Jerry Tarkanian hospitalized

LAS VEGAS -- Naismith Hall of Fame basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian, who led three schools to the NCAA tournament, is hospitalized in Las Vegas with breathing trouble and some type of infection.

Son Danny Tarkanian on Tuesday characterized his father's condition as "minute by minute."

The 84-year-old Tarkanian was taken by ambulance Monday to Valley Hospital Medical Center after his blood oxygen fell to dangerous levels.

"It was very scary," Jerry Tarkanian's wife Lois told the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Monday night. "The doctors don't know what happened. But unfortunately that's how these things happen."

Danny Tarkanian said doctors worked overnight to stabilize his father's condition and identify the infection, adding that his father was heavily medicated.

The Review-Journal had reported early Tuesday morning that Jerry Tarkanian was resting comfortably in ICU.

Tarkanian, who won the 1990 national title with UNLV, had been hospitalized several days in November for pneumonia. He also suffered a heart attack in April.

He retired in 2002 with a 729-201 record in 31 years at the Division I level, ranking 12th all-time. He spent 19 seasons at UNLV, compiling a 509-105 mark.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.