Ben Ball News & Notes: Coach Howland's Season Wrapup

by Nestor on Apr 10, 2008 4:03 AM PDT in Basketball Comment 36 comments

I realize lot of folks including Coach Howland himself are upset with Diane Pucin’s Tuesday story in the LAT re. KL and DC going pro. Obviously since the story broke there has been strong so called denials from number of fronts about players and their families not reaching any kind of final decision (or not even having a discussion on it). In his season ending press conference during which Coach Howland addressed this specific issue and gave a detailed account on what and where the players have been since the tournament ended for us last Saturday.

Honestly, I don’t really care that much at this point re. how and when KL, DC, and RW (the Big-3) will announce their decision to go pro. I have already accepted that they are gone (and will be more than supportive of their decision when it comes to fruition) and no longer am emotionally invested and interested in following their moves step by step in the coming days. From godblesstyus95:

For those of you

who haven't seen this movie, I'm going to spoil the ending for you. If you would like to remain in suspense, read no further:

Howland addresses Love's, Collison's, and Westbrook's draft status during his press conference as "I have no comment on that at this time. I will allow these young men to announce their decisions on their own."

Love takes a few days to "talk about it" with his parents (because the topic certainly hasn't come up before-lol). Collison does the same.

Love and Collison hold their press conferences and announce (gasp!) that they will declare for the NBA draft and hire agents.

Westbrook, who during this time has received an assessment of his draft stock, shortly afterwards does the same.

There, sorry to ruin it for you.

All right Coach Howland did have comments and it remains to be seen whether or not the Big-3 hires agents (more on that below). However, the essence godblesstyus95’s post just about sums it up for me and is a reason why I couldn’t get worked up over Pucin’s jumping the gun on Tuesday. And honestly I am not a big fan of Pucin by any stretch of the imagination. However, I can see a scenario in which she got her information from sources not connected to the program who generally follow this draft scene. In any event, it happened. In the coming days it will all flesh itself out and the Big-3 will go pro. We will wish them well and keep discussing how the UCLA team is going to look next season depending on what happens with rest of their team-mates.

In terms of declaring for the NBA draft, Coach Howland had one extremely important piece of advice for our Big-3 (or anyone else contemplating going pro early):

"My recommendation, one of the things I told Kevin and I will tell the Westbrooks and the Collisons when I meet with them here in the next few days, is they should definitely not sign with an agent, even if they put their name in and then also keep going to school. You can’t even work out for a team until June; we don’t get out of school until June 13. But you’re not allowed to have an individual workout with an NBA team, I think it’s June 3 or June 5, but after Orlando [draft camp]. They are allowed May 3, if you put your name in the draft, to then schedule a workout with a player, but that workout cannot take place until June, after Orlando.

"The reason I don’t recommend they don’t sign with an agent until the draft, or after the draft, if they did leave their name in is because, like Brandon Rush, for example, last year. One of the reasons Kansas is national champion this year is Brandon Rush. [He] was gone; Bill Self told me that on Thursday at the Final Four. He was leaving, he blew his knee out playing basketball and therefore had the rehab and came back. You saw that — what’s the kid out of the University of Miami — [with Willis] McGahee. He was really compromised in his draft pick because of his blown knee in football for example.

Makes sense. Let’s see if those kids take him up on it. Now let’s move on our starters. Coach Howland had this to say about JS and LRMAM:

Howland acknowledged neither Shipp nor Mbah a Moute are projected as first-round picks, but as juniors, each could put their names in the draft, go through workouts with NBA teams and come back for their senior seasons.

Shipp said during the season he was returning to UCLA, and Mbah a Moute said Wednesday "I haven't really thought about it. I will, though. I'm meeting with (Howland) Monday or Tuesday."

While LRMAM met with CBH early this week (they might have met already), CBH gave us some compelling details re. AA2’s situation:

>> About Alfred Aboya, the Bruin coach said, "Let’s project and say Kevin did leave; Alfred you would look at, right now, as our leading candidate to be our starting center next year. If we were to lose him, we’ve already lost Lorenzo, that would be obviously, a huge loss. I hope that Alfred does come back; I hope he finishes his last year of college. I think he’ll have a great year, but again, that’s his decision. He has issues within family, for example; his dad is a diabetic and his mother has high blood pressure and they both need medications and they cost significant amounts of money. So he has that; that is a stress on him. There’s a lot of things that are hard of these kids to know and he has to make that decision. He still may not be able to finish the classes. For example, if Alfred goes and plays for the national team, he may not be able to finish the classes in the summer and he would have to come back because graduation from college is the No. 1 priority for that young man.

