Ben Howland

[GoMuskies]

Does he get fired this year? I know he had a nice run of Final Fours, but he's had some awful teams the last couple of years. This year's squad was supposed to be better, but they got squashed by what is likely a horrible LMU team in front of about 5,000 people at the LA Sports Arena (this attendance is even more pathetic when you consider that LMU is an LA team as well). I think the end may be very near for Howland.

[Xavier]

I know he had a rough year last year, but just a short time ago he went to three Final Fours in a row I believe (I could be wrong). I think you give a guy like that another year.

[GoMuskies]

I know he had a rough year last year, but just a short time ago he went to three Final Fours in a row I believe (I could be wrong). I think you give a guy like that another year.

They've missed the last two Tournaments. At UCLA, I think this year is his "another year".

OK, I'm wrong. They were actually not that bad last year and won an NCAA Tournament game. He may be on shaky ground, but it's not as bad as I thought.

[xsteve1]

Don't think he'll be getting fired. He's got a real good recruiting class coming in next year led by Kyle Anderson. I think they fire Neuheisel though.

[SixFig]

Was at the game. UCLA had no hustle, no heart. I didn't help that LMU had more students there than UCLA. I expected more from such a legendary program.

Next year UCLA will have Kyle Anderson and be back in Pauley Pavilion. Unless UCLA want to roll the dice and try for Brad Stevens, Ben Howland will be there.

[Cheesehead]

how does a program like UCLA only draw 5,000?

[waggy]

I don't know about Josh Smith. Basically he's just huge. He doesn't play all that great offensively, and he's too big to play a lot of minutes.

I watched the LMU game and they have a guard that had a huge game. He was too quick for the bigger UCLA guards. Anderson, an LMU forward, is a really nice looking player with athletism and range. I actually was thinking while watching the game it would be nice have him in a Muskie uni. He had a big game too.

UCLA has some pieces with the Wear twins, Nelson (?), and bigger guards. Probably finish 3rd or 4th in the PAC12. Bubble team probably.

Howland will get a pass this year with the Pauley renovations going on.

[SixFig]

UCLA wasn't playing in Pauley Pavilion (undergoing renovation) but at LA Sports Arena which is basically on the campus of USC. Their season ticket holders were already pissed about the change (think about going back to the Cincinnati Gardens for a year, except move the Gardens to UC's campus), but listening to Bruin Talk on the way home they are about to boycott the entire year.

Jeez, you'd think after all those national championships everything would be sunshine and rainbows.

[Xavgrad08]

UCLA went to the NCAA tournament last year and made it to the second round. I think Howland will get one more year. Ironically, Howland was mentioned as a candidate at NC State. If he gets fired this off season, he will really regret not leaving.

[XUFan09]

Unless this year absolutely sucks, they'll give him next year, I bet. Kyle Anderson has been described by some as knowing the game of basketball better than any player in the past decade. I don't think the program would want to miss out on that. And right now, Shabazz Muhammad, the #1 player in the class, is also considering UCLA.

[LA Muskie]

UCLA wasn't playing in Pauley Pavilion (undergoing renovation) but at LA Sports Arena which is basically on the campus of USC. Their season ticket holders were already pissed about the change (think about going back to the Cincinnati Gardens for a year, except move the Gardens to UC's campus), but listening to Bruin Talk on the way home they are about to boycott the entire year.

Jeez, you'd think after all those national championships everything would be sunshine and rainbows.

Plus add to that the fact that most UCLA season ticket holders probably live within 20 mins of Pauley, but would have to brave hour-long (at least) rush hour traffic for many of the games.

That said, I've been to UCLA games (I live in Westwood). The fan base is *far* from rabid...

[waggy]

sqaushed by what is likely a horrible LMU team

LMU celebrated their win over UCLA by losing at home to Middle Tenessee State today.

[SixFig]

LMU celebrated their win over UCLA by losing at home to Middle Tenessee State today.

Indeed...indeed

[jco17]

UCLA's guard play is awful. Howland made some serious recruiting blunders and stopped recruiting players that best fit his system. He plays a methodical, slow it down, boring half court offense, and attempts to grind out basketball games. He was bringing in players who are up tempo, get out and run types of players and that's just not his system. The only reason he's been able to bring in Jordan Adams and Kyle Anderson is because he hired a coach that had great ties to both of them. Believe me, he wouldn't have gotten either of them if he hadn't made that hire and would be on a much hotter seat.

[GoMuskies]

Kyle Anderson better hurry up and get there. 20 point losses to Middle Tennessee aren't helping the cause.

[Billy]

That deal last night was a thrashing. But all was good because I took the 11 points...which was a gift line considering that MTSU is a pretty solid team.

I don't care where they're playing, that crowd last night was disgraceful.

[smileyy]

He was bringing in players who are up tempo, get out and run types of players and that's just not his system.

He also stopped bringing in multiple 1st round draft picks and future NBA All-Stars, it seems like.

[xufan02]

Ben Howland will struggle to recruit at the highest level with Sean @ Arizona.

[XUglow]

Hooray for Kermit Davis, Jr. Made some bad decisions as a young man, and it looked like his basketball career was over. MTSU is a long way from being back in the limelight, but it beats selling cars.

[Billy]

Ben Howland will struggle to recruit at the highest level with Sean @ Arizona.

