Weekly Q&A

Who is that guy at ucla bb games who makes that annoying goat yelling in pain sound when the opposing team is shooting free throws? I know he's trying to distract the other team. It's the most annoying sound in the world. Plus it looks like he buys seats on both ends of the court so he can make that sound in both halfs.

Will Josh Smith start immediately at the 5 next year? That would make a decent lineup: Anderson - Lee - Honeycutt - Smith. Do you agree? Will this team play in March?

Do you see J'Mison Morgan getting any major minutes in the next two years?

Top candidates for next year's DT position are ...

Will Howland land the PG from Detroit??

Ben has resisted using a zone defense from day one. Even when we were so outclassed in final four games when offenses were killing the man on man he refused to make coaching changes. WHY!!

Jon - thanks for your hard work here and for the Twitter updates - I now follow you there as well. Here is a left over question from last week asked by a couple of us:
'A few weeks ago you had talked about a big time 'Silent Commit' for Football. Was that ever disclosed? (If so I missed it - who was it?) If not, what is the status?' Thanks.

Hi Jon,

I really enjoyed reading your observation on the Barr commitment. However, I believe that getting Malcolm Jones was just as big in terms of "selling the program." Considering he is a great student, that RB is not a position of need and his accomplishments in high school (Gatorade National Player of the Year), I believe that Neuheisel did a great job of showing what UCLA has to offer Jones (in football and beyond). And while he may not have the versatility of Barr, Jones did play LB as well as RB. Do you agree with this, or still think that the Barr commitment was bigger? Thanks for your time.

Does it appear CRN may be focusing on offensive skill players, of which he was criticized for at Wash and Colorado?

Why is Milton Knox in the dog house? Didn't play that much of final games.

With talk of the pre-NFL draft running backs you don't hear anything about Stafon Johnson. Do you think he'll be drafted? If not, would a strong senior bowl help?

Do you think that, as a coach, Ben Howland will gain more from this season then the seasons he took UCLA to the finals?

Can Stan Hasiak workout with the team while he is on suspension?

Are there any silent commits to the Bruins at this time?

Who is the strongest player on the football team?

How is the routine different during an official vs. an unofficial visit by a football recruit? For example, if an official and unofficial visitor are on campus the same weekend, what would happen for one and not the other? I already know the school pays for the official, but not unofficial, visitor.

How great would it be if UCLA's arena were as nice as SDSU's?

Does UCLA have a shot at Markeith Ambles? What about the wide receivers who have already committed to USC?

Is Mike Moser redshirting?

I know this is a bigger question than a sports blog needs/should deal with because there are so many other issues that go with it (and I do not know if you have been asked before) - but here goes anyway: Do you think the UCLA administration should "open things up" (to whatever degree) to make it "easier" for admissions of student athletes?

Will abdul-hamid return to the hoops team next year?

Are there any basketball recruits on the horizon that we have not heard about?
Any idea of the status of a rebuilt Pauley Pavillion?

Will Thigpen get buried deep in the depth chart next season behind Jones, James, and Franklin? Will THigpen move to cornerback?

Hoops: During a typical week of Pac-10 games, how many days and hours does the team practice?

What contribution should be expected from Stover throughout his career? BTW, is he red-shirting this year?

Am I the only one that thinks Anthony Barr will be a much better running back than Malcolm Jones. I know the coaches are going to give them both there shot at RB, and will likely move one to the defensive side of the ball. So I'm just wondering what your guess is as to how it all turns out.

Do you think you could do anything to eliminate the trolls on this site? The requirement to register for the chat was a great idea, now I think you should do that for comments as well so you can ban the trolls faster and more efficiently.

Jon are there any silent verbals for 2011? How many? What positions?

Thanks

did you hear anything about Anthony Barr's meeting with the coaches to determine the position he'll play? Everyone talks about him playing RB or LB, but with his speed, can he play SS?

