Arkansas coach Nolan Richardson met Thursday with chancellor John White and athletic director Frank Broyles, but the details of the meeting hadn't been disclosed as of late Thursday.

	Richardson

Richardson said he wants to remain the coach of the Razorbacks and doesn't want to accept a buyout if one is offered. "I'm the coach of the University of Arkansas as of right now," Richardson said.

The university issued a statement late Thursday saying that Broyles and White met with Richardson for 90 minutes but that discussions were continuing. The statement said the university expected to resolve the matter soon and that no further statement would come from the school until that time.

"You'll know something this afternoon," Broyles told reporters Friday.

When asked if he wanted closure on the rumors that he would be offered a $3 million buyout per the terms in his contract, Richardson said, "either use it or get off it. Either I'm the basketball coach or not but I hope I'll know that today if I am. If I am then I'll be the coach and we can just go play."

When asked if he would only leave if forced, Richardson said, "there you go. I will stay and coach the basketball team."

White disputed a report that Richardson would quit for $3 million Thursday, but said the 17-year Arkansas basketball coach had some explaining to do.

"There has been a lot of damage overall to the program. Coach Richardson recognizes that," White said Wednesday night. The question of Richardson's continued employment -- even if the coach apologized for his remarks -- can't be answered yet, White said.

"We have to have that discussion. There's going to have to be a very frank discussion of where we are and about going forward," White said.

Richardson's regularly scheduled news conference was canceled Thursday.

The 60-year old Richardson had made overtures that he could be bought out after the loss to Kentucky last Saturday and he was outspoken in his frustrations with the local media criticism during a news conference Monday. He even opened the door that something would be brewing following the loss to Mississippi State Wednesday night, saying about a Hawgs Illustrated report that essentially said the $3 million buyout was a done deal, "where there's smoke, there's probably fire."

Richardson's agent, Kevin Scanlon, said Richardson was concerned that there could be truth in the report. But neither Scanlon nor Richardson had heard from Richardson prior to late morning Thursday.

Richardson reiterated that he doesn't want to quit coaching.

"I enjoy where I am," Richardson said Thursday. "I've got a good recruiting class and a good group of players coming in next year. I promised their families that I would coach. I've kept physically fit and at this point I still love the game."

Scanlon said he spoke to Richardson on Thursday morning and he told him how much he wants to and loves to coach.

"He has a tremendous obligation to the fans of this state," Scanlon said. "He is under a lot of pressure. But he's committed to this team. He heard from over 50 coaches this morning all giving him support. It's my interpretation in talking to him that he loves what he's doing and he doesn't want to leave."

Richardson said he had chances to leave Arkansas during his tenure and didn't. He said his biggest downfall is that he's not "a politician."

"The university and the fans have been good at the same time there is that vocal group that personally don't like my kind," Richardson said. "That's the nature of the beast."

Richardson said he was upset that Wednesday's report came prior to tipoff with his team trying to get ready for the game.

"That was really distracting, to say there was a buyout," Richardson said. "It was poor timing on the coach and to this team. But I'm so proud of my kids. There were people saying 'take your $3 million and go,' (at Mississippi State). That's something I never dreamed I would be a part of. But it felt so good that my kids took that and almost came up with a victory."