"He’s given way too much and has been so key in our last three years and the success we’ve had; Alfred can take whatever time he needs. He’s talked about law school; he’s not certain what he wants to do in that respect, so there’s some uncertainty as to what he wants."

Can’t agree with him more about AA2 deserving all the time he needs to make a decision that’s best for him as a student at UCLA. CBH also provided his takes on whether or not ND will come back:

>> On Dragovic:"I think he wants to come back, that’s been his thing. His parents are not poor, so he doesn’t have to go home. They’re fairly well to do; his dad’s a successful businessman. They want their son to get his college degree. They really appreciate — and have been here — the great opportunity he’s been given at UCLA. My thing is for him is to be more committed as a basketball player. I thought he came in here this year and expected to produce and give us more than he was able to and that’s something he knows already. He’s going to have to work really hard because he would have more of an opportunity this year if things work out where we would lose guys."

And his optimist re. JK’s prospects next season:

"[Keefe is] 227 pounds, so I think it would be hard for him. Alfred can. Alfred’s 245 pounds and much stronger in his lower body than James is. And obviously, Drew Gordon will be thrust into that role of having to match up with other teams’ five-man [centers]. And there aren’t that many true Lopezes running around out there in college basketball. I thought, for example, that Joey Dorsey was an absolute animal against us and when you looked at him, and how physical it was. If you go back and watch the film, you would be astounded at what he was doing in terms of pushing and shoving and slamming his body.

"James has got to get bigger and stronger in the off-season. I think that what he showed at the end of the season, including the SC and Stanford games in the [Pac-10] tournament and especially the Western Kentucky performance, he has a very bright future in his last two years at UCLA and I know he’s excited about next season."

For more on yesterday’s press conference here notes from Bruin Basketball Report and the LA Times. You can also watch the video of CBH’s press conference over at the official site.

Before you start worrying too much about what is going to take place in next few weeks, one more time here is Coach Howland:

"Someone asked me today, ‘Are you going to take some time off, relax?’ I said no, that’s not what I am going to do.

I have no doubt he is going to spend every hour these coming weeks, keeping a close eye on the current Ben Ball warriors, helping them through the process of jumping into next stages of their lives, and facilitate their decision making by giving them a frank and honest take re their options, while at the same time look all over Southern California, the country if not the world, for players that will fit the mold of a Ben Ball warrior.

So no worries.

GO BRUINS.

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AA2

I wonder how many other players in this year's Final Four are deciding whether to go to law school next year.

by islandbruin on Apr 10, 2008 6:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Implicit Message?

Whether he goes or stays, KL will need to put on some muscle this summer.

As great as he was, he will be greater when stronger.

One reason CBH's players are so "pro-worthy" is that he demands strength and power. It's usually the summer between their freshman and sophomore years during which his players make their greatest weight room gains.

To me, that means that the Fab 4 will reach be good in their first year and blow up in their second. And, although it's hard to believe, if KL comes back, his potential will be off the scale and he will probably be a top 3 pick.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 10, 2008 7:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course...

That's provided they don't do the ol' one and done.

Go UCLA!

by madmaxucla on Apr 10, 2008 8:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"One and done"

I thought I heard somewhere that the NBA was considering changing the "One and done" rule to a "Two and through" rule. I heard it just recently, and probably here in the BN. Any of our fact mavens have any real info, not stuff from three wealthy and influential alumni (or worse, from a Doh! or Pucin "source.")

by Fox 71 on Apr 10, 2008 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

last i read was david stern wanted it

but the players union would have to accept it also. for them to agree they'd probably ask for some serious concessions. i'm guessing if it does happen i won't take affect for a few years.

by stephons on Apr 10, 2008 8:40 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Figures..

..trying to stifle my resentment for the NBA (crass, overhyped, spoiled, no sense of propriety, gangsta affectations, etc.), but only that crowd (i.e., the players ASS'n) would ask to be GIVEN something to agree to a policy that would ENHANCE their bargaining position. That is, forcing kids to stay in school longer would thin out the crop of folks bolting to the NBA and thereby make the existing "commodity" more valuable trhough less competition.

..with apologies to those who are Laker/NBA fans on this site; the pros abandoned any semblance of gentlemanliness when Bird, Magic, and Michael departed, IMO.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Apr 10, 2008 11:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I have always thought the same thing

Why would Pros want kids taking their jobs. The Union should be trying to push the age UP??!?!?

Go Team Go!

by bruins grad and dad on Apr 10, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also being proposed

are the "Three 'n' Flee" rule, the "Four 'n' Score" rule, the "Turn Twenty, that's Plenty" rule, and, specifically for trOJans, there's the "Fail, Jail, Bail, cha-CHING" route.

by Class of 86 on Apr 10, 2008 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

"..and blow up in their second.."

