Assessing Howland's Job Performance As UCLA Basketball Coach: End Of Season Poll

So far, his record is pretty symmetrical – losing season (charged to Lavin?), early round NCAA, Final Four, Final Four, Final Four, early round NCAA, losing season. I think that he had some above-average luck getting to three straight Final Fours, and some below-average luck with how this season played out (not saying he did a great job this season by any means).

The only reason I thought about voting ‘unsure’ here was that the performance has trended downwards for two years and it is unclear how far the failure of this season – and some accompanying culture issues in the program – may impede us moving forward. I guess I approve of his performance thus far but am currently apprehensive about the future. I would feel a lot happier saying ‘approve’ if we were to sign at least one more high quality recruit for next year. Right now, I am not optimistic entering a season not knowing if we have a Pac-10-talent PG or a Pac-10-ready Center on the roster.

I thought about this for a long time. When making assessments, we often focus on the most recent event. The last season was an unmitigated disaster that does raise questions about the future of UCLA basketball under Ben Howland. However, I had to balance that against the undisputed fact that in 3 of his 7 seasons, he has produced the 2nd, 3rd and 4th most successful UCLA basketball seasons in 30 years. His first losing season was not really his responsibility, just as CHP doesn’t deserve much credit for the 1997 run to the Elite 8.

Thus, we have 3 outstanding seasons, 2 pretty good seasons and 1 disaster. By taking us to the Final 4 in 3 of 6 years, Howland has proven that he has a higher ceiling for success than any coach UCLA has had since Larry Brown (whose ceiling was blocked during his entire career by his itchiness to explore greener grass on the other side).

Due to those 3 outstanding seasons and other 2 acceptable seasons, I am willing to give Howland a mulligan for 2009-10.

My “strongly approve” rating is tenuous, however. The next 8 months are critical for Howland to keep that rating and in my opinion will determine whether he can become a lifetime UCLA coach or just another in a long line of shooting stars (and charlatans) that have captained UCLA basketball since Coach retired. Because the next 8 months will tell us the shape of the roster in 2010-11 and 2011-12 in three ways.

First, the current and incoming players need to embrace the serious work they must do in the offseason to improve themselves. TH, BL, ML, MM, AS and JA need to gain weight and strength to play at a high level. JS needs to lose weight. All need to play a lot of basketball against good competition at the Men’s Gym to improve their games. Because if all of the 8 returning players don’t improve, some significantly, next year will be a disaster as well.

Second, Howland must address the poor roster construction in the spring signing period by bringing in another guard (point or combo) who can challenge for playing time immediately and a face-up power forward (of small forward with a developed body who has can spend time at the 4) who can also challenge for playing time.

Third, by November 15, Howland needs to sign about 3 guys in the 2011 class, and at least one of them needs to be able to make a difference right away, probably this will include at least one guard and at least one small forward.

By November 15, we will know if Howland can fix the roster by doing these three things. If he does not fix it, 2010-11 and 2011-12 will be the inevitable nails in the coffin for a shooting star who could build a program but couldn’t keep it strong.

I went back and looked at my comments on the prior poll, and I still feel the same way. My standard for UCLA basketball (perhaps unrealistically high) is that UCLA should seriously contend more often than not for national championships and that off seasons should be such as we had last year or in Howland’s second season. What happened this year should just never happen. In Howland’s seven seasons as coach, UCLA has been a serious contender for national honors 3 times (the three final four years). That’s not bad, but my problem is that it seems the talent level has fallen off rather than gone up over the last few years. And I just don’t see things getting a whole let better next year – there are a lot of things that have to break right in order for that to happen (players remaining in school and improving their attitudes, recruits turning out to be good, etc.). Now, I’m not saying that Howland should be fired. The three final fours show that he can put together good teams. I would say we should take another look in a couple of years and see if he has been able to put the program back on the right track. But if not, the program needs to go in another direction.

But am unsure about the future. He needs to get back to final fours and most likely eventually he will win one (a few other great coaches have taken longer than three final fours to win one). Like i said I approve his job so far but it needs to get better (not over .500 better but deep tourney run better) or else this once beloved by all Bruin fans coach will be gone

Certainly don’t see how anyone could think he got BETTER, yet thats what the poll is showing now (a 37% combined approve score to 49% now). Maybe the effect of the lack of detail in the question? I dunno. But Howland continued to make the same bonehead moves over and over this season, and that’s disconcerting.

Yes, it might seem to be a bit too much “what’ve you done for me lately”, but looking at the future of the program, it looks somewhat grim (Lee and Honeycutt leave early for the NBA, Morgan and Moser transfer, our team lacks any leadership from the Final Four teams and we have no guard play).

If we grade each year and not view his bruin career 2009-2010 was bad. He would get at best a C- but more likely a D. Hoping that it will improve and beliving he can do it I look forward to being able to vote approval for next season

…including much better recruiting (not only understanding who will be one-and-done like KL and JH and plan for that without having to panic and bring in a JUCO, but look at what he has left after malcontents like Gordon and Stanback have left – the cupboard is pretty bare with RN a low solid contributor and TH their only true “winner” – -and an unfinished product at that). He also needs better coaching – -from himself, on game day (discussed all year)— and from hiring better assistants who can recruit the players that will succeed in this system (or change his system and adapt to the players he has better)- such as Aboya, LRMM, RW, DC, etc.) —and who can help coaching on game day. He needs to change the mentality of the team, get rid of the lack of seriousness, get the players to play hard every play or face sitting down. That’s all for starters. If he can pull this off next year, I will a believer. I think he is a very decent human being, and I applaud his respect for “the Coach” – but next year had better be a much better year than this one. I give him a “D” for this year’s performance. Passing, but barely.

On paper, CBH should have at least contended for the title in a weak Pac-10 this year, and made the tournament. Three returning seniors (Roll, Rag, Keefe), four returning sophomores from a top-ranked recruiting class (DG, JA, ML, JMM) and a group of talented big freshmen are more than current tournament teams have. Many BN posters have talked ad nauseum about CBH and his staff not preparing well for the departure of so many players last year. Not much could have been done to give JA, ML and JMM more PT last year, but at the least, he should have worked them intensely during the off-season.

His sophomores should have been lifting everyday and playing as many pick up games as possible at Men’s Gym or the summer tournament circuit. JA’s lack of development and poor FT shooting, and ML’s predisposition to cramping just showed a lack of conditioning and commitment in the off-season. CBH should have been more disciplined with his players during this critical training period.

CBH has also unfortunately demonstrated a poor ability to make in-game adjustments and adjust his game plan to suit the strength of his players. That is just unacceptable for any coach, whether or not he wins games. Our team this year also did not improve much as the year progressed. Much of that had to do with CBH’s baffling insistence to play Rag and JA significant minutes. CBH just appeared to be so out of touch with team morale, and was averse to taking any risks with Bobo, Moser, Lane or MAH.

I disapprove with the job CBH has done this season and am giving him one more season to prove himself. If we don’t have a winning season next year and at least make the tournament, CBH will be on the hot seat for me.

2006… Years removed from a national title most UK fans think he inherited from Pitino in ‘98, Tubby WAS NOT fired, but stepped down. Although he probably thought he would be fired, since the program had gone from national champ, to perennial #1 NCAA seed, to NEVER making another FF since ’98. Also, a few early exits from the NCAA didn’t help his cause. Add that to the fact recruiting had dropped off since having 3 Mickey D All Americans in ‘04 (Rondo, Crawford, Morris), that never won any titles or FF appearences, things @ UK were heading downhill fast before Tubby could have a losing season @ UK. Tubby got out to Minn. before the full downward spiral could be reached. UK fans don’t accept first round NCAA losing and 10 loss seasons.

COMPARE to UCLA NOW: Howland has had his success like Tubby…we all know his accomplishments. BUT, the recruiting has fallen off, losing record (no need to beat a dead horse) but MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE NOT IN THE BIG DANCE. For any TRUE bball fan, this is more important than winning Conf. titles, # 1 recruiting classes, etc. Howland is in the same ballpark where Tubby is… where will the program go? Tubby left, and Billy Gillispie came in and the FALL was reached. NO NCAA TOURNEY APPEARANCE for UK, ending a 19 year streak. Another reason Billy got fired. But that’s a whole diff. topic.

I don’t want to see Howland becum a Tubby Smith, BECAUSE HE IS BETTER THAN THAT. But this is the type of fork in the road that will define him as a Hall of Fame caliber coach, or just a good college coach.