Answers, Part XI
Folks, thanks for the questions this week. Hopefully, the Branden Warner saga is over and we can all move on. Now, here is the last set of answers for the week:
What was Raymond Carter's reason for transferring?
He was buried on the depth chart and wasn't going to get a chance to play unless four or five guys were injured.
Do you think that the choaching staff's slow recruiting style is going to hurt this class similar to the Uko situation?
I don't know. If UCLA goes 9-3, then it will turn out to be a great decision because kids will be excited about going to UCLA. If the Bruins are 5-7, it could have a negative impact. This is a question that cannot be answered until signing day approaches.
When a player enters the NBA draft but does not hire an agent, he is allowed to have advisors. What is the difference between what agents and advisors do for the player?
Agents can pay for the players to eat, workout and get extra benefits. Advisors assist in player making a decision.
Around draft time in past years, it seems like every GM has something negative to say about Howland's style of play -- e.g. how it stifles creativity and how Howland coaches with a heavy hand, etc. Do you think this is true? Do the players feel this way?
Some do, especially the ones that believe they are gifted offensively and can offer more. But Howland believes greatly in the structure of a team, and he doesn't like the players to veer away from it. He is controlling, but that is not a revelation. All good coaches are controlling.
Given Neuheisel's much-noticed sideline treatment of Kevin Craft following bad plays last season, is there any chance that Norm Chow will trade the pressbox for the sideline this season to help protect his young quarterbacks from the wrath of Rick?
No, Chow is comfortable in the press box because he can see the game and analyze a defense. And Neuheisel stopped the all-out verbal attacks on Craft midway through the season, after a television camera picked up a really aggressive one. Neuheisel, I believe, thought it looked bad and didn't want it to appear as though he didn't like the kid.
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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.
Still holding out hope, BWarner will change his mind and goto UCLA.
Craft still got it from Neuheisel in the later half of the season. On TV, in person, Neueheisel's actions did not look good.
CRN's actions were not pretty; but Craft's play on the field hit every branch of the ugly tree.
The Brandon Warner saga is over?? You're kidding, right Brian?? You know as well as I do that you will be getting questions about him for the next 6 weeks, just like when the Toma kid snubbed UCLA for Notre Dame. Good luck to us all!
I think Kevin Craft's play looked much worse than Coach Rick's reaction on the sideline.
The questioner offering '...it seems like every GM has something negative to say about Howland's style of play," obviously didn't poll the Celtics Danny Ainge.
Ainge and coach Doc Rivers prize disciplined players who work as a team. Although Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen are all potential Hall of Famers, they thrive on working as a unit.
I doubt Kobe, argueably the best NBA player, could play within that system.
Young players who learn the Celtics system stay, those that want to showcase their 'creativity' will be shown the highway.
Talent being equal, I can't imagine there are many GMs who don't want the player who has experienced the high expectations of self-discipline such that Howland demands.
As one Executive put it, Howland coaches to win in college and he doesn't coach in the NBA. Translation, he is doing it the right way!! What ever style wins with your players you go with it.
Brian,
Why no mention of UCLA's 3 Day camp which starts today? Are covering it? Attendees? Where can we go get a list of attendees? Any information will be greatly appreciated.
haha, im totally with what peterucla said.
It would have been nicer if Neu stopped berating the boy because it was wrong, not because it hurt his own image.