Answers, Part I

Folks, thanks for the questions this week. I am looking at 11 sets of answers throughout today, beginning with this one:

When will you come out with a preseason prediction? August after summer practice? Earlier?
Predictions on what? And it doesn’t make sense to predict how the team is going to be until I know who is going to be starting, and that may not be determined until late August or early September.

Did UCLA investigate building a new arena? If so, what factors went against building a new arena (other than can’t get rid of Pauley). Too costly to teardown Pauley, no viable location?
Yes, UCLA looked into a new arena, but at the end of the day the most influential person in UCLA basketball wants Pauley to be renovated and not knocked down, so athletic director Dan Guerrero is going to adhere to that request.

Can you give us information on Knoxville, TN? Where should we stay or hang out before and after the game?
I have no idea. I’ve never been there.

Brian, was the coaching staff stunned by Hinder’s commitment so soon to Cal?
Not that I’m aware of, and also I am uncertain if that commit will stick. I don’t think UCLA was 100 percent sold on Hinder, but I think by now they are ready to move on.

Are you planning to post a list of recruits at Junior Day?
If I can put one together, I will post it.

Will UCLA make a run at Noel Johnson for SG now that he’s de-committed from USC?
Not that I’m aware of. I checked into it and was told there was nothing there.

With UCLA’s top uncommitted QB prospect, Austin Hinder, comitting to Cal and seeming VERY solid, who do you anticipate the Bruins looking at next as their 2010 QB recruit?
I posted a partial list Wednesday, but there will be others added and some will be dropped. UCLA continues to look at national prospects, but I don’t think that is an avenue the Bruins will hit hard.

Does the coaching staff have a certain number of commits they’d like to get at their upcoming camp or will they just take what they can and continue to work for those commitments down the line?
They will take what they can get and continue working down the line. These are 17-year-old kids, so even if they go into the day thinking they will commit, something can change pretty quickly. And vice versa.