Answers, Part II
Here is the second set:
For the Pauley Renovation, are they planning on keeping the student section along the court?
I don't know. There are a lot of different ideas being circulated, and one has the students moving away from the court a bit more.
When you go out to lunch with Andrew Zimmern, will you go with the scorpions on shrimp toast or Wolfgang Puck's tempura chicken testicles?
Scorpions on shrimp toast. I don't know if I can handle the other thing. But, man, how great is his show?
Any chance that ATV or Reggie Carter declare for NFL draft following this season?
I don't see it. I think if either one does, it would be a huge mistake. I know Carter is talking about making a decision after the season, but in all honesty, he's not ready. He's not a guaranteed NFL guy.
Any reason to believe the football coaching staff will be able to get JUCO OL transfers this year when they were unsuccesful last year, i.e., Donnie Edwards?
Well, it was Donovan Edwards last year, and the staff can get JUCO OLs this year, but the question is whether or not those players are any good. When it comes to getting a good JUCO OL, I think that is a 50-50 proposition.
How is UCLA doing with elite junior reciever Robert Woods?
Fine, but I'm sure a lot of schools think they are doing well with him. I do know UCLA is about to ratchet up its junior recruiting.
Should the fact that Moute is doing well in the NBA be interpreted as Howland not knowing how to utilize his talents? Howland has been accused of not allowing his players talents to truly shine....do you believe there is any relevance to these claims?
I think it is too early to say Luc Richard Mbah a Moute was not utilized correctly at UCLA. One month doesn't a career make, as they say. And another thing is Mbah a Moute is also healthy, and had a long time to put in hard work on a jump shot without any other distractions, like school.
Does Howland ever have any fun with the basketball players? Or is it hoops 24/7?
I don't know because I am not around during practice to see how he interacts, but I suspect it is mostly hoops. I do know during road trips there aren't a lot of fun excursions.
Assuming DeWayne Walker wants a HC position at a Division 1 school, in your opinion is he better off taking a job now, or waiting until the UCLA program turns around and trying to get a higher profile job?
To me, it depends on the program to offer right now. I don't think he should jump at a Wyoming or UNLV, but a San Diego State would be a good fit. The thing Walker has to consider is whether or not he thinks his window of opportunity is closing for a head job, and weigh that against whether that window will be open in three years if UCLA turns it around.
How are the football recruits who originally committed to UCLA and then backed out (Hamani Stevens, Walker's kid)
I know Kevan Walker is red-shirting, and I do not believe Hamani Stevens is playing.
6 Comments
Leave a comment
About Inside UCLA
This is Brian Dohn's sixth season covering UCLA after spending 4 1/2 years covering the Dodgers for the Daily News and other Los Angeles Newspaper Group papers. He graduated from Rutgers, where the first college football game was played in 1869. Sure, the Scarlet Knights suffered for a long time, but now RU is doing what Jerseyans always thought was possible. Winning at Rutgers also proves winning is possible everywhere else in the nation, so underachieving coaches better be careful. Now, if only men's hoops can turn it around.
Man... the student section is ALREADY too far away from the court. Other arenas have the students right there in the players' faces, and that creates a much more intimidating (and loud) climate. I was hoping they would move closer.
mindshed:
The Student section is already on the floor level between the baskets, how close do you want them to be?
New Scenario:
Now here is what WOULD be nice. Move the old donors across the court from the teams instead of behind them. Then move the students behind the player benches so that their intensity is given to the opposing teams and it would also be seen on TV.
That will never happen because the donors who are giving who knows how much money would have a serious cow about it and complain.
It did take some guts for Guerrero or Dalis (I forget who approved it) to rearrange the student section before...maybe it'll happen again!
Mbah A Moute came in as a relatively lightly recruited player and became Pac-10 freshman of the year. I think his other offers were from Georgia and South Carolina. Hardly hoops powerhouses. He was clearly hurt the last 2 years. He had none of the explosiveness he had as a freshman. Russell Westbrook wasn't a high school superstar either. Its hard to knock Howland's track record of winning and getting guys ready for the NBA.
Pauley has always felt sterile compared to other places. It's because they always cater to the old alumni who just sit on their hands versus the students who bring energy.
Bailey:
Other places have the student seats on the edge of the court (we have $1000+ fold-up chairs for boosters on the court instead), and little or no walking room (they leave by walking up the stairs, not down onto the floor). That is far more intimidating.
Bailey, Pete Dalis did absolutely nothing for students. They don't have big bucks to donate, therefore they are unimportant.