Longtime assistant Kevin O'Neill has been filling in for Olson since his departure. AP

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Given all this dysfunction, it seems unlikely that O'Neill could remain at Arizona if Olson returns to the sidelines. When I asked O'Neill Sunday night what he would do in that situation, he echoed the noncommittal remarks he made during his press conference following the Wildcats' loss to UCLA earlier that day. "Every year I've ever coached no matter where I've been, I make my decision at the end of the year what I'm going to do," he said. He cautioned me not to read between the lines, but that position is obviously a far cry from the definitive plan he signed onto last December.

Even the manner in which Olson originally announced his leave was dysfunctional. He distributed his press release not through the school but rather a public relations firm. Nor did he ever meet with the team to tell them he was leaving; O'Neill was forced to break the news to them by reading the press release.

The reasons behind Olson's leave of absence continue to remain murky as well. In December, he announced that he and his second wife, Christine, were getting divorced. Yet, several sources have confirmed to me that the divorce is not the only reason Olson took the season off. Nobody inside the program, the coaching profession or the media seems to know just what those additional reasons are. Rumors have been running rampant, but it is truly remarkable that this has remained a secret in today's information age -- and it is a reflection of the deep respect people have for Olson. As one of the game's preeminent statesmen, he has earned that wide berth

Olson's rare public appearance on Sunday during Arizona's postgame Senior Day ceremonies didn't shed any light on the situation. While Christine watched the game inside the arena, Olson watched from his office before coming onto the court. He did not address the crowd, and he did not speak to reporters afterward.

Given how chaotic and fluid this situation is, it's hard to pinpoint exactly where things are headed. It's possible Olson wants to retire but is looking to secure a lucrative exit. There is much speculation around Tucson that he is having financial problems, and if that's true it won't be helped by an impending divorce. It's also possible that if Olson says he wants to come back, he and O'Neill can come to a meeting of the minds and put the succession plan back on track.

Still, when I asked an inside source if it was safe to say that there was a 50-50 chance that O'Neill would leave if Olson came back, he replied, "I'd say those are pretty conservative numbers." I mentioned to a second source that I intended to report that O'Neill would probably leave if Olson came back, and asked if he could tell me on background if I was off-base. "I'm not going to tell you that," he said. "And you know what? It's too bad."

It is indeed too bad to see Olson's Hall of Fame career wind down this way. He is a man of extraordinary accomplishment and utmost class. O'Neill is a capable coach who is managing a difficult situation as best he can. For the sake of both men, as well as the entire program, this whole circus needs to be brought to closure. Here's hoping it ends well, and soon.