LA Times basically saying Howland is gone

[keefe]

Interestin domino theories out there, maybe the rumors were true from last month.  Feeling is the guy they want, Donovan, is still in tournament so they will wait to do anything until that situation settles itself.  Dixon to USC is still very hot.  Miller to Pitt?  Don't know, but maybe. 

The article does not speculate on replacements, but that has been the buzz around town the last 6 weeks.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/basketball/la-sp-0323-plaschke-ucla-20130323,0,1330115.column

Superbar?

[keefe]

My friend, a huge PITT alum with contacts says Dixon to USC is a done deal.  Dixon not happy with split from BE, was a huge backer of BE and wants no part of ACC and starting over.  He wants to go back to west coast.  No idea of who would replace, but did mention they would inquire about Miller. 

We shall see. 

Guess Dixon hasn't spoken to your mate recently.

[nyg]

Guess Dixon hasn't spoken to your mate recently.

Yup, already answered that one.

[79Warrior]

If it were 1983, maybe even 1993, you'd be correct.
But in 2013, UCLA is not a better job. Maybe not worse, but it no better.
Donovan has a terrific recruiting base,  plus can recruit nationwide; a warm weather campus; respectable academics (like it matters); a relevant tradition of winning (kids born in 1997 don't care much about John Wooden and Lew Alcindor); he's paid extraordinarily well; he's got a national profile.

Really, other than some dusty banners, crotchety boosters and unrealistic expectations, what can UCLA offer tgat Florida cannot?

There is no comparison here. More banners hang at Pauley than anywhere. I don't care how many years ago they were, no school compares. The right coach can get that engine started. UCLA is a great school, almost impossible to get into for students.  They need the right coach and its off to the races.

[ChicosBailBonds]

So the largest state in the union by far produces a large number of talented basketball players?
Duly noted.
Not sure what you're getting at, though. None of this change the fact that a) Donovan has an excellent recruiting base (eight kids on the current roster come from Florida) and b) Donovan has been able to recruit elite players nationally at Florida (Beal, Noah, Horford, Lee, Miller, Roberson, Brewer, Bonner, Speights, etc., all from out of state).
Donovan already has an elite program at Florida ... one that, mind you, twice beat UCLA on its way to national championships. Other than maybe money, there's no reason for him to go to UCLA. He's got at Florida everything UCLA has to offer, minus the unrealistic expectations.

Not disputing that about his class.  There are just more opportunities here for talent.

He may want to stay, he may not.  UCLA is a basketball school, Florida is not.  That may matter, it may not.  $5 million would matter because I don't think Florida wants to pay their basketball coach more than the football coach.

[GGGG]

There is no comparison here. More banners hang at Pauley than anywhere. I don't care how many years ago they were, no school compares. The right coach can get that engine started. UCLA is a great school, almost impossible to get into for students.  They need the right coach and its off to the races.

Yale has won more football championships than Florida.  That doesn't make it a better job.  And yeah, that is an extreme example, but IMO the past is the past.  It should be honored and looked back on with pride, and adds to the mystique of the place, but doesn't matter as much as a number of factors.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

UCLA is still probably the "better gig" on paper, but given what Billy D. has done at UF, UF is a better gig for him personally.

Now, UCLA obviously has some baggage (high expectations, politics with boosters, etc.), but, I imagine winning in Westwood has got to be fantastic.

The Bruins will never be the Lakers, but the right coach could do very well in that town.

I think Howland is an outstanding coach, but I don't know if his style really fits UCLA. They would probably be better off with an up and down style of play. Shaka time?

[nyg]

Donovan makes 3.6 million a year.  5 million would be a nice raise and would probably be a long term deal.

Just checked coaches salaries and Pitino makes 7.5 million?  crazy.  Heck, Buzz at 2.8 is crazy. 

[Pakuni]

There is no comparison here. More banners hang at Pauley than anywhere. I don't care how many years ago they were, no school compares. The right coach can get that engine started. UCLA is a great school, almost impossible to get into for students.  They need the right coach and its off to the races.

They've been saying this for 30+ years.
At what point do distant glories become irrelevant?

[keefe]

They've been saying this for 30+ years.
At what point do distant glories become irrelevant?

Gee, Al retired in 1977...

[ChicosBailBonds]

Yale has won more football championships than Florida.  That doesn't make it a better job.  And yeah, that is an extreme example, but IMO the past is the past.  It should be honored and looked back on with pride, and adds to the mystique of the place, but doesn't matter as much as a number of factors.

Absurd example.  UCLA was just in three straight Final Fours in the last decade.  Yale gave up scholarships decades ago.

[ChicosBailBonds]

They've been saying this for 30+ years.
At what point do distant glories become irrelevant?

They won a national title in the 1990's and played for the Title less than a decade ago, plus went to three Final Fours in the last 7 years