaughn makes them go like Reggie Geary makes us go,” Olson said. “They probably have more depth than we have.

“Their size inside and their depth are areas where they might have the advantage.”

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Florida Coach Lon Kruger will succeed the retiring Lou Henson as Illinois basketball coach, according to broadcast reports. Illinois officials denied the reports on two Chicago radio stations, saying no decision had been made and no announcement was planned. The school did acknowledge that it had asked permission to speak to Kruger, 43. . . . Dave Duke has resigned as Lehigh coach “to pursue other coaching opportunities,” the school announced in Bethlehem, Pa. Duke leaves with a 90-134 record in eight seasons, including a 4-23 record this season.