Few and Howland and scheduling

[gumby]

Gonzaga coach gets in a dig at Howland (from Spokane paper):

Few, when asked if he had attempted to put together a regular-season game against the Bruins since his Bulldogs dismantled them 59-43 at Pauley Pavilion, in December of 1999, jumped at the chance to harpoon Howland.

"Absolutely impossible with Ben," he joked of UCLA's third-year coach, who has built a bit of a reputation for putting together soft non-league schedules. "One just needed to look at his history of non-league at Northern Arizona and Pittsburgh.

"Fortunately, for UCLA fans, Mr. Guerrero is in charge of their non-league schedule. If Ben ever wrestles that away, look out. You're gonna see five Alabama AT&T's and four non-Division I's. There's no greater scheduler than Ben Howland."

[DCCat]

What is it about the Palouse that draws such quotable coaches? Bennett was a quote machine, and Few can speak his mind nicely as well.

[Flipper]

Let me see. We were in the Preseason NIT this season, and will be in the Maui Invitational this coming November. We also had a home and home with aOhio St that was supposed to start this coming December, but it looks like they've backed out.

Anyway, Howland's scheduling should improve even more, since he can't go to the "we're too young card" anymore. Too much history, and a fanbase that really don't get excited (read don't go to games) if the opponents are made up of mostly directional schools.

Bring in the heavyweights, Ben.:)

[Itamicbomb]

Add in a road game at Michigan and a home one against West Virginia, and I don't really see what Few's problem with UCLA's schedule is.

Also, teams that play more than just chumps in conference don't need to load up the schedule as much.

[CatintheHeat]

Add in a road game at Michigan and a home one against West Virginia, and I don't really see what Few's problem with UCLA's schedule is.

Also, teams that play more than just chumps in conference don't need to load up the schedule as much.

Then that excludes the ACC. Not a very good conference this season. Maryland and Wake were busts. UNC was ok, but very young. The only other team in the ACC who was a good team this season happened to join the conference because of football.

There isn't that much of a difference between Duke, BC, UNC, NCSU and UCLA, UA, UW, and Cal.

[Itamicbomb]

But there is a big difference between all eight of those teams and St. Mary's, Pepperdine, San Francisco, San Diego, and Loyola Marymount

[ZONACAT]

Howland's scheduling at Pitt was downright embarrassing.

[Flipper]

Howland's scheduling at Pitt was downright embarrassing.


Yeah, ALL of the Big East did that. JB was/is the all-time great when it comes to cupcake scheduling. I'm sure Howland did it to give his first couple of incoming recruits a chance to mature.

Anyways, Big East scheduling 'aint gonna fly in Westwood. Again, the kids have matured, and are ready to take on whomever. Glad to see that the AD do have a say, since they are the ones responsible for the $$.

Tough OOC will fill the seats.

[gumby]

Add in a road game at Michigan and a home one against West Virginia, and I don't really see what Few's problem with UCLA's schedule is.

Also, teams that play more than just chumps in conference don't need to load up the schedule as much.
He was joking about the past. For example, Delaware State, Sacramento,
Wagner.

It's good that he (or whoever) is upgrading.

[MrBug708]

Howland's scheduling at Pitt was downright embarrassing.

The talent at Pitt was just as embarrassing :)

[F Duke]

The talent at Pitt was just as embarrassing

Please, Carl Krauser, Julius Page and Brandon Knight were all players. Don't make excuses for scheduling cupcakes.

[MrBug708]

I was speaking more in jest, but three players hardly make up a team

[azcat49]

Few maybe quoteable but that has to be the dumbest timing I have ever seen. I like Few and the Zags but I hope he shuts up and takes his beating Thursday night like a man. Go Bruins. Represent.

[TucsonDon]

I thought it was a bit odd as well, but they are friends who go way back, and I don't think Ben took offense to it. Unrelated to this, Farmar sustained an injury to his wrist on that awful charge call late in the 2nd half against Alabama. There isn't too much known about it right now, but there should be some info coming soon, I'd imagine.

