'Most iconic sports figure in town'

Olson was the head coach at Arizona for 25 years, and retired with a 73.6 winning percentage. Under Olson, the Cats went to 23 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, and caused a buzz in Tucson that carried over to Sean Miller's tenure. 

Olson will always be a part of elite company in Tucson sports history. Bear Down creator John "Buttton" Salmon, Amphitheater football coach Vern Friedli and UA coach Pop McKale are a few names that come to mind when listing some of the most recognizable names in Tucson history. But Olson's former players will always coin their coach's impact incomparable to other local figures.   

Eugene Edgerson on remembering Lute Olson’s legacy at Arizona and in Tucson: pic.twitter.com/rHPU5xJoPE

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 13, 2018

"He is the most iconic sports figure in town," Member of the 1997 national championship team Eugene Edgerson said. "Rightfully so, you think about everything that he did here, his winning percentage and the impact he had on his players that have gone on to do great things not only in the community, but wherever else they traveled to and made their new home and are doing very well in those places, that's all because of Coach Olson and the impact he's had on us."

Lute owns multiple blue jackets

While the subject is Stoudamire revealing secrets, he admitted that he snuck into Olson's closet at his house out of curiosity if Olson wore the same suit every weekend.

"I wanted to know if you wore the same blue blazer every game, or did you have a bunch of blue blazers. He had a bunch of blue blazers," Stoudamire said.

Confirmed: Olson owns more than one jacket.

Can confirm: Lute Olson owns more than one blazer. pic.twitter.com/VUsIBYfZ6h

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 13, 2018

Lute Olson drill

Former holder of Arizona's all-time wins record Matt Muehlebach spoke before the unveiling of the statue. 

Muehlebach touched on Olson's attention to detail and preparation. 

"It looked like a Hoosiers 1955 basketball practice for the first 45 minutes, but by the end of practice we looked like the Golden State Warriors," Muehlebach said. "You watch Steve Kerr's teams and they play a lot like Coach (Olson) played, free and up-and-down."

Muehlebach said he spoke to the Warriors' head coach on the phone days before the ceremony and Kerr revealed that he uses a "three-on-two conditioning drill" with the team known as the "Lute Olson drill."

With Olson's legacy impacting Kerr, it translated into becoming a part of the current NBA dynasty that consists of players like Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green and a man that performed the drills when he was a freshman at the UA in 2004, Andre Iguodala.  

Sean Elliott is the GOAT

Lute Olson says Sean Elliott is the best player he’s ever coached. “He could play any position you asked him to.” pic.twitter.com/dsFaP75vma

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 13, 2018

Olson coached 12 Associated Press All-Americans and 35 players that went on to get drafted to the NBA. Asking Olson to pick out the best player he's ever coached is like asking a father which kid is their favorite. 

Not Coach O. Now 83, he announced to the worldon Thursday that the best to ever be in his huddle was two-time AP All-American Sean Elliott.

“He could play any position you wanted him to play,” Olson said.

Olson also reminisced on the time Elliott broke Lew Alcindor's, now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pac-10 scoring record. Coincidentally it was a nationally televised game against UCLA and Elliott needed 35 points to break the record. It was a blowout victory from the get-go and Elliott had 20 points at halftime. In the second half, Elliott had 33 points and only needed a bucket to break the record, but he insisted on stuffing the stat sheet and passed it to his teammates. 

"I called a timeout and called him over and I said 'Sean this is embarrassing for me to keep the starters out there, would you please break the record?' And het got fouled and hit the free throws so he broke the record," Olson said.

Elliott is now second to Don MacLean on the conference's all-time scoring list, but remains as Arizona's all-time leading scorer. In four seasons at Arizona, Elliott averaged 19.2 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game.  

Will Bynum regrets transferring from Arizona

Everyone has regrets. Sometimes those regrets were life-changing moments and the idea of what could've been will always swirl in the mind. 

Former Arizona guard Will Bynum transferred to Georgia Tech halfway through the 2003 season. Bynum battled minutes with Arizona with Jason Gardner, Salim Stoudamire and Hassan Adams, and decided to take his talents elsewhere.

Transferring to Georgia Tech wasn't necessarily a bad decision. Bynum led the Yellow Jackets to a national championship appearance and was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team in 2004. But he wished he would've remained at Arizona for the rest of his collegiate career, according to Damon Stoudamire.

Damon Stoudamire says Will Bynum “wished he would’ve stay at Arizona” instead of transferring to Georgia Tech. pic.twitter.com/eR6bZbsHbe

— Justin Spears (@JustinESports) April 13, 2018

"One of the things that he talks about to people is that he wished he would've stayed at Arizona. I thought Will Bynum was a really good player," Stoudamire said. "It worked out for him. You think about Jason Terry, I'm pretty sure somebody was trying to get him to move. He didn't start until his senior year.

"That says a lot when guys leave (UA) and look back and say 'dang, maybe I should've stuck it out.'"

Full circle for Dave Heeke

Arizona athletic director Dave Heeke on Lute Olson: “He’s an amazing, iconic figure.” Heeke also remembers watching Olson growing up in Iowa. pic.twitter.com/kqNvWJFf2t

— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) April 13, 2018

Arizona athletic director was familiar with Olson at Iowa when he was a kid growing up in the midwest.

"I was a Big 10 fan, and knew of Coach Olson when he was at Iowa, and listened to games on the radio, heard that name and knew who that figure was in the Big 10," Heeke said. 

Before Arizona, Heeke assisted the Oregon athletic director's $40 million budget for 18 years doesn't recall the Ducks ever leaving Tucson with a W. 

"Came down here I think 18 times and we lost all 18 times. I know what it's like to come into McKale on the other side. ... I'm really in awe of it, he's such an amazing, iconic figure," he said. "It's special for me to be here on a day like today."

He said it

"Have you ever spent nine winters in Iowa City?"

— Lute Olson on why he left Iowa to coach at Arizona

The big number

$300,000

— Total price of the Lute Olson statue

The big number II

46

Number of NCAA Tournament wins Olson has, which is one more than Bobby Knight and one less than John Wooden. 

Watch: UA unveils legendary coach Lute Olson's statue