TUCSON, ARIZ. — He married his wife in Minneapolis. They had three of their children there.
Now Arizona coach Lute Olson hopes to win his second championship there.
"Minneapolis has a lot of fond memories for me," the 66-year-old Olson said.
The return also will be a tough reminder. Olson's wife, Bobbi, died of ovarian cancer Jan. 1.
Olson has been trying to focus on the game and the charm of Minneapolis.
"They need to warm it up between now and Saturday," he said. "It's a beautiful city when the weather is right."
Olson would become the oldest coach to win a title if Arizona can knock off Michigan State on Saturday and then beat the Duke-Maryland winner on Monday night.
Olson was a three-sport athlete at Augsburg College in Minneapolis, playing home games at the Minneapolis Armory.
"The floor was right on top of concrete," he said. "I still have shin splints from those days."
Arizona's cause is aided by a red-hot Gilbert Arenas. His performance continues to draw accolades from teammates, coaches, even opponents.
The praises are piling up for the Arizona sophomore, a shooting guard whose 18-point first-half surge helped propel the Wildcats past Illinois 87-81 and into the Final Four.
His backcourt mate, point guard Jason Gardner, said Arenas, just 19, is beginning to live up to others' expectations.
"He's been having a great season," Gardner said. "Toward the end of the season, he's been one of the main reasons why this team has been doing what we are doing."
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