Man, it's hard to get my head around that idiom. it conjures up images of these four superstars running around helter skelter on the court missing shots and generally in a panic state..

..whatever; it means "blossom", I guess.

Nonetheless, it's going to be an interesting off-season.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Apr 10, 2008 7:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Somewhat compelling

is Howland's handling of the Westbrook situation, mentioning in his presser that he would be the starting PG, even in the event that DC returned. One could surmise that CBH is trying to entice Westbrook to stay.

Also, you mentioned McGahee and that reminded me of something that may apply to our high-profile athletes: Do any of these kids have a professional athlete insurance policy? I know McGahee had taken out a $2.5M policy that he nearly collected on when he blew out his knee. Obviously career-ending injury is a major concern for these kids.

"You don't make it to the Final Four three straight times for no reason..Obviously coaching has something to do with it." Darren Collison

by godblesstyus95 on Apr 10, 2008 7:57 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

If only...

...CBH had made that change earlier. I love CBH, but given JS's woes from beyond the arc and DC's team-leading percentage from 3-point-land, I would have loved to see RW at the 1, with DC running off of screens (a la AA) to get open looks from downtown.

Not that it didn't happen some, but I would have loved to see it more. Sure the shot is ugly, but you can't argue with the results.

by norcald503 on Apr 10, 2008 9:14 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Insurance

How much do those policies cost, and can most families afford them? Wouldn't it be nice if the universities could provide that benefit?

Save your receipts

by doublebonus on Apr 10, 2008 3:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Insurance

This is from an article on UNC players that have taken out insurance policies:

http://www.newsobserver.com/758/v-print/story/1014707.html

The NCAA launched its Exceptional Student-Athlete Disability Insurance program in 1990 for men's basketball and football players.
Eligibility and the amount of coverage are based on projected draft status.
...
Football players are eligible for up to $3 million of insurance if they are projected to go in the first three rounds. Men's basketball players can get up to $4.4 million if they have top-five potential.
...
For those who are approved, NCAA premiums cost about $6,000 per year (plus interest), per $1 million of coverage.
...
Players who choose to go with private insurance companies and banks outside the NCAA program must still check in with their school's compliance office to make sure their interest rates and payment schedules are within the rules. But there are benefits.

Through Lerner's company, Lloyd's of London offers policies worth up to $12.5 million for projected top NBA draft picks, almost three times more than the NCAA allows for basketball players. Those premiums cost more -- usually $8,000 to $10,000 per year for every $1 million of coverage. But for about double that bill, a rider can be added to the policy that also protects an athlete's draft status -- meaning that if he falls from his projected draft status because of injury, he still could be paid.

by truebluebruin on Apr 11, 2008 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wish the school could offer this

I checked the website to be sure, but it appears the student-athlete or his/her family foots the bill for this insurance.

I'm sure the NCAA would never allow it, but what if the school were allowed to pay the premium?

It would be a small drop in the athletics budget (maybe 4-5 kids a year, max). You gotta believe there are a few kids around the country who would truly prefer to stay in school another year for education, or better prep for the pros, etc, but (rightly so) don't want to risk losing the opportunity to get drafted and get cash in while that option exists.

You figure that anyone who only wanted to get the big pro paycheck would be gone anyway, so only the kids who sincerely wanted to stay could take advantage of this. Seems like those are the kids the schools and the NCAA should really be trying to help. (Yeah, right, I said NCAA and helping kids in the same sentence. Foolish, I know!)

BTW, I think I remember Troy Aikman had a $3 mil policy from Lloyd's as a senior.

greg in denver

by gbruin on Apr 11, 2008 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disagree re Pucin

I begin by saying that I have not read the actual words that Ms. Pucin wrote (and indeed have never read an actual word she wrote except to the extent it was quoted here.)

My understanding is that she purported to state as fact that Love was going to go pro. She didn't say that she expected it to happen, or that she thought it was likely to happen, or that she thought there were lots of good reason for it to happen. She said it was a done deal, that in fact it had already happened, and that is just flat out wrong according to what Mrs. Love says.

That sort of writing is inexcuseable, in my opinion. Many people have made assertions here in the BN that sounded like they were assertions of fact, and often those assertions have been challenged. Sometimes those assertions of fact have to be re-identified as opinions or speculations. To my knowledge, there has be no such explanation in the fishwrap by Ms. Pucin or her editor.

