Lute Olson Quotations

After long and serious deliberation, the men's basketball staff has dismissed Chris Rodgers, effective immediately, from the team. It should be noted that Chris has earned his college degree in three and a half years and that we wish him much success in all future endeavors.

He's playing great. Matt has gotten better every year. Right now, he's really playing physically, which was not a strength with him before. He's long and active and quick, but now he's added strength to that and a lot more confidence.

There was no question in my mind he was going to be a really good player, and we wouldn't have watched him as much as we did if we didn't feel that way. I think he's had a great opportunity at Stanford and he's taken advantage of it.

We just got absolutely hammered on the boards but Michigan State does that to a lot of people. I want to acknowledge the courage and the heart of that team following what I thought was the best preseason game I've ever seen to go to another overtime and be able to sustain that effort.

We're the defending champs and I think we're capable of defending that championship, but there are some very good teams we're going to have to beat.

That's good that they have, because now it's our turn to swing it back the other way. All of those games have been competitive games. This is a new year, new team. ...I don't think past history is going to have anything to do with it, frankly.

The ball is in Chris' court. There are certain things he is going to have to do. If he does them, there is a chance he can come back.

That gives you an idea how tough our guards were on their perimeter guys.

It's work hard and try to learn from the things we didn't do well.

Chris did a nice job of pressuring the ball. We need him to get more involved offensively.