Too much inventory in that part of the world for one program or one coach to make a big difference. Besides, Sean's grabbing kids from everywhere.

My guess is that a.) guys don't want to play for Howland because he's getting the rep for being a pain in the ass to play for and b.) the arena issue has been a drag on the sales value of the university.

[GoMuskies]

UCLA thrashing Chaminade 40-38 at the half.

[Juice]

Howland has handled the Reeves Nelson situation wonderfully (insert fart noise)

[GoMuskies]

I'd hate to leave Ben Howland's friends at USC out of the fix. They lost 42-36 to Cal Poly over the weekend. I'm not sure why they didn't play the second half of that one, but it is what it is.

[GoMuskies]

UCLA lost to St. John's over the weekend. Was that the nail in the coffin for Howland?

[SixFig]

Not with Kyle Anderson (aka the new Magic Johnson) coming in next year

[LA Muskie]

UCLA lost to St. John's over the weekend. Was that the nail in the coffin for Howland?

Not a chance. Had lunch with a well positioned UCLA alum last week. Ben's still beloved there for the way he runs his program, and his 2012-13 recruiting class has bought him at least 2 -- if not 3 -- years regardless.

[GoMuskies]

Hmm, good recruiting class, eh? I say that buys him a year. Better win with those studs.

[Xman95]

Hmm, good recruiting class, eh? I say that buys him a year. Better win with those studs.

Hey, it's not like dayton where every recruiting class results in a pre-season league championship!!!

[doug204]

Not a chance. Had lunch with a well positioned UCLA alum last week. Ben's still beloved there for the way he runs his program, and his 2012-13 recruiting class has bought him at least 2 -- if not 3 -- years regardless.

Sports Illustrated is releasing an article tomorrow that could expose the entire program, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

[SlimKibbles]

Sports Illustrated is releasing an article tomorrow that could expose the entire program, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

Just read up on what's it's rumored to be about. Player abuse and rampant drug use by players? Yikes.

[doug204]

Just read it and it's not that bad. If anyone gets in trouble it'll probably be Dan (the AD)

[LutherRackleyRulez]

Per SI.com.....






Special Report:
Not the UCLA Way






http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/magazine/02/28/ucla/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a2

[GIMMFD]

Oh man, wow. How is that even allowed at a program? Drinking and smoking weed before practices? Are you serious? Intent to injure DURING practices?

[SlimKibbles]

Oh man, wow. How is that even allowed at a program? Drinking and smoking weed before practices? Are you serious? Intent to injure DURING practices?

Reeves Nelson sounds like he was a real winner.

[danaandvictory]

Just read it and it's not that bad. If anyone gets in trouble it'll probably be Dan (the AD)

God, George Dohrmann just seems like a colossal douche. This and the Tressel "expose" are written as though he's discovered the real Kennedy assassin and yet it boils down to college kids drinking and Howland being an aloof dick. He needs to retire to the fainting couch and clutch his pearls posthaste.

[GoMuskies]

The Reeves Nelson stuff is pretty bad for Howland. This article certainly isn't going to have UCLA fans fired up to have Howland stick around and coach Kyle Anderson.

[doug204]

The Reeves Nelson stuff is pretty bad for Howland. This article certainly isn't going to have UCLA fans fired up to have Howland stick around and coach Kyle Anderson.

Shabazz Muhammad and Tony Parker were pretty much locks to go there. Some hours ago, the NCAA released a warning to all schools involved with Shabazz that he may not qualify. Just went from bad to worse. If he can't get Shabazz he isn't getting Parker, which means UCLA will be flirting with mediocrity again.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/17511404/ncaa-warns-schools-to-be-wary-over-top-recruit-muhammads-eligibility

[LA Muskie]

I'm not a big Plaschke fan, but this column (http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0301-plaschke-ucla-20120301,0,3899848.column) pretty much explains the situation here on the ground, although I think he'll get 2 years with his recruiting class.

[LA Muskie]

The Reeves Nelson stuff is pretty bad for Howland. This article certainly isn't going to have UCLA fans fired up to have Howland stick around and coach Kyle Anderson.
UCLA fans don't care about the Reeves Nelson stuff. You have to realize this is LA -- where celebrities rule -- and they are almost always a-holes themselves. (There's a reason the press constantly makes a point of noting how wonderful Clooney is to everyone.) Like a big opening box office weekend, all they want is a win. Bring that home and you can have 9 million lives.

[GoMuskies]

Yeah, but he didn't get the wins with Nelson (or after him this year). Given how they've sucked/been average with good recruiting classes in the past, I'm not sure a good recruiting class will save him.

[LA Muskie]

Yeah, but he didn't get the wins with Nelson (or after him this year). Given how they've sucked/been average with good recruiting classes in the past, I'm not sure a good recruiting class will save him.

I don't either. But the university (ie, Guerrero) will give him the chance, because the university (ie, Guerrero) still loves him. And this article won't change that.

[GoMuskies]

That Plaschke article you posted makes it sound like Guerrero is distancing himself from Howland.

[LA Muskie]

That Plaschke article you posted makes it sound like Guerrero is distancing himself from Howland.

Guerrero's starting the process as cover for himself. But I'd be SHOCKED if Howland wasn't back next year.

[GuyFawkes38]

Dohrmann is a gifted writer. I don't understand why he's letting Sports Illustrated use him like this. His reputation has certainly taken a hit.