Why is it wrong to make an erroneous assertion of fact? How about "Joe Schmoe is a child molester." In fact, Joe Schmoe is not a child molester, but some reporter saw something (or in the case of the fishwrap sports reporters, got something from a "source") and printed it as a fact, not as a speculation. Joe Schmoe would not have a happy time with that sort of reporting about him.

In the law biz, when you write, you make it clear to the judge when you are making a point that is supported by some sort of authority. You can say something as a matter of argument, that the judge should make a particular ruling because it's the right thing to do, and of course you can state opinions all over the place about various things. But when you state something as a "fact of law" if there even is such an animal, you have to be right.

Pucin and her ilk state things as fact when they are not fact. It's like writing a column about who's going to win a game next week. Writers do that all the time, but they don't report the story as a historical event that has already taken place. When they do, they should be excoriated.

I don't give Pucin a pass on this. It is too much business as usual from the MSM in general and from the fishwrap in particular. It is dishonest both from an intellectual and from a journalistic perspective. Once again I am distraught about the fact that I cancelled my subscription over 30 years ago, because that prevents me from cancelling it now.

by Fox 71 on Apr 10, 2008 8:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Sign of the Apocalypse: Fox and I agree

Fox is 100% correct on this. Reporting that Love and Collison will most likely go to the pros is fine, or that she thinks they will, that is fine, but reporting that Love and Collison talked to Howland and told him that when they didn't is totally unacceptable. It is untrue.

She should post a retraction and name her sources who told her lies. My guess her source was her ass, because that's where it looks like she pulled this "exclusive" out of.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 10, 2008 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One more thing I should add

This is exactly what happened leading up the Iraq war. Judith Miller and others at the NY Times got fed a whole bunch of bs about Iraq's weapons capabilities by people who wanted to invade. They publish these untrue reports. It turns out they are untrue, yet the reporters still protect sources who were giving them untrue data in an attempt to steer public opinion into supporting a preemptive invasion.

This is much less serious, but its exactly the same issue. Reporters report untruths by anonmymous sources, the reporters say they aren't to blame because their sources were inaccurate, yet they protect the source who gave them untrue information. It truly boggles the mind.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 10, 2008 8:17 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

happens all the time

in the financial markets. a hedge fund establishes a huge short position in a stock and then whispers all sorts of scary scenarios into the ears of financial "journalists".

by bruinofthenorth on Apr 10, 2008 8:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't want to go beyond sports

but the analogies are obvious. What I don't understand is why a reporter protects a source who is full of crap. Maybe the source provides good information once in a while, but I would only give a source one chance to make an error, then that person would no longer be a source.

And another question. Who are these anonymous sources? Who in the athletic department at UCLA, or which player's roommate is calling Woodward and Bernstein with any inside information about anything? Why would a person do that? What incentive? Is it money? Is someone in the Athletic Department selling information? That can be determined fairly easily. Is some sort of favor being traded? What could a MSM reporter have to offer someone with knowledge? Free food from the press box trough smuggled home in plastic bags?

I think Silver is right (even about the apocalypse) - I think Pucin has to pull down her panties to get a quote from her source. I think she just makes it up to get a story. That's an opinion, of course. I have no facts to back that up. And this paragraph is one of the things that differentiates Ms. Pucin and me - I acknowledge an absence of fact. She would write the story as facts, including the background on where the panties were manufactured.

And nothing is done about it at the fishwrap, or at the NY Times, or in the financial papers. It may well be left to the butt of all the jokes -- the lawyers -- to do what has to be done to generate intellectual honesty in the media, and that means filing a lawsuit. I hope that happens in my lifetime.

by Fox 71 on Apr 10, 2008 8:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

DeWayne

This reminds me of all the bogus reports of pending job offers for DeWayne before CRN was hired.

One disturbing fact, a la this season of "The Wire", is that people take actions (make hires, turn pro or not, etc) based on the assumption that something in print is accurate instead of fantasy, and those actions have real consequences.

Let's just hope that the players can take Coach Howland's advice and do what is in their best interest, instead of feeling that they need to make a snap decision to stop all the noise which the MSM has started.

by islandbruin on Apr 10, 2008 9:06 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Best of luck to AA2's family either way

I had NO idea. Makes you love that guy even more (if it was possible)

by bruinhopeful on Apr 10, 2008 8:41 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, Juice Deuce is gone per WWL:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3338940

Personally--and I know I'm in the minority here--I think he has the shot to be a very good pro in a league that de-emphasized defense and puts a priority on outside shooting. He's the type of player who can thrive more in the pro game over the college game due to tempo and something I like to call "Stats Whore-ation"

by bruinhopeful on Apr 10, 2008 9:07 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree that he will be a better pro

he has always played a pro game, which made him a turnover machine in college.

