Getting close with Howland

[BCHoopster]

Bill is an opinionated guy.  He gets restless with every coach at UCLA, this isn't the first and it won't be the last.  It is how he is. 

Should have done better...maybe.  UCLA fans always think that, just as Duke fans can't believe they are out in the first game two of the last three years.  UNC not going to the Sweet 16 after going to the NIT only 3 years ago.  So on and so forth.

In his 10 years, four Pac 10 \ 12 titles.  Two runner-ups.  Three Final fours.  At Pittsburgh, two Big East titles after being 11th his first year, then 5th.  Not bad. 

He got really hurt when Kevin Love and the rest of them left early.  That was part of the downhill.  He had a really good class 2 years ago that won the Pac 12 last year and is currently playing in Sweet 16 right now. I have no doubt if Howland was still coaching this year, they would be doing quite well. 

OK, you have made some good points, but can he recruit at his age, at 56 do you want to wait 4 or 5 years to get connected in Chi and Wisconsin.  Recruiting at MU is tough, really tough.  As you can tell it was hard for Buzz as well.  Senior class next year weak, junior class even weaker.  New conference weaker, so that is a negative.  I just think you need a younger person to figure this job out.  I hope you are right and I am wrong, as winters are long enough here with the Bucks sucking and MU could be in the same place.  He has credentials, and has recruited at the highest level,  UCLA and MU are light years away in what they offer.

[ChicosBailBonds]

He wants back in and he knows the jobs are Wake Forest or MU.  He said he wants MU.  

If he really wanted to stay in LA, wait another year and USC will fire Andy Enfield.  He's not.

SC isn't going to fire Enfield after 2 years...they will give him a chance to succeed. He could have had the SC job potentially last year. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Thanks for the insight.  But here is one for you.....how does he compare to Crean?

Crean beat him head to head to go to the Elite 8....so since so many people only look at the NCAA tournament around here...we shouldn't hire him.   

[Mutaman]

Think Smart just loves VCU, or is he waiting on something else?

Knicks. Waiting for Jackson to pull the trigger as soon as the season ends. Have knowledgable sources. Phil loves him.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Howland is obviously a good game coach, but I've heard that he pretty much wants nothing to do with alumni or the students.

My first choice would have been Marshall, but Howland would be next.

+1...Marshall would be my first choice.  And yes, Ben wants to coach and not have to deal with the pompous blowhard alumni.  Unfortunately, that's part of the gig.  Here's the deal, no coaches want to deal with the pompous blowhard alumni. 

[BenCat12]

Knicks. Waiting for Jackson to pull the trigger as soon as the season ends. Have knowledgable sources. Phil loves him.

Teal?  Pretty positive "havoc" wouldn't work in the NBA

[ChicosBailBonds]

OK, you have made some good points, but can he recruit at his age, at 56 do you want to wait 4 or 5 years to get connected in Chi and Wisconsin.  Recruiting at MU is tough, really tough.  As you can tell it was hard for Buzz as well.  Senior class next year weak, junior class even weaker.  New conference weaker, so that is a negative.  I just think you need a younger person to figure this job out.  I hope you are right and I am wrong, as winters are long enough here with the Bucks sucking and MU could be in the same place.  He has credentials, and has recruited at the highest level,  UCLA and MU are light years away in what they offer.

I don't know.  Look, Ben's not my number one guy on my list.  Marshall would be.  Ben would be the safest hire.  I'll be curious if this happens, I don't know and none of the peeps I know are saying anything.

My worry right now is this doesn't happen and MU has to go tier 2 (not Marshall, not Smart, not Howland)....and that could easily happen.

[keefe]

I was told that Shaka declined to speak with Marquette.

I would not put money on that

[JTBMU7]

So paint touches is saying there is no truth to howland and MU being close to a deal... Fun!
https://twitter.com/painttouches/status/447939156023341057

[Eldon]

I think Howland will turn out to be a good hire. Wants to be in Milwaukee and has proven himself before. It seems as though the few UCLA posters who have visited this board shared the same sentiment: the "issues" Howland had there were slightly overblown.

I was told that Shaka declined to speak with Marquette. Looks like he is committed to my current institution. Win-win for me tonight.

Do you work in the athletic department?

I'm sorry, but this is hard to believe.  If we had Doc involved and if he were to make a call to Smart, I guarantee he answers.

[keefe]

take much longer to get rid of JTIII

I'm a Prep Hoya and it will be a very cold day in hell before they ask JTIII to leave. Absolutely won't happen while JTII is walking this earth.

