The UA athletics department is investigating UA men's basketball team members' involvement in an alleged vending machine theft in a Kansas hotel on Saturday.

Team spokesman Richard Paige confirmed that the department was further investigating the alleged incident, but declined to give specifics.

ÎÎStudent discipline falls under the same umbrella as academics, and we can't comment on student privacy issues,'' Paige said.

According to Lt. David Cobb of the Lawrence Police Department, Stuart Schwartz of Chicago said he witnessed three UA players steal 80 candy bars and almost $100 from a Lawrence, Kan., Marriott Spring Hill Suites vending machine.

Schwartz told police he knew who the athletes were because he followed college basketball and saw the men wearing Arizona warm-up jackets, Cobb said. He added that Schwartz told police he thought he saw sophomore guard Salim Stoudamire and other players steal the candy and money, and named senior forward Luke Walton as a "lookout."

ÎÎThe witness did know the Walton person. He wasn't as sure about the other,'' Cobb said.

Both athletes denied any involvement in what UA head coach Lute Olson called "hogwash."

Under Kansas law, the official report from the Lawrence Police Department cannot be released, although Cobb said that no further action would be taken because the hotel declined to press charges.

Olson said Tuesday during his weekly press conference, that the team's lawyers would be contacting the Marriott Spring Hill Suites in Lawrence, Kan.

In addition to a possible lawsuit, the $80 restitution UA assistant coaches paid to the hotel following the alleged incident could be a violation of NCAA regulations. Under those rules, college coaches cannot pay for extra athlete benefits. At press time, UA Compliance Director Bill Morgan, as well as the NCAA administrative office, could not be reached.

Michael Moore, the desk attendant who received $80 from an unidentified Wildcat assistant coach, said he had not been personally contacted by any UA officials since the alleged incident occurred. Spring Hill Suites Manager Stephanie Bowler refused to comment on the investigation and has fielded all calls regarding the incident.

Athletics Director Jim Livengood has yet to release a statement or comment on the matter.

Rebekah Kleinman and the Associated Press contributed to this report.