Coach Howland for National Coach of the Year

by Ajax on Mar 2, 2006 11:11 PM PST in Basketball

Let's get this thing started right now.

What he's done with these kids in such a short amount of time is amazing.

No excuses about age or lack of experience. (Are you listening Coach Dorrell?) Let's not even get into the injuries. If Coach doesn't, we shouldn't either.

Where would we be with a viable 3rd scoring option, I don't know, like Josh Shipp?

Coach Ben Howland for National Coach of the Year.

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C.O.Y.!!!!!

He has done more with less (injuries) this year then most coaches with a full strnegth lineup. I hope the AD is promoting Howland to win this award! GO BRUINS!!!!

by bruinelder on Mar 3, 2006 12:20 AM PST reply actions

Howland's team comes out and takes the game in overtime against one of the tougher team in Pac-10 on their home court with championship on the line. Dorrel's team gets assraped and humiliated against one of the worst team in the Pac-10 with championship on the line. I think in 2 years it will be pretty clear what a joke Dorrell is compared to Howland (an experienced, good coach with track record). It will be interesting to see what those Dorrell lovers have to say about Howland today. What a great win for the team. Howland for NCOY. GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Mar 3, 2006 5:44 AM PST reply actions

Believe me... there were Dorrell lovers

with smiles on their faces at halftime.

Ben Howland came into a program that was left for dead on the side of the road and not only has he brought Ucla back to respectability but won a Pac-10 championship in his 3rd season.

He is doing this with sophmores, freshmen and an injury plagued roster. If we had anything close to a full roster for more than 1 week, we win this conference going away and MAYBE have 2 loses. WITH FRESHMEN AND SOPHMORES!

Speaking of those Freshmen and Sophmores, they have more talent than the lavin leftovers and have regulated them to mop up duty. The talent cupboard is soon to be packed full in stark contrast to Coach Radio's cupboard.

He took a team that was loaded and went 6-6 with a bowl loss.

He has lived off of Toledo talent for the last three seasons.

He has failed to replace the departing talent with similar talent let alone better talent.

He uses every excuse in the book to explain his team's losses. It was Axman's fault. It was Kerr's fault. We are so young. Blah Blah Blah Blah.

I don't think that there is a single fan in the conference that doesn't think that Ucla BB is back and in full force.

On the other side of the coin, I don't think that there is a single fan in the conference that would mention UCLA FB and conference championship in the same sentance. Actually, I am wrong... One sentance could be "With Karl 'Radio' Dorrell at the helm, Ucla has no shot at winning the pac-10."

Anyway, while I am very happy to have shed some of the Lavin era demons with last night's conference championship win, I consider it just a little stepping stone to where Howland has this program headed... firmly entrench as one of the country's handful of elites.

by Bababullshat on Mar 3, 2006 10:19 AM PST up reply actions

Coach Radio

I couldn't believe some of the posts I have been reading another board that were comparing the 10-2 season to the 22-6 record before the Cal games. Lot of these dildos were probably hoping for a loss last night so that they could gleefully dump on Lavin today. Some clown was even posting up attendance numbers from last three season postulating how Howland is failing to revive this program. I really think its entire possible Howland's success will ulitimately chase Dorrell out of Westwood - exposing all of his shortcomings as a HC. The contrast will probably become even more obvious by the end of next season.

by Nestor on Mar 3, 2006 10:29 AM PST up reply actions

Baba ...

You ought to post that as a separate diary. Great take.

by bluestreet on Mar 3, 2006 10:32 AM PST up reply actions

What does Dorell have to do with Basketball?

I believe Howland was the subject of this thread. We should be praising him. You seem to always bring the focus on taking shots at KD. Why is this? Can you appreciate our basketball program without trashing the football? It's getting old.

by bruinelder on Mar 4, 2006 4:31 PM PST up reply actions

Here is the reason (if it's not obvious)

The hiring of Ben Howland and Howland's subsequent transformation of a floundering program has shined the light on what a terrible hire Dorrell was for a program that badly needed a Ben Howland.

Year three of the Howland era, PAC 10 Championship. Going into year 4 of the Dorrell era and there are holes all over the roster and the prospect of another mediocre season.

Next year UCLA BB will be a preseason top 5, at worst top 10. How about FB? With the BB program, the foundation is in place. With FB, we are in a perpetual state of rebuilding with one excuse after another about injuries, youth, coaches not being on the same page.

Bottom line: Ben Howland has exposed Karl Dorrell and the M&M's fateful decision to bring in an inexperienced head coach and hope that he grows through OJT.

Hey, at least he knows where to stand on the sidelines now, right!

by Ajax on Mar 5, 2006 10:21 AM PST up reply actions

Exactly ...

and we are going to hammer home the contrast between Dorrell and Howland time after time. After all Dorrell supporters on other boards on every opportunity jump on Howland to make excuses for Dorrell's mediocre performance. As the time passes by - Howland will make it even more obvious - what a sorry excuse of a coach Dorrell is turning out to be at UCLA.

by Nestor on Mar 5, 2006 11:11 AM PST up reply actions

LMFAO at the "Howland critics"

The very definition of cognitive dissonance.

Dudes are trying to prop up their pro-Dorrel agenda by criticizing Howland and his use of timeouts (as the sane part of the Bruin Nation relishes the brilliant accomplishment of Ben Howland).

LMFAO!

I can't understand how denigrating a proven winner somehow supports their agenda that Dorrell is a good coach. Can someone please explain this to me?

I can't wait to see what these idiots come up with next.

Where would the FB program be now if we had went out and brought in Urban Meyer instead of Dorrell? At a MINIMUM, we would not have been embarassed like we have been against Fresno, Wyoming, UA, and SuC. Maybe we'd even be nationally relevant again???

We will be on Dorrell and the decision to hire him until he proves that he can do what Ben Howland has done with the BB program. For those that don't like it, there are plenty of other websites around elsewhere on the Internets that believe that DOrrell is the next Bear Bryant.

by Ajax on Mar 5, 2006 8:24 PM PST up reply actions

I know I sound like I traitor

but I think Howland is one of 3 or 4 coaches who is worthy of being looked at for this honor, along with Bruce Pearl (Tennessee) and Bill Self (Kansas). Tennessee wasn't even supposed to be in the top 25, and right now they are leading the SEC East. Kansas lost a lot of players and looked like they might miss the tournament, and here they are competing for probably a 4 or 5 seed. Howland gets my vote for Pac-10 COY, and definitely deserves to be mentioned in the top 3 or 4 for National Coach of the Year, but I won't hold it against anyone if they pick Pearl or Self.

GO BRUINS. HOOK 'EM HORNS.

by uclawarren on Mar 3, 2006 7:35 AM PST reply actions

Speaking the truth never makes one a traitor

or anything remotely bad.

Frankly, I don't understand the blind faith that some people have...

As far as I am concerned, there are only 3 things to have blind faith in...

your kids
the man in the foxhole with you
your God

Other than that...

if something sucks, it's suckitude should be discussed.

if something is great, it's greatness should be discussed.

by Bababullshat on Mar 3, 2006 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

Agree on Pearl

UT has come out of nowhere, and Pearl has proven that he is the real deal.

Disagree on Self though. Kansas may be young, but they've got tons of talent.

by Ajax on Mar 3, 2006 9:18 AM PST reply actions

Let's Not Get Hasty!

I love BH like everyone else, but before the COY cheers begin in 2006, I need to see three things: (1) We need to beat Stanford and then win the Pac-10 Tourney, (2) BH has to save a timeout for the last 35 seconds, and (3) BH has to get us beyond the Sweet 16 (which he never did at Pitt)!!! GO BRUINS - BEAT 'FURD!!!

by charnaw on Mar 3, 2006 10:08 AM PST reply actions

Uhm ...

Lets give this TO nonsense a rest. And no ... a national COY award is not given best out on a tourney run. Its awarded based on how a team does in regular season. Given how this regular season has turned season - Coach Howland more than deserves a mention for Pac-10 COY. Except for Pearle no one has done so much for his team than Howland.

by Nestor on Mar 3, 2006 10:13 AM PST up reply actions

The "saving a timeout" talk is idiotic

because without howland's use of that timeout earlier, we might never have needed that timeout in the last 35 seconds.