He will be a much better pro than college player.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 10, 2008 9:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

It depends on what team he lands on

I think he'd fit right in with the Knicks, Sonics, Heat, or any other team that doesn't care so much about winning as putting asses in the seats. He will have plenty of chances to showcase his skills in those cities. Teams that value possessions (winning teams) will not take so kindly to OJ2. Could you imagine him playing for a Jerry Sloan, Greg Popovich, or Phil Jackson? I can't. He would be on the bench. He could find a place in D'Antoni's rotation though...

by Tydides on Apr 10, 2008 9:37 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Juice in Utah

I'd buy NBA League Pass to see that one....

by bruinhopeful on Apr 10, 2008 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You may have buyers remorse

It would be a pretty expensive package to watch garbage time for Utah and the standard 0 assist, 3 turnover, 1-4 3pt line for OJ2.

by Tydides on Apr 10, 2008 12:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

To be honest

I kind of like Mayo. Something about how composed he was on the court, and how shockingly level headed he seemed to be. I thought he would come in as an arrogant "all about me" kind of guy, but in my opinion he seemed to really do his best to help $C win. This will be all the trojan apologizing I do this year, but for some reason there's something about him I like and I'm glad he's gone to the NBA so now maybe I can root for him...as long as he's not in phoenix

by dijonplease on Apr 10, 2008 10:45 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I set the bar so low for him

That outside of ending up on SUC's extensive rap sheet, he would exceed my expectations.

I also submit that it is easier to like your opponent when you take the season series from them as well as have the difference between a Final Four appearance and an inglorious first round exit.

Besides, during the season we found a much better whipping boy: Duh-von Jefferson.

by Tydides on Apr 10, 2008 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Taylor King and Duke

I see where Taylor King is going to transfer from Duke. He originally wanted to go to UCLA but changed his mind.

Anyone got any idea where he wants to go now?

by mizzou on Apr 10, 2008 11:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

gentlemen, mightn't we agree..

..to leave aside the political commentary on this site? There are many of us who come down on one side or another of a political question or a potential candidate for office or our political affiliations but we all are pretty much in the same arena when it comes to our love for UCLA.

It colors our objectivity if we let politics get in the way of the discourse here.

As an example, I sense that I differ with Tasser10 in this area, but I value and respect what he has to say about UCLA athletics. To discuss the relative merits of anything else in this arena would be a waste of time and quite possibly hurtful.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Apr 10, 2008 12:14 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree with Geezer whp

Which is why I started my rant by saying that I didn't want to go beyond sports.

We are a family here, and nothing so disrupts a family as a fight about politics (or religion for that matter.) Of course, if everyone would agree with me on politics, religion, music, food and everything else, the world would be a better place. But I don't think the Bruins Nation is the place to debate that. (Well, except maybe for food.) (And opera.)

by Fox 71 on Apr 10, 2008 12:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would like to see

any decisions by our players to go pro or not done as a single team press conference. What better way to underscore the importance of the team than to sit everybody together if front of the National Media and announce one by one who is going and who is staying.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Apr 10, 2008 12:48 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

my point had nothing to with the justification for

the war. It had to do with a reporter using sources who fed her nonsense because they had an agenda. I was comparing the most famous recent reporter who got burned by sources with an agenda.

Believing generalities about things (Collison will declare for the draft, Iraq has some type of chemical weapons program) is different than stating as fact untrue assumptions( Collison had a converastion with Howland, Iraq is currently making chemical weapons in specific fixed and mobile sites we can identify)

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on Apr 10, 2008 2:11 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I Agree With Silver's Use of the Analogy

It discussed "sources" and the press and not the war.

It showed that it's not just the sports press that can be irresponsible, but the reporters on all of the pages of the paper.

Many of us have written a lot about the use of unnamed sources, and I will not do that again. But, good reporters name their sources unless there are security risks involved or other overriding reasons not to. And, in cases where they use unnamed sources, they often "qualify" them by telling us why they are reliable. Finally, many media outlets demand multiple sources for information that will be published without attribution.

Dohn has consistently been the least responsible of our sports page reporters. Now, Pucin is joining the group.

That's why I don't read any of them.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Apr 10, 2008 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Note

We will not political flame throwing here in comment thread. And once again note attacking any of the moderators on BN will lead to deletion or comments and getting kicked out of here. As silverlakebruin his post had nothing to do with justification of war but more as to addressing the relationship between reporters and sources in traditional newspapers. Let's keep it at that. Otherwise, if we see any other attacks on other commenters in this thread based on political rhetoric, the comments will be deleted and the commenter will be gone from here. Period. Carry on. GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Apr 10, 2008 5:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs