Source: UCLA to fire Ben Howland





Shaka Smart has done a more-than-admirable job with VCU. UCLA heads are thinking what can he do with UCLA's resources and all those West Coast ballers he can recruit.
 
Journalist said:
Shaka Smart has done a more-than-admirable job with VCU. UCLA heads are thinking what can he do with UCLA's resources and all those West Coast ballers he can recruit.
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I hope not, we would love for him to stay at VCU. He would be an excellent fit there.
 
wahines said:
Don't know if the alum would want that after VCU got blown out by Michigan.
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Why not? Michigan had spent time at number 1 in the land and played in the toughest conference in the nation. No shame getting beat by a veteran Michigan squad even in a blow out. VCU don't have UCLA resources.Smart could do wonders there.
 
JR said:
Why not? Michigan had spent time at number 1 in the land and played in the toughest conference in the nation. No shame getting beat by a veteran Michigan squad even in a blow out. VCU don't have UCLA resources.Smart could do wonders there.
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I agree with you that Smart could do wonders at UCLA.
 
"sigh"........:smh:.....When will UCLA learn that those days of consecutive national championships are over for any school in this day and age. They still living in the late 60's...
 
pbla said:
"sigh"........:smh:.....When will UCLA learn that those days of consecutive national championships are over for any school in this day and age. They still living in the late 60's...
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Not necessarily. Of course no one will be able to match UCLA's unbelievable run, but Florida did win 2-in-a-row in 2006 and 2007 so it is possible to win 2 consecutive. But to do that you really have to have some focused players and get some breaks your way in the tournament and during the season. They probably could have won 3 if those players had all come back for their senior years.
 
pbla said:
"sigh"........:smh:.....When will UCLA learn that those days of consecutive national championships are over for any school in this day and age. They still living in the late 60's...
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This not about winning championship as much as it is simply about being competitive. Before this tournament, UCLA did even make the tourney 2 of the last 3 years. They won the Pac-12 regular season title, but lost to Oregon in the finals of Pac-12 tourney. Then they are one and done in the 1st round to a lower seed in Minnesota (who just fired Tubby).

They are justified in firing Howland.
 
the band fan said:
He ain't from the west coast so that may be a problem....he's on Minnesota's radar also
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Neither was John Wooden. LOL. Or Larry Brown. Actually UCLA needs a guy with NATIONAL cred. Not just being from the West Coast. When you are UCLA and Kentucky along with Indiana, North Carolina, Kansas and Duke. You should get recruits from any and everywhere with your history. Hiring a regional coach may not be the best idea.

Now whether Shaka Smart wants to live in Los Angeles and be under the microscope is a different story. He may not want to go West. I would though. LOL.
 
JR said:
Neither was John Wooden. LOL. Or Larry Brown. Actually UCLA needs a guy with NATIONAL cred. Not just being from the West Coast. When you are UCLA and Kentucky along with Indiana, North Carolina, Kansas and Duke. You should get recruits from any and everywhere with your history. Hiring a regional coach may not be the best idea.

Now whether Shaka Smart wants to live in Los Angeles and be under the microscope is a different story. He may not want to go West. I would though. LOL.
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This is going to be interesting. REALLY interesting for a number of reasons.

UCLA and Minnesota are both looking for coaches.

The AD at Minnesota (Norwood Teague) is the guy who hired Shaka Smart when he was the AD at VCU. From what I have read, for UM, Smart is #1 on their list. HOWEVER, keep in mind that Illinois offered Shaka a job last year and Smart turned them down. Flip Saunders is also on the list for UM as well. And part of me thinks they have a better chance of getting Saunders than Smart...but that's just me.