Is Wade Yandall enrolled? If not, when?

I'm sure many of the followers of this blog will say one of the key days of the year is football's national signing day. Any plans for how you will be covering the signings? (Hint: I believe Dohn had postings throughout the day last year)

Has Coach Wooden (99 years young) been at any of the games at Pauley this season? I recall seeing him only at the Wooden Classic in Anaheim.

Scout has Owa going to Oregon or Nebraska. Do you think we have a chance with him, still? They also put D4 at USC. What about all the hoopla in the previous two weeks about him being a UCLA lean? Finally, do you have any contact with Biggins at ESPN or Brandon Huffman at Scout, or are you all trying to out-do each other?

Okay, we’ve seen the Bruins up and down a bit and seen most of the PAC-10. Who wins the league and where does the basketball team finish?

Bruins went pretty hard at recruiting Adbul Gaddy, but he honestly didn’t look like he’s was that big an impact player (so far). Thoughts and his performance versus UCLA?

Steve

Would I be too optimistic to think that Hasiak will be back on the team? And on a recruiting note, do you believe that we will round out the class with Pullard, Jefferson, Heimuli, Marsh and possibly Dargan/Riley?

Looks like Chase Stanback is doing alright with UNLV: 10 and 5. He didn't look too good at UCLA, did one year make a difference?

Could USC run of success in recruiting be over, considering UCLA has chances with recruits that are no longer considering USC such as Cassius Marsh, and Ricky Heimuli?

What is the difference between an official and unofficial visit? Are there certain things you are not allowed to do on an unofficial visit?

Do you think UCLA will land Brandon Dunson, Trey Zeigler or Ray McCallum?

Who is this QB Clayton Tunney on the roster and where did him come from?

What happened with Klay Thompson? Did he have an off day or did we do something right?

Jon, on average, how much would you say the athletic department pays for one recruit's official visit?

The zone seems to be a great thing for the bball team... Is it a function of a) the players we have, fitting them better, b) lack of zone in the Pac-10 with other teams less prepared (or maybe they can't shoot), c) a real change in philosophy for Ben or d) a temporary fix for the inexperience of the team, with a eventual (gradual) replacement of Ben's man-to-man over time?

a follow up to Curious Guy's question. The yelling guy never is on the band end of the court, so he can only distract shooters during one half, is this because ucla won't let him switch because of some perception that its unfair to the other team?

If UCLA gets a couple more recruits , say Jefferson, Heimuli, Pullard, and maybe Owa, who out of the recruiting clsss making a big impact next season. And who do you expect to redshirt and greyshirt? Also who may enroll early?

Jon,

Honeycutt getting back into it + the zone defense...do you think we have a chance to make it to the big dance? OR is the NIT in our near future?

JOn,

What's the word on QB Clayton Tunney transfer walk-on who'll be 23 in May and is coming back from a 2 year LDS mission?

Will he get a shot to get into the rotation?

Who do you like in the Superbowl?

Jon, is there a likely chance that UCLA can Pick up any sc commits like they did last year with R. Carroll

To the first poster asking about the "Free throw guy":

http://www.dailybruin.com/articles/2005/3/16/cheering-til-hes-blue-in-the-h/

Read that and stop being a typical LA fan who sits on their hands all game. Maybe if we had a few MORE fans like Mark Kowal, the Pauley atmosphere wouldn't be such a joke.

So sorry that a fan actually CHEERING and trying to create some semblance of a hostile environment for opposing teams is ANNOYING to you...

With us seemingly in good shape at OG (Baca returning starter, Williams returning starter, Taylor, Kia and Savage returning with previous starting experience) is there any talk of one of those guys moving to DT - maybe Savage since he has previous DL experience?

Any word on EJ Woods? Where did he transfer?

What do you think the depth chart on offense will look like come spring?

so when are you going to post your bio?

while it has much to do with how good they perform next year, do you see rahim moore or ayers bolting to the nfl after their jr. years?

Do you think coach Caldwell can put the Lady Bruins at the top of the PAC10?Do you agree she was a great hire?

Have you thought about making each q & a a topical thing? For example one day it'll be all recruiting questions. Another day it would be all basketball questions. All football 09 questiings. All basketball recruiting. All hypotheticals and so on and so forth. Just a thought.

Speaking of Josh Smith, what is the status of the football player Josh Smith? what are his chances of playing next year?

Speaking of Josh Smith, what is the status of the football player Josh Smith? what are his chances of playing next year?

Great job on the blog, Jon. My question is--do Bruins who have graduated ever come back to work with the current players on their games eg. Walton or Kareem working with the big men in BB?

How many coaches can a football team have, and does UCLA fill all of those positions? Do graduate assistants count as coaches?

With USC unable to participate this year, what will be the format of the Pac-10 basketball tournament?

What's the plan for Sean Sheller next year? Still on the team? If so, still at DT? Or back to OL?

Do you think CBH's stubborness of sticking with man on man defense helps him land recruits with an eye on the NBA? Do you think his use of the man on man defense helps his players make it/succeed in the NBA?

Will there be any more commits before signing day, or will the remaining prospects wait until signing day to announce? - Andrew from Placentia.

Any chance Savage gets a look at DT?

hope this gets in.
any word on football players who will compete in track and field? especially, Randall Carroll in the sprints.
but also Thigpen (hurdles/sprints), Rosario (jumps), Savage (throws) and anyone else?

Jon, is the spring practice schedule out yet? and do you know any details on the spring game? (location, date)

Jon,

How do you think the basketball teams recent struggles will affect our ability to land McCallum or Zeigler? Would theses guys see an oppertunity to get immediate playing time or will they look to teams that are doing better this year?

Do you have any info on the julious moore decommiting rumors?

I wanted to give you some love Jon, you are doing a fine job.
Two part Question.
Let's say we dont land McCallum, will we still bring in another PG like D.Bruton,Lebradford Franklin or Jordin Mayes?
How are we looking in the Terrence Jones Hunt? I think he is a HUGE prospect for us.Can CBH pull some RN Magic?

Jon, Great get with marsh, but we may now loose J.Moore to academics.
Has there been a late push for any other DT's outside Heimuli and Espenesa? Goggins, Mahoney or a sleeper?
What's the back up plan if Julious does not choose to greyshirt?
Also, I am a huge fan of Marquis Jackson, who I think is more well rounded than his twin Malik.Can you find any J.C. video from last year or provide thoughts on him?Thanks Jon

one last Q for you Jon, SC put together in my opinion the best LB class in NCAA history last year.Muleuaga,Cushing,Matthewes,Maiva.
you can only pick one.Who should get the praise for that Petey or Norton....Nice to see Norton be like a tree and leave.

Hey Jon, I was wondering with some guys leaving early, what you think the starting offense and defense would look like for next year? (and what commits you think can start) thanks

Jon, we always hear about the different entrance requirements between UCLA and other schools. I understand this but how is UCLA's different than say, Cal's as they are both UC schools? Aren't they bound by the same rules?

Hi Jon, week or so ago you had a post entitled, "Price on front of ESPN draft", which, in the comments section, one or more readers pointed out that some/all of the info was from the ESPN website but that ESPN was not credited in the post. While I know most sports fans think this is trival imagine you and your editor(s) wouldn't think so if this were brought to your attention.

So what is your bio?

Do you at least wear blue to the games?

Jon,
If Bullough gets an oppurtunity to be a head coach or struggles as a DC in the future, do you think CRN goes after Ken Norton? Is that relationship fixed or has that ship passed?

Is the pastrami at Agoura's better than Langer's?

I did not see Bobo on the bench in Eugene, whats up? Any concern he will transfer, I still see a lot of potential in that kid and would hate to see him leave.