UCLA head coach Ben Howland on if he discusses the Pauley renovation with recruits:
“Absolutely, all the time. That’s a huge selling point. Tha’ts a big deal for recruiting, to have all the changes and the new locker room space, the film room, training room, weight room, new complete scoreboard video board, the whole concourse, everything. It’s going to be fantastic. That’s what we’re doing here, taking 16 months – and it is a sacrifice not being able to practice in Pauley every day – it’s going to be more difficult to play all your games off campus for a year. In the long term and long vision of things, this is a great thing for UCLA basketball and for UCLA. Pauley is not only used for our basketball program but for many other courts. Equally important for graduation every year.”

On the timing of the renovations:
“I don’t know there’s ever a great time to move out for a year. I don’t think at any time you can say this is a good year to do it. I knew it was coming, nothing unexpected. I’m very, very positive about it. I think we can be a solid team next year no question. But I’m even more excited about what is happening to Pauley and what that means for the basketball program.”

On the floor:
“I think I’ve mentioned this – the thing I’m most excited about is getting a new floor for the players. Honestly, the floor in Pauley is a very hard floor put in over 45 years ago that has none of the modern technology to allow give. You ask Al Scates any of the former players, they would tell you the same thing. I have zero worry about the floor for next year. It will be fine.”

On practicing in the Sports Arena:
“That’s one thing that will be nice for us. They’ve made it so we’ll be able to do that some. Not a lot, but definitely some early on. I don’t see us doing that a lot, but we will definitely do that a few times for sure.”