[Fullodds]

I'm going to wait for a press conference to find out who is the next coach

[Wisco]

I would not put money on that

Just relaying what my guy told me - he's always been reliable. I don't think it was in the sense of "screw off, Marquette." I think it was more of a matter of, he's had multiple contract restructurings over the past few years and has almost everything he wants at this point. He knows what he wants. The AD and a few players came out publicly a few days ago and said Shaka is 100% committed. Absolutely no doubt in their minds.

[Wisco]

Do you work in the athletic department?

I'm sorry, but this is hard to believe.  If we had Doc involved and if he were to make a call to Smart, I guarantee he answers.

I do not work in the athletic department.

I happen to know a donor who regularly eats/mingles with higher-ups in our athletic department on the road. I'll leave it at that.

Trust me, I find it hard to believe as well. I don't think they have any reason to lie about it at this point though. They don't really need to spin things anymore because Shaka actually does want to stay (until the blue bloods come, like I said). They've completely bent over backwards for the guy. Increased his travel/meal budget by huge numbers. Upped the practice facility funds from $9 mil to $25 mil. Are specifically installing a center-court scoreboard, video system and audio system because of him. He owns this town and I think he enjoys it.

[Wisco]

Teal?  Pretty positive "havoc" wouldn't work in the NBA

Obviously wouldn't carry that with him to the NBA. He**, would he even be able to carry something like that to a BCS conference?

I'm not sold on the Shaka to NBA thing. From what I know, he thoroughly enjoys the challenges of recruiting, unlike Stevens.

[ChicosBailBonds]

I'm going to wait for a press conference to find out who is the next coach

Sound advice....these things can turn bad pretty quickly as folks have very high hopes and they can be dashed quite quickly.

[Eldon]

I do not work in the athletic department.

I happen to know a donor who regularly eats/mingles with higher-ups in our athletic department on the road. I'll leave it at that.

Trust me, I find it hard to believe as well. I don't think they have any reason to lie about it at this point though. They don't really need to spin things anymore because Shaka actually does want to stay (until the blue bloods come, like I said). They've completely bent over backwards for the guy. Increased his travel/meal budget by huge numbers. Upped the practice facility funds from $9 mil to $25 mil. Are specifically installing a center-court scoreboard, video system and audio system because of him. He owns this town and I think he enjoys it.

Appreciate the info.

You just gotta understand that we were saying the *exact* same thing about Buzz no more than a few days ago and hence my skepticism.

[Wisco]

Appreciate the info.

You just gotta understand that we were saying the *exact* same thing about Buzz no more than a few days ago and hence my skepticism.

Understandable. I was sort of nervous myself earlier until I talked to my guy.

It's a little different down here though. University administrators have regularly stated, publicly, how incredible their relationship is with Shaka. There is absolutely zero tension with boosters. He can literally do no wrong (sans that questionable column in our paper today). Could something nutty happen though? Certainly.

[Mutaman]

Sound advice....these things can turn bad pretty quickly as folks have very high hopes and they can be dashed quite quickly.

Sort of like my hopes for a future including Buzz and Diamond.

[Rockmic87]

OK, you have made some good points, but can he recruit at his age, at 56 do you want to wait 4 or 5 years to get connected in Chi and Wisconsin.  Recruiting at MU is tough, really tough.  As you can tell it was hard for Buzz as well.  Senior class next year weak, junior class even weaker.  New conference weaker, so that is a negative.  I just think you need a younger person to figure this job out.  I hope you are right and I am wrong, as winters are long enough here with the Bucks sucking and MU could be in the same place.  He has credentials, and has recruited at the highest level,  UCLA and MU are light years away in what they offer.

Why wouldn't he be able to recruit?  He is already an established coach.  Still has all his AAU and HS connections.  Any coach in the Midwest is already going to be familiar with him and his credibility.  He would have a much easier time than Marshall by far.

[mufansince72]

We all talked to our guys about 2 PM Friday and were told nothing was happenning. 

[wadesworld]

We all talked to our guys about 2 PM Friday and were told nothing was happenning. 

Not correct.

[Marqus Howard]

Michael Hunt ‏@MichaelHuntMJS  2m
#mubb No contact between Marquette and Ben Howland on Sunday.

[Wisco]

Michael Hunt ‏@MichaelHuntMJS  2m
#mubb No contact between Marquette and Ben Howland on Sunday.

Could certainly be true. Others are correct in saying that we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. I can really only say what I know about Smart.

[Mutaman]

Not correct.

Wish you guys in the know would get it together.