Answers, Part VI

Do you think a lack of faith in the offensive line played a big factor in naming Cowan, with his ability to scramble, the initial leader at starting QB? In other words, if we had a strong, solid offensive line returning, do you think the coaching staff still would have picked Cowan over Olson?
I think that was a significant part of the equation, but there is more to it, I am told. Cowan was making quicker reads during the first week of practice, and since accuracy wasn’t a strong point with either, the mobility, quicker reads and, according to some of my sources, Cowan’s leadership all pushed him to the forefront.

did you hear anything about the potential recruitment of both renardo sydney and lance stephenson? Can you please describe what a bad fit student athlete would be for Howland's program?
UCLA is evaluating both of the players.
As I understand it, a bad fit is a kid who is selfish and not give up personal glory for the betterment of the team (like Westbrook and Love this season. Westbrook, at one time, was coming off the bench, and Love was setting 40 screens a game and getting the ball fed to him in the low post few times). Howland wants coachable guys willing to sacrifice, and he wants good kids who know they have to go to class, and cannot get in trouble off the court.

Also, did you hear anything about player's being disgruntled with Howland's intense practices and how it may affect recruiting and people leaving early?
I don’t think it is the intense practices that the players have problems with. The grumblings I always hear is a desire to play more up-tempo. I know Jordan Farmar wanted to run more, and Arron Afflalo wanted to post up more in the offense. I think not doing it to their individual liking contributed to them leaving, but it wasn’t high on the list. They both just wanted to play in the NBA. As far as recruiting, I think that speaks for itself. Other than Kevin Love, Howland has not landed a player from the United States who lives outside of California.

how many points and mins and rebounds do you think Love will avg as a rookie in the NBA? I think Afflalo averaged 3 pts per game this year as a rookie...
Depends on the team, but Love will be going to a different situation because he will be picked by a team in serious need of something. Afflalo went to a polished team because he went so late in the draft.
I can see Love averaging 8-10 points and 6-8 rebounds a game as a rookie.

Why didn't Neuheisel put his foot down and tell the players "no" when they said they were going over the wall?
Because he didn’t know they were going to do it until it took place.

Is Neuheisel too lax a disciplinarian to be an effective CFB HC? Will UCLA players walk all over him the next few years?
I smashed my crystal ball earlier in the week, so we will have to wait and see. It’s one of the biggest questions surrounding him.

Why do so many bball players bail out on Howland as soon as they can? It's hard to draw any conclusion other than the UCLA bballers can't wait to move on and get away.
Because they want to play in the NBA, and they are good enough to do so. It is also a style of basketball that isn’t prevalent (although it is successful), and running up and down the floor and shooting is much more fun than playing rigid defense.