As for UCLA, like J.R. said, the high rollers have made it clear that they want a BIG name guy to be their next coach. They have just spent a shit load of money in renovating Pauley Pavillion. That place is like a new arena now. The UCLA folks feel their program is among the highest of the high (top 5 program in terms of history). And because schools like Kansas, Duke, N. Carolina and Indiana will not be making coaching changes in the near future, they feel they should be able to get anyone they want. Here are the names that they are considering:

Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan and Brad Stevens are the top 3 names on their list. Shaka was at the top until UM fired Tubby. And because Shaka has history with the UM AD, the chances of landing him have been reduced. Oh yeah...Tubby's name has come up too on UCLA's list. Go figure! :lol:
 
SAME OLD G said:
This is going to be interesting. REALLY interesting for a number of reasons.

UCLA and Minnesota are both looking for coaches.

The AD at Minnesota (Norwood Teague) is the guy who hired Shaka Smart when he was the AD at VCU. From what I have read, for UM, Smart is #1 on their list. HOWEVER, keep in mind that Illinois offered Shaka a job last year and Smart turned them down. Flip Saunders is also on the list for UM as well. And part of me thinks they have a better chance of getting Saunders than Smart...but that's just me.

As for UCLA, like J.R. said, the high rollers have made it clear that they want a BIG name guy to be their next coach. They have just spent a shit load of money in renovating Pauley Pavillion. That place is like a new arena now. The UCLA folks feel their program is among the highest of the high (top 5 program in terms of history). And because schools like Kansas, Duke, N. Carolina and Indiana will not be making coaching changes in the near future, they feel they should be able to get anyone they want. Here are the names that they are considering:

Rick Pitino, Billy Donovan and Brad Stevens are the top 3 names on their list. Shaka was at the top until UM fired Tubby. And because Shaka has history with the UM AD, the chances of landing him have been reduced. Oh yeah...Tubby's name has come up too on UCLA's list. Go figure! :lol:
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They can hang it up on Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan. They are both kings on their respective campuses. Billy Donovan makes close to $4 million at Florida right now, which is twice as much as Ben Howland was making. So they would have to offer $5 million to even get in the door. Also he has shown that he is committed to Florida for the long haul when he passed up the Kentucky and Orlando Magic jobs. Also his whole family has been born and raised in Gainesville and his son is a player on the team. I would be very surprised if he left for UCLA. I think he sees a chance for him to be the Tom Izzo or Coach K of Florida basketball. Also Billy Donovan is an East Coast guy.

I don't see Brad Stevens leaving Butler either since they are about to join the Big East next season.

UCLA would do better going after Shaka Smart or UGA's coach Mark Fox.
 
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number1 said:
They can hang it up on Rick Pitino and Billy Donovan. They are both kings on their respective campuses. Billy Donovan makes close to $4 million at Florida right now, which is twice as much as Ben Howland was making. So they would have to offer $4 million to even get in the door. Also he has shown that he is committed to Florida for the long haul when he passed up the Kentucky and Orlando Magic jobs. Also his whole family has been born and raised in Gainesville and his son is a player on the team. I would be very surprised if he left for UCLA. I think he sees a chance for him to be the Tom Izzo or Coach K of Florida basketball. I don't see Brad Stevens leaving Butler either since they are about to join the Big East next season.


UCLA would do better going after Shaka Smart or UGA's coach Rick Fox.
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UGA's coach? LOL. Are you kidding. They are not about to hire a guy who didn't even make a dent in the terrible SEC. Like SOG said, them mofos want a big name. Tubby Smith has a better chance getting that job than the UGA coach.

I would not underestimate the power of UCLA. I don't think Donovan will go. But I would not be shocked to see Pitino roll from Louisville, although at his stage of coaching I would think he would want to stay. Not like Louisville is chopped liver.

I am still shocked that Texas has not fired underachieving Rick Barnes.
 



JR said:
UGA's coach? LOL. Are you kidding. They are not about to hire a guy who didn't even make a dent in the terrible SEC. Like SOG said, them mofos want a big name. Tubby Smith has a better chance getting that job than the UGA coach.

