1-on-1 Howland Interview Preview
Here's some assorted quotes from my one-on-one interview with Ben Howland on Wednesday.
JG: In a word, describe this season for you.
BH: I don't know that I could describe a season in one word. One word? I can't paint this season in one word. This season has been a real tough one. The fact that we started out really poorly, got off to a slow start just in terms of how we were playing. We were very young. It's been a tough year. If you had to say a word...tough.
JG: When did you first sense that this season might not go the way you want?
BH: We knew this was going to be a transition year, especially losing the group that we lost a year ago - those three seniors had been involved with some very good teams during their tenure - but also the fact we lost Jrue. I knew when Holiday was going to go pro that it was going to be much more difficult. He was a kid who, had he returned, it would've been much better for us and in the long run would've helped him, even though he's starting right now for Philadelphia. I just think he would've been drafted a lot higher coming out this year and that would've helped him. And also, the experience. You see, for example, Darren Collison, who stayed for four years, how much that's enhanced is year this year. He's been great. That being said, we knew it was going to be a transition year. Going into this year I knew it wasn't an automatic that Drew Gordon was going to be able to have the kind of year I expected him to have. There were a number of question marks going into the season.
JG: At what point during the season did you realize things weren't going to end up like the last few years?
BH: You keep saying it like I've given up on the season. You're talking about it like the season is over, and I'm not looking at it like that.
JG: OK, then talk about the optimism you still have left?
BH: We have seven games left in the regular season, a diff stretch with five of those seven on the road. You never quit. You're never going to give up. I'm hoping we can continue to improve. We had won four of our last five into Saturday's game, and we lost to the first-place team. A senior-laden group. We're in a tough point right now, going into the road swing, but one thing you've seen in the Pac-10 this year, anything can happen. Anything's possible. I'm not looking right now, I'm not at a point of reflection, looking back at what's happened. I'm still looking forward.
Bruinjeffy - you are out of your mind.
Jon Gold - You are out of your mind.
UCLA still has a shot to win the Pac-10. Why is this such a disappointing season for everybody? With the recent phenomenon of "one-and-done" the entire basketball landscape has shifted. One team can be the bee's knees one year, and then at the cellar the next year - and there is essentially not much coaches can do but keep coaching and recruiting. Look at the talent BH has recruited during his tenure - it is absolutely remarkable. If it were not for players leaving early, this year's squad would have Westbrook, Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday, etc. Could you imagine what kind of a powerhouse team that would be? Probably one of the best college teams ever assembled. Howland cannot force phenomenal players to stay, just like he cannot force slow-blossoming players to develop at a monumental pace (i.e. honeycutt, lee, anderson). Even top-prospect players may need years to truly develop, and I have complete confidence that Ben Howland is the best coach in the country for UCLA. He forces his players to learn his successful style of play (THREE STRAIGHT FINAL FOURS!!!), which not only brings an unfathomable amount of wins for the basketball program when the players have developed into their potential, but also gets his players more ready for the NBA than any other program. Please stop reinforcing the stereotype of UCLA basketball fans requiring national championships every year, because it is so completely unrealistic in today's college basketball atmosphere I would think you received your "education" at a different school in LA.
Bruinjeffy is a toejam troll. SUC dummies are so obvious.
I wouldn't want to read the questions not chosen for this preview. Unfortunately, we lost four starters and our fifth has been more of a liability than an asset. Compounding this is other Seniors who are roll players at most and our best player transferred. Granted, Howland has made some seemingly questionable calls but this all amounts to Murphy's Law. So let's roll with the punches here and be thankful for what we have.
our best player transferred?