Howland has a young team without much experience so he is doing the EXACT OPPOSITE of Phil Jackson's "let them play their way thru it".

When ever we have a couple of sloppy trips or the team is on a mini run, Howland calls a timeout to get his kids back on solid footing.

The problem with a young or inexperience players is their mental weakness and fragile psyci. When things start going against them, it can really snowball.

HE IS DEALING WITH FRESHMEN AND SOPHMORES FOR CHRISTSAKES!

Heck, his freshmen are inexperienced when even compared to other freshmen.

by Bababullshat on Mar 3, 2006 10:36 AM PST up reply actions

People lose sight of this all the time

These kids were playing HS BB 1 or 2 freakin' years ago. Mbah a Moute has played organized BB for 5 years, and he is already in the upper echelon of PAC 10 defenders/ rebounders.

3 short years ago, Lavin was losing to EA sports.

Ben Howland should write a book on how to turn a floundering BB program around.

by Ajax on Mar 3, 2006 11:11 AM PST up reply actions

Timeout re the timeouts

Ben Braun had 2 timeouts left at the end of OT last night. A lot of good that did Cal. F'ing ridiculous.

I do agree, though, that as admirable of a job as Howland is doing, national COY may be a bit premature. That said, I'm ready to jump on the bandwagon if UCLA finishes strong and wins a couple/few games in the tourney.

by Cocoman25 on Mar 3, 2006 1:41 PM PST up reply actions

Nice take Coco ...

What we can do though is to do as much as we can generate buzz on Ben Howland so that if we do win 2 games in the tourney and finish the season as clear cut winner of the pac-10, then there is no shred of doubt left as to who should be the NCOY. That is why Ajax is absolutely on the money to start up this chatter now. What a great topic to be talkign about. Our coach as the NCOY.

by Nestor on Mar 3, 2006 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

Great topic

I gotta agree with that. It's refreshing, and about a million time more fun, to be talking about NCOY for Howland, rather than arguing about whether Dorrell is mediocre or just plain bad.

So, buzz away. I'd love to see it. Do you think he has a legit chance at getting it again after winning it 2002?

by Cocoman25 on Mar 3, 2006 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

Well ...

If we win out the regular season and Pac-10 tourney - then I strongly believe Howland should be the unquestioned NCOY even if we fizzle in a huge first round upset. Because I think the COY award is determined before the tourney starts (someone please correct me if I am wrong).

by Nestor on Mar 3, 2006 1:56 PM PST up reply actions

Not sure how it works

I don't know if NCAA tourney performance is included in the NCOY equation. I suppose it depends upon exactly what award we are talking about. As far as I can tell, there are lots of NCOY honors out there, including the Naismith Award; the Henry Iba Award (presented by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association); and, the Adolph F. Rupp Cup. A NCOY also appears to be selected by the NABC, the Associated Press, The Sporting News, Basketball Times and CBS/Chevrolet.

by Cocoman25 on Mar 3, 2006 2:23 PM PST up reply actions

Yup

Just putin' it out there.

Ben HAS to be in any serious COY discussion. Of course, if UCLA got the coverage that big east schools got, hell, the coverage that ESPN give JJ Redick alone, it would make things alot easier.

People outside of Cali just don't understand how far this team has come in 3 years.

by Ajax on Mar 3, 2006 2:09 PM PST up reply actions

One last thing about timeouts

I'm sure you guys have noticed how effective we are out of timeouts in scoring. Coach always calls a timeout at the moment he see any chance of the other team having a run. What's the best way of stopping a run? Scoring your self. As stupid and obvious as that sounds, Coach is brilliant at managing the game to our pace and advantage. At any stoppage during the game, we are effective at getting great looks at the basket. During the Cal game, we had three out of bound plays in a row with great looks at the basket from two feet. I think Coach's use of timeouts and calling plays during dead time has been a great advantage for us this year.

by BruinMac04 on Mar 3, 2006 5:53 PM PST reply actions