[Gronk4Heisman]

If Farmar can't go, you guys will be fine since you have Luc Richard. He does everything better then Marcus except shoot from the perimeter right?:smokin:

[TucsonDon]

If Farmar is can't go you guys will be fine since you have Luc Richard. He does everything better then Marcus except shoot from the perimeter right?:smokin:
I think Luc speaks better English than you.

[MrBug708]

He did have 7 assists in a game the other night..:)

[Jason Scheer]

Will wear a brace..nothing more.

[Mustache Man]

I thought it was a bit odd as well, but they are friends who go way back, and I don't think Ben took offense to it. Unrelated to this, Farmar sustained an injury to his wrist on that awful charge call late in the 2nd half against Alabama. There isn't too much known about it right now, but there should be some info coming soon, I'd imagine.

Another Farmar injury...maybe this one will convince him to shoot less, which would be a good thing.

[TucsonDon]

Another Farmar injury...maybe this one will convince him to shoot less, which would be a good thing.
Yeah...He only went 5-10 from deep in his last game.

[ByJoveByJingle]

Was that the play where he flopped around on the floor like a hooked fish in the bottom of the boat? He's getting more likeable by the moment.

Hope he's OK, though. :)

[TucsonDon]

Shocked you had something to say, Bill.

[ByJoveByJingle]

You know how I feel about him, just as I know how you feel about Lute.

In all seriousness, I wonder if he hurt it while pounding his hands on the floor. He was really lucky not to got a technical called on that play--and that might have been a killer in that closely fought battle.

[TucsonDon]

Difference is that Farmar doesn't act out in the press, he's just a Bruin.

Farmar deserved a technical on that play, and whichever ref called the charge deserved to be escorted from the floor.

[11Banners]

Another Farmar injury...maybe this one will convince him to shoot less, which would be a good thing.

And that Pac-10 championship game..Man, I wish that kid would stop shooting.

I'll be afraid of UCLA losing when Mustacheman makes any sense about UCLA (Boy I wish we could dig up his predictions about this team when UCLA fans said we had a shot to win the conference).

[Jason Scheer]

And that Pac-10 championship game..Man, I wish that kid would stop shooting.

I'll be afraid of UCLA losing when Mustacheman makes any sense about UCLA (Boy I wish we could dig up his predictions about this team when UCLA fans said we had a shot to win the conference).

I didn't know you were on the team..

[Mustache Man]

Yeah...He only went 5-10 from deep in his last game.

So you're a good shooter based on how you've played in the last couple of games?

Good for Farmar, that way we can ignore the 41.8% FG% and 34.1% 3PT% this year. Those numbers nicely match his 41.1% and 33.3% numbers as a freshman.

Or think of it this way...with games like the Alabama game and the last Cal game, how bad of a shooter does he have to be to put up those types of numbers on the whole?

Farmar has Baron Davis disease; he jacks up way too many shots with about 6 better offensive options available. Is that the UCLA PG legacy?

[ByJoveByJingle]

My favorite one was the time, with the game on the line, that he dribbled past half-court, didn't wait for any of his teammates to set up or to run a play . . . and like he was Salim Stoudamire launched a 27 foot 3 point jump shot--that clanged violently off the front of the rim. Lute would have pulled his ass off the court before he could even get a break in the action, ala Chris Rodgers. Horrible leadership and game decision by the point guard. Try setting up Afflalo next time, Pistol Pete. :rolleyes:

[TucsonDon]

MM, I didn't say he was a great shooter, but you can't deny he shot the ball well when they needed it the other day.

[11Banners]

My favorite one was the time, with the game on the line, that he dribbled past half-court, didn't wait for any of his teammates to set up or to run a play . . . and like he was Salim Stoudamire launched a 27 foot 3 point jump shot--that clanged violently off the front of the rim. Lute would have pulled his ass off the court before he could even get a break in the action, ala Chris Rodgers. Horrible leadership and game decision by the point guard. Try setting up Afflalo next time, Pistol Pete. :rolleyes:

Yeah because Lute is definitely the king of discipline :rolleyes:

[Mustache Man]

MM, I didn't say he was a great shooter, but you can't deny he shot the ball well when they needed it the other day.

I will give you that.

[ByJoveByJingle]

Yeah because Lute is definitely the king of discipline :rolleyes:
Oh yeah, he's a veritable Jerry Tarkanian. Get the **** outta here, already.

As far as what I said, Chris Rodgers has been practically pulled of the court by his ear by Lute for shots like that so many times it's a wonder he still has one.

[11Banners]

Oh yeah, he's a veritable Jerry Tarkanian. Get the **** outta here, already.

As far as what I said, Chris Rodgers has been practically pulled of the court by his ear by Lute for shots like that so many times it's a wonder he still has one.

Yeah, because Chris Rodgers and Jordan Farmar are even comparable. If you want to even try to compare them with their games being so different, Farmar is the much better talent than Rodgers on and off the court. Lute usually gives his players some freedom on the court. He's not Bobby Knight and wouldn't have done what you stated above to Farmar. But he was clearly justified in pulling Rodgers out because he would take so many ridiculous shots, which Farmar does not do regularly. Your point was simply ridiculous.

[Mustache Man]

Yeah, because Chris Rodgers and Jordan Farmar are even comparable. If you want to even try to compare them with their games being so different, Farmar is the much better talent than Rodgers on and off the court. Lute usually gives his players some freedom on the court. He's not Bobby Knight and wouldn't have done what you stated above to Farmar. But he was clearly justified in pulling Rodgers out because he would take so many ridiculous shots, which Farmar does not do regularly. Your point was simply ridiculous.

Farmar doesn't regularly take ridiculous shots?

He's 2nd on the team in FG attempts (almost double the attempts of Luc, who is #3), and yet is 8th in FG% among players getting 10+ minutes/game.

As a PG, that should never happen. You really think he would be still doing the same thing under Lute?

[ByJoveByJingle]

But he was clearly justified in pulling Rodgers out because he would take so many ridiculous shots, which Farmar does not do regularly. Your point was simply ridiculous.

{Buzzer sound}

http://www.jamesnares.com/images/Red-x.jpg

Try again . . . ?

[TucsonDon]

Farmar doesn't regularly take ridiculous shots?

He's 2nd on the team in FG attempts (almost double the attempts of Luc, who is #3), and yet is 8th in FG% among players getting 10+ minutes/game.

As a PG, that should never happen. You really think he would be still doing the same thing under Lute?
Not to point out the obvious, but I think you are implying that he would be a better PG if Lute was coaching him, right? If that's what you're saying, I'd ask how come everyone around here hates Shakur? I mean, he's been under Olson for 3 years and people still think he's terrible, save the last two games of the season.

[Chicat]

Not to speak for MM, but what I think he's pointing out is that Lute pulls players who take bad shots. Mustafa doesn't take bad shots. Farmar does. Therefore, if Farmar was playing for Lute, he'd see a lot more bench time until he learned to take good shots.

[Mustache Man]

Not to speak for MM, but what I think he's pointing out is that Lute pulls players who take bad shots. Mustafa doesn't take bad shots. Farmar does. Therefore, if Farmar was playing for Lute, he'd see a lot more bench time until he learned to take good shots.

Exactly.

[MrBug708]

Jordan Farmar also sees the court as a SG, which Shakur does not

[Chicat]

Jordan Farmar also sees the court as a SG, which Shakur does not
There were lineups this year where Dillon or Prince had been at the point and Shakur was playing the 2. That experiment ended toward the beginning of the conference season when Lute realized that JP didn't have the handles or work ethic to play much and that DD was a lot more effective on the defensive end than as a playmaker.

[Morgan]

Farmer doesn't really take bad shots, he takes tough shots with the shot clock running down because UCLA needs him to do that. There is a difference. I used to think Farmar was a bit overrated adn I don't think he will be a great NBA player but this board has a Farmar obsession. UofA would have been a lot better this year with Farmar.

[haji81872]

Jordan doesn't take a lot of bad shots, he just doesn't shoot all that well. We need someone to shoot and with the amount of zone we saw this year Jordan was going to have to be one of those guys to step up and shoot it.

Or as Morgan said above, the shot clock would be running down and we would need Jordan to create something.

What are we arguing about again? Howland doesn't pull players who take bad shots? Jordan isn't a good shooter? Mustafa is a shooting guard? Really I am lost.

You can't be saying that Lute is a more disciplined coach then Howland and puts up with less. That Howland lets things slide that Lute would never put up with. As in Howland letting Farmar put up bad shots where Lute would never allow it. Ben pull's people more for poor defense, but poor shot selection is another thing that he has yanked players for. (*Collison* I think he just feels that Jordan doesn't take that many bad shots.

[ByJoveByJingle]

Farmer doesn't really take bad shots, he takes tough shots with the shot clock running down because UCLA needs him to do that. There is a difference. I used to think Farmar was a bit overrated adn I don't think he will be a great NBA player but this board has a Farmar obsession. UofA would have been a lot better this year with Farmar.
If he took better 3 point shots, his percentage would go up. His "last second shots" wisely tend to be drives towards the goal. Arizona would have been better this year with Farmar. I wouldn't trade the Shakur of the last 2 games for Farmar, though, so it'll be interesting to see how that developing situation pans out next year.

[Mustache Man]

Any UCLA fans want to speculate as to why Farmar is 2nd on the team in FG attempts and 8th in FG%? The "he takes a lot of tough shots with the clock running down" argument is not the right answer, BTW.

[11Banners]

Any UCLA fans want to speculate as to why Farmar is 2nd on the team in FG attempts and 8th in FG%? The "he takes a lot of tough shots with the clock running down" argument is not the right answer, BTW.

It's a major factor. This is like saying Kobe is a terrible 3 pt shooter when anyoen who watches him play realizes he takes so many awkward 3's with the shot clock running out because his teammates can't create and give him the ball with the clock running out. Farmar's 3 pointers have really looked better as of late with the inside game being much better and more screens being set for him.

Yeah, the kid has deficincies. He needs to take care of the ball better and improve his shooting. But I'm glad that he's playing for us rather then Arizona, Florida or Gonzaga. And I'll be even happier when he's back on the court at Pauley next season.

[catgrad97]

At least, this writer says so.

The reason UCLA's back in the elite? Better players (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney06/news/story?id=2379492&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos1)

By Wayne Drehs
ESPN.com

LOS ANGELES -- With a cold turkey sandwich, a plastic plate of pasta salad and a fizzing Dr. Pepper in front of him, UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland is about to reveal the secret.

At Northern Arizona, his Lumberjacks started out 9-17 and 7-19 before going 21-7 in his third season -- the 10th-best single-season turnaround in NCAA history.

At Pittsburgh, the Panthers began 13-15 and 19-14 before going a school-record 29-6 in Howland's third year.

And now it's happening for the most storied program in college basketball history. The Bruins were 11-17 and 18-11 in Howland's first two seasons, but this year they are 29-6, Pac-10 regular season and tournament champs, and the No. 2 seed in the Oakland regional. Thursday, they will meet No. 3 seed Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.

So how has Howland done it? Everyone has a theory. Some say it's tenacious, in-your-face defense that has held 15 of UCLA's last 18 opponents at or below 60 points.

Others believe it's his ultra-focused, no-nonsense approach that has turned UCLA into Pitt West, stressing not only defense but also rebounding, toughness and a hunger to win.

"The thing that consistently works," Howland said, "is getting really good players. I'm a lot better coach when I have great players."

And that's it. You think he's just kidding around. You think he's just being modest. But time and time and time again, through questions about his defensive philosophy and his offensive philosophy, through media sessions in San Diego and Los Angeles, on the phone and in person, the 48-year-old head coach consistently returns to that lone explanation for how he's been able to do what he's done.

"I wish it was the first or second year," Howland said. "But it takes two years of recruiting classes."

By "great players," Howland doesn't mean the best. He means athletic. Unselfish. Tough. Competitive. Driven. Goal-oriented. And confident.

At UCLA, Howland points to two players -- sophomore guards Arron Afflalo and Jordan Farmar, who signed on the dotted line when some of the shine had rubbed off the program -- as the critical points in the program's turnaround.

Both are local kids. Both were McDonald's All-Americans. And both had all those key intangibles.

While Farmar didn't even consider UCLA early in his recruiting process and nearly signed with Gonzaga, Afflalo set the tone from the beginning, committing to UCLA within the first two weeks.

"I had heard a lot of good things about coach and his staff," Afflalo said. "I heard he was a disciplinarian, he was a winner. I knew he had done good things at Pittsburgh and UCLA was close to home, close to my family and friends. I wanted to win here."

So what makes Howland special? How has he pushed the right buttons with his handpicked players? What is it about his personality that makes him a great coach?

For one, he's fiercely competitive, an individual for whom winning is a "relief," while losing is, "pure pain." Every time.

Beyond that, he's intensely focused on basketball. Not golf, not skiing, not television commercials. Basketball. Ask Howland if he's competitive in life away from the court and he looks at you almost confused.

"Huh?" he says. "What else is there?"

It's no wonder that throughout the basketball season, Howland is lucky to get to bed much before 3 a.m. and rarely is able to sleep beyond 7 or 8.

"I try to fall asleep," he said. "I watch film, read the papers, watch the Lakers, flip around, watch ESPN, watch Fox local, do whatever I can. But I have a hard time sleeping."

It's that incredible attention to every single detail that carries over to his team, especially on the defensive end of the floor. In its last nine games, UCLA's opponents are averaging 54 points per game and .397 from the field. In the regular season, UCLA led the Pac-10 in scoring defense, scoring margin and rebounding defense.

It's an aspect of the game that, when he arrived at UCLA, Howland had to hammer home to his players, many of whom were accused in the past of being soft on the defensive end.

"I tell them, 'You guys want to win championships? You want to win big? You want to play at the next level? You want to win now? You've got to defend,'" Howland said. "And that's your constant, night in and night out. Great teams play good defense in any sport. Period."

The team has bought in.

"Winning is the base for everything we do," Bozeman said. "Besides, there's really no choice with coach. You either do what he says and play great defense, or you're not going to play. You're going to watch the game next to him on the bench."

With all the attention given to the Bruins' defense, it's easy to overlook the fact that UCLA led the Pac-10 in offensive field goal percentage this season, as well. It all adds up to a balanced team with goals of reaching the Final Four and beyond.

Which is fitting, in a way, because Ben Howland grew up in suburban Los Angeles, staying up well past his curfew to watch the John Wooden-led UCLA Bruins dismantle anyone and everyone who got in their way.

"This is my dream," Howland said. "I don't know how many people are living their dream. I'm living my dream."

But it's an opportunity with almost impossible expectations. Steve Lavin led the Bruins to five Sweet 16s in his seven seasons but was fired.

Now Howland has advanced the Bruins to the NCAA Tournament's second weekend, the first time for the program since 2002.

What's Howland's stated goal? The same as Wooden used to always say. To be competitive -- year in and year out -- for the Pac-10 championship. And in doing so, to be "in the hunt" for the NCAA Tournament.

Which means only one thing -- getting more Howland-type players.

"I keep going back to what I've said along," Howland said. "It's all about recruiting."

[DCCat]

I wouldn't trade the Shakur of the last 2 games for Farmar
I would. But then I'm one of those rare (it would appear) Arizona fans who's also a big Farmar fan. I just love how he plays the role of floor general on his team, even though I acknowledge he could be a better shooter and is a bit turnover prone. I give props to Staf for his improvement, but to me he's still not that good at directing the offense and being a true floor general. These views are, of course, a reflection of my personal biases about the kinds of PGs I prefer.

[MrBug708]

With Williams being such a great shooter, Farmar wouldnt need to shot as much and thus, take better shots right?

[ByJoveByJingle]

With Williams being such a great shooter, Farmar wouldnt need to shot as much and thus, take better shots right?
Take the sarcasm tags off and you might be getting somewhere. However, the fact that he's teamed up with a good shooter already, and yet still feels the need to jack up bad 3 after bad 3 probably means it would still be more of the same.

[NOVABruin]

I love that you guys hate our players. That means they're good.

[TucsonDon]

I love that you guys hate our players. That means they're good.
Elephant in the room.

[Gronk4Heisman]

The only player on your team I hate is Farmar, everyone else on the team I like. However overall I hate your team because of people like Don always bringing down the U of A program in favor of UCLA.

Edit: On second thought I hate Mike Roll too.

[ByJoveByJingle]

I love that you guys hate our players. That means they're good.
If it makes you feel better.

But, InStoops has it right. I can't think of any player on UCLA that Arizona fans typically don't like--except Farmar. Hell he has clever, unflattering nicknames devoted to him. Everybody else on the team gets all the respect deserved afforded to them.

Why is he hated? Let me count the ways:

1) Kid is shoved down our throats before, during and after the climax of his recruitment.

2) We are told how desperately we wanted him.

3) Instead of turning out to be the great kid he was written up to be, he turns out to be a prick on the court. Certainly can't speak for the young man off the court.

4) He continues to get unwarranted praise, and doesn't get warranted criticism.

5) He yells at his teammates and constantly gives them the "Kobe waveoff" on the court.

6) Etc, ad nauseum.

So, if you want to think it's because he's good, suit yourself. :)

[TucsonDon]

If it makes you feel better.

But, InStoops has it right. I can't think of any player on UCLA that Arizona fans typically don't like--except Farmar. Hell he has clever, unflattering nicknames devoted to him. Everybody else on the team gets all the respect deserved afforded to them.

Why is he hated? Let me count the ways:

1) Kid is shoved down our throats before, during and after the climax of his recruitment.

2) We are told how desperately we wanted him.

3) Instead of turning out to be the great kid he was written up to be, he turns out to be a prick on the court. Certainly can't speak for the young man off the court.

4) He continues to get unwarranted praise, and doesn't get warranted criticism.

5) He yells at his teammates and constantly gives them the "Kobe waveoff" on the court.

6) Etc, ad nauseum.

So, if you want to think it's because he's good, suit yourself. :)
Soooo....What you're saying is that you hate him because he's good, right? Gotta hate somebody on UCLA, why not the leader of the team? Bill, you're entitled to dislike whomever you want, as everyone around here is. People can justify it however they'd like, doesn't matter too much to me.

[ByJoveByJingle]

Nooo . . . what I'm saying is I hate him because he's a prick. And for similar reasons that I'm not particularly fond of fraternities (I realize that's probably an esoteric statement, but I'll leave it at that).

[TucsonDon]

So now you know why I, at times, have a problem with Olson or Adams...or Fox for that matter. Hope we can remember this for the future and there won't be any misunderstandings because it would be a shame to be hypocritical.

[ByJoveByJingle]

So now you know why I, at times, have a problem with Olson or Adams...or Fox for that matter. Hope we can remember this for the future and there won't be any misunderstandings because it would be a shame to be hypocritical.
I know why you don't like Olson. I don't care how you feel about Fox. I never understood why you didn't like Adams, though recent events have changed that.

[barringer97]

I love Afflalo, I love the way he plays and has a sweet stroke.

Farmar needs to get his ears fixed.

[TucsonDon]

I know why you don't like Olson. I don't care how you feel about Fox. I never understood why you didn't like Adams, though recent events have changed that.
Adams' DUI wasn't something that would make me dislike him more. That could happen to anyone, and I certainly am not in any sort of position to either make an ethical judgment nor a decision about how long he should've been suspended for. You don't like Farmar because he yells at his teammates, which I also am not a huge fan of. I'll tell you this though; its better to do that than to act like a clown every time you score the basketball...I mean, at least he cares and he's not offending the opposition and making a mockery of the game itself by bringing it down to his level. I should hope you understood that that was why I disliked Adams, but now he's gone and Fox is gone, and its going to be a lot easier for me to root in a more avid fashion for the Cats, my soon to be alma mater.

[ByJoveByJingle]

I should hope you understood that that was why I disliked Adams, but now he's gone and Fox is gone, and its going to be a lot easier for me to root in a more avid fashion for the Cats, my soon to be alma mater.
I knew that. I just never really understood it fully. If you watch the aftergame interactions between Hassan and his opponents, I think you could see that the they did not feel the same way you do--the interplay always seemed very fond to me.