Q&A time, plus ...

In the paper, you quoted Western Kentucky’s coach as saying UCLA “is recognized as one of the five or six best programs in the country in college basketball traditionally”. I’m guessing some Bruin fans, considering UCLA has the most titles of any team, would consider that a slap in the face. Where specifically do *you* rank UCLA ‘in college basketball traditionally’?

Has Coach Howland indicated why Keefe has passed Aboya on the depth chart? I like the minutes Keefe has put in but Aboya has played a key role on two Final Four teams including the Championship game two years ago. Does he feel Keefe is more capable of producing offensively?

Occasionally there are basketball recruits who don't seem to deliver as much as had been expected when their time comes - you recently answered a question about Keefe in this regard. Do you have any explanation for this as a systemic/recurring problem at UCLA? As an example, would you say the players are overly restricted to certain roles and limited from stepping outside those roles by the coaching staff? This is expected to a certain extent at most programs, but the degree to which it happens may be an important factor here. Keefe is not gonna be allowed to be a scorer as much as a k-love or a dc, but has that hampered his development on the offensive side of the court, or is there another factor?

In your Q&A answers, you mentioned Duke's lack of inside presence as a problem. How close to the UCLA teams of the past two years were they in that aspect? Before they exited the tourney, had you considered Duke to be weaker than those two Bruin teams?

I know your focus is on this year now, but have you had any discussions with Howland about next year's squad? Since we most likely will lose Love do you think we will see 4 guard lineups (like he used at N. Arizona) with Shipp playing power forward? If Love, Collison and Westbrook all declare, who do you see as the starters next year (I know it's hard to project the freshmen)?

Do you think the Hilltoppers' mascot is the evil twin brother of Grimace?

Do you think the Hilltoppers' mascot is the evil twin brother of Grimace?

Brian, two questions.

Have you heard anything from the football coaching staff on why Darius Savage has jumped up to the 1st-string at OG for spring practice?

If the UCLA basketball team wins its games this weekend, will either you or Jill be covering the first week of spring practice for football?

I believe you've alluded to this in the past, but what is your opinion of Josh's slump and everyone's claims that he is still confident? Has he lost the fire in his eye from where you're standing?

Brian, the purpose for this blog isn't really for fun, is it? I believe the purpose for the blog is to create a lot of hits for the Daily News under your name and make you look good to your publishers.

Brian, the purpose for this blog isn't really for fun, is it? I believe the purpose for the blog is to create a lot of hits for the Daily News under your name and make you look good to your publishers.

Assuming that UCLA wins the basketball championship, can the school use that to promote the football program?

Assuming that UCLA wins the basketball championship, can the school use that to promote the football program?

Who was the tall, dark-haired woman who came out of the stands at the Honda Center to accompany Coach Howland after both games?

Brian, 2 questions

1. This may be a strange question but here it goes. Does the basketball team during the regular season or during the tournament see a sports psychologist? To help them relax or get them mentally prepared for the tournament.

2. Do you think the reason why Ben Howland doesn't give his players more offensive freedom is because they might exhaust themselves to much and not have any energy to play his type of defense?

When do you believe UCLA will get its next football commit? Are there any prospects you expect to commit?

When do you expect another UCLA football commit? Also who do you expect to commit anytime soon?

If Collison and Westbrook both remain in college, do you see a possibility of Jrue Holiday starting as a freshman over Josh Shipp? Also, are any of UCLA's current assistant coaches in the running for any head coaching jobs?

What kind of schooling did you go through to reach your current position? Can you list jobs you may have previously had? I'd love to do color commentary for UCLA football games. Any chance someone who isn't a graduate of UCLA could land such a job?

Is James Keefe working on his free throws as hard as Shipp is working on his 3's? Does he close his eyes when shooting FT's? When I see him fouled, I find myself wishing that was Mata going to the line (how sad is that??). Keefe is going to cost us a game at the FT line of of these days (35%... yikes!). Maybe he should take Russell Westbrook to practice with him while he is at it.

Brian I do not understand why we are behind on recruiting for 2009. You have said that they are installing an offense for spring practice and that is one reason but i do not understand it... Whats there to install? Cant Norm Chow bring his playbook from say USC and just go from there

Though it's never really been discussed, do you think Howland may go to the NBA one day? I know he loves UCLA and has many times said UCLA is his dream job.

