Answers, part V

If UCLA's next road opponent uses a basketball brand other than adidas, does the team practice with that brand of ball in the days leading up to the game?
I don't think so. It's a freakin' basketball. If you can play, you can play. It doesn't matter if you're using Spaulding, Nike or Nerf.

Do you think Craft showed any improvement this year? If so, how?
I'll say yes, but only because I talked to the coaches and was told about how he was looking guys off better, or making better decisions. But the changes were very subtle, and not what was needed.

Jill said you send the interns down to OC on Chick-Fil-A runs...what's up with that?
We have interns?

Aside from strict man-to-man, what is Howland's overall defensive philosophy and some of the strategies that support it?
He likes to double team low in the post, he doesn't want guys to gamble for steals because they create holes in the defense and he wants his guys to move their feet and keep their hands active, but not reach for the basketball. He also will send as many guys to the defensive boards as needed to control things there.

Does Howland think every loss could have been a win with better defense? Or would he ever admit UCLA lost on the offensive end?
I've heard him talk about the need to score more. He said that after the Texas loss. He said there were some problems on defense, but placed a lot of the blame for the loss on the stagnant offense.

I have heard from some K-State fans that they are trying to buy out next year's game at the Rose Bowl (typical Bill Snyder). Do you know anything about this? Could we fill an opening with a quality opponent on such short notice?
It is the first thing I thought of when I found out Snyder was hired. However, I was told K-State has not contacted UCLA about it, and it could be a problem since K-State still has two other games to fill on the 2009 schedule. That said, I am not counting on that series being played.

We know Walker is good at creating good overall defensive schemes .Is he also good and coaching the fundamentals and developing individuals?
I believe he is, which is why his schemes seem to work so well, especially as a season continues. I look at the development of players during a season, and I usually see a lot of improvement in production.

Do you think UCLA would ever invite Gonzaga as its opponent in the Wooden Classic?
Technically, UCLA does not invite the opponent. The folks that run the event makes the matchup, but UCLA does have a say in it. I don't see Gonzaga being invited to play UCLA because it would break from Howland's formula, and that is to bring in a decent team with some name recognition, but also one that should not present the opportunity for a loss.