I would not underestimate the power of UCLA. I don't think Donovan will go. But I would not be shocked to see Pitino roll from Louisville, although at his stage of coaching I would think he would want to stay. Not like Louisville is chopped liver.

I am still shocked that Texas has not fired underachieving Rick Barnes.
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I understand the power of UCLA, but in the minds of current youth Louisville and Florida are better programs than UCLA. UCLA needs a Calipari-like coach, and they are going to have to shell out some serious cash to get that type of coach too. Scott Drew at Baylor probably could have been on their list too had he not had an average year this season.

Also don't sleep on Mark Fox. He actually has done pretty well at UGA considering how horrible shape they were in when he came. He did an excellent job at Nevada. So I wouldn't count him out. He just made a bad move going to UGA instead of waiting for a better job to open up.
 
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number1 said:
I understand the power of UCLA, but in the minds of current youth Louisville and Florida are better programs than UCLA. UCLA needs a Calipari-like coach, and they are going to have to shell out some serious cash to get that type of coach too. Scott Drew at Baylor probably could have been on their list too had he not had an average year this season.

Also don't sleep on Mark Fox. He actually has done pretty well at UGA considering how horrible shape they were in when he came. He did an excellent job at Nevada. So I wouldn't count him out. He just made a bad move going to UGA instead of waiting for a better job to open up.
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:lol:

I guess that explains why 2 of the nation's top 3 recruits signed with UCLA last year...but hey, what do the youth know?
http://www.maxpreps.com/basketball-...VebEWg/class-of-2012-top-100/top-recruits.htm

And as far as money goes...keep in mind that UCLA will have to buyout a year of Howland's current contract ($2.3 million) because they fired him. On top of that, they will likely have to buyout the contract of the coach they hire from the school he is coming from. And then UCLA has to start paying him.

Don't get caught up in the amount of salaries. Money is NOT an issue here with basketall as it had been in the past with football.
 
SAME OLD G said:
:lol:

I guess that explains why 2 of the nation's top 3 recruits signed with UCLA last year...but hey, what do the youth know?
http://www.maxpreps.com/basketball-...VebEWg/class-of-2012-top-100/top-recruits.htm

And as far as money goes...keep in mind that UCLA will have to buyout a year of Howland's current contract ($2.3 million) because they fired him. On top of that, they will likely have to buyout the contract of the coach they hire from the school he is coming from. And then UCLA has to start paying him.

Don't get caught up in the amount of salaries. Money is NOT an issue here with basketall as it had been in the past with football.
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Did I say that UCLA didn't get top recruits? I said that today's generation knows nothing about UCLA's past history. But what they have seen is Florida winning 2 national titles, currently make 3 straight Sweet Sixteens with a shot at 3 straight Elite Eights, and go 3-0 against UCLA. They just watched Louisville play in the national title game last season, and have a shot to win it this year. 15 years ago folks would laugh at the though of Florida and Louisville being at the same level or higher than UCLA, but today things have changed.

And like I said UCLA would have to be putting at least $5 million just to get in the door to talk with Donovan and Pitino. They might as well go after Shaka Smart who is still young and isn't permanently rooted at his school.
 
number1 said:
Did I say that UCLA didn't get top recruits? I said that today's generation knows nothing about UCLA's past history.
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Uhhhh...no you didn't. You said:

in the minds of current youth Louisville and Florida are better programs than UCLA.
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And like I said...money is not an issue in this case. According to some reports, Shaka is going to stay at VCU...so it's on to the next person.
 
SAME OLD G said:
Uhhhh...no you didn't. You said:



And like I said...money is not an issue in this case. According to some reports, Shaka is going to stay at VCU...so it's on to the next person.
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Dude how are those 2 statements different other than words used? Stop trying to split hairs. UCLA is not perceived as better than Louisville and Florida today. And that is because today's recruits weren't around during the 60s and 70s when UCLA did its damage. UCLA of course is still going to get top players because Howland has kept them relevant, but the recruits aren't just lining up to go there like in the past.
 
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