Which of the UCLA players participating at Pro Day do you think will ultimately be selected in the NFL draft? Do you think Bruce Davis or any other UCLA player will be chosen in the first three rounds?

If both Collison and Love go pro, what is the likelihood that Ben Howland has another last minute recruit up his sleeve? (Similar to the way he got Westbrook.)

Were you surprised that Ben Braun was fired at Cal? Do you think that Ernie Kent or any other Pac 10 coach will be fired now that the season is over? Have you heard whether Mike Montgomery is interested in getting back to college coaching?

To clarify my comment above about 4 guard lineups next year, I understand Luc will still start but I was wondering if Luc went to the bench, could you see Shipp playing the 4. Sorry for the confusion

Does Howland ever seem concerned that his half-court offense can be rather stagnant? He's got a pretty quick and athletic lineup and yet, instead of loosening the reins on those guys and letting them play, the offense is controlled and predictable, often devolving into Collison dribbling around the top of the key. Because that also often happened with Farmar, I assume that's the scheme he believes in -- or it wouldn't keep happening. But do you sense he ever has second thoughts about it? Hard to argue with his success, with everything he brings to the table, but I'm starting to wonder if he's such a defensive guy he could use some help on offense.

Do you feel that Coach Howland is a poor offensive coach? While defense is often key to our victories, it seems like time and again our team struggles because of inability on the offensive end. After all, holding an opponent to below 60 points is great, but if you can barely score 60 yourself, is that much better?

Why haven't Matt Lee and the other two guys at the end of the bench been suiting up for the NCAA games?

1. Are you aware of Coach Daniels or any of the other assistants being "hot" commodities for head coach openings, either specifically or in general? Also, does a guy like Daniels have an agent for career advancement purposes?
2. If Howland stays at UCLA for another decade or more, do you think he will develop a coaching "tree" of assistants who go on to be successful head coaches? One thing I remember about Harrick is that a lot of his assistants (e.g. Romar, Gottfried) did that.

Read a stupid comment posted on ESPN's article on Howland. Basically he said that Howland isn't able to develop talent. I can run through a whole list of disappointments and nobody's that became someone after Howland got a hold of 'em, but I'd like to get your take on it.

2 questions:

1) do u know of any players, coaches, or even any kind of famous person that check this blog regularly? if so, can u name them, or maybe give some hints? u rock star u....

2) since there has been so much complaining about things on this blog... do u think youd be happier or just as happy with reporting on another team, or would u consider reporting on ucla your "dream job"?

Questions about the football coaching staff.

1. Who is the new assistant coach assigned as the recruiting coordinator for football?

2. Who are the new graduate assistants and what are their responsibilities?

Thank you

Questions about the football coaching staff.

1. Who is the new assistant coach assigned as the recruiting coordinator for football?

2. Who are the new graduate assistants and what are their responsibilities?

Thank you

Looking around the Pac 10 I have noticed that we are not truley behind many of the schools in the Pac 10 based on commitments. Are we behind based on our standards at this point?

Is there ever going to be a way in which one can delete their own comment after it has already been posted? I mean sometimes it does not come across the way it was originally intended and then it would be wise to have that ability... you agree?

How tall is Kevin Love really? UCLA lists him at 6-10, but I've heard he's shorter and have seen articles where he's listed anywhere from 6-8 to 6-11. Is there any kind of rule of thumb about which players get their dimensions listed accurately by their team, and which get a "boost"? The Lopez twins, for example, are they really 7'?

I heard an interview with Coach Walker where he was praising Glen Love. What is your impression of Glen Love? Do you think he has a reasonable shot of starting at safety over either Lockett or Ware?

Where is fan favorite Matt Lee? He has been missing from the bench since the Pac-10 Tournament is is nowhere to be seen in the NCAA Tournament.

Hi Brian, can you give us your take on the win against WKU and Keefe's impact? What's your read of the Xavier game? Thanks

With Love probably turning pro and Mata graduating, do you think that Keefe will spend some time at center next year?

With Love probably turning pro and Mata graduating, do you think that Keefe will spend some time at center next year?

With Love probably turning pro and Mata graduating, do you think that Keefe will spend some time at center next year?