So I asked Ben Howland a question the other day.
It’s the first time I’ve actually asked him
anything, and afterward, his response made me feel about this big.
(Let the record indicate that Howland made me feel small.)
“Coach,” I asked, “In terms of expectations,
what would make this a good season for your team?”
Fair enough question, or so I thought.
“You tell me,” Howland said. “You’re the
media. What would you say to that?”
Ouch.
But you can’t deny that he had a legitimate point. We, as
the media, as students, and as fans, enter this whole thing with
preconceived notions and expectations.
We expect the basketball team to win a certain number of games,
and if they don’t reach that expectation, we consider the
season a failure. We need certain quantifiable results to declare
the season a “good” one.
And that’s not really fair to the players, who are
obviously doing their best to improve and win basketball games.
But then again, we’re fans, and we’re pretty much
entitled to do what we want. And with this self-appointed sense of
entitlement, I have decided that the UCLA men’s basketball
team should make the NCAA Tournament. And that’s what I told
Howland.
“I don’t know, making the tournament? Is that
fair?”
Thankfully, he decided not to answer that question with another
question.
“That would make it a great season in my mind,” he
said. “I would be ecstatic if we could make that, and I think
it’s a reasonable goal to have, but we’re going to have
to improve in many different areas to reach that goal.”
Damn. I just really, really want this team to be
“good.” I’m so sick of phone messages from my
‘SC friends. I know their football team is 10-0, and I know
they’ve beaten us five years in a row.
I also know I haven’t seen UCLA beat USC in basketball in
the two years I’ve been here.
So it’s all got to stop. Now. And to hear Howland say that
he’d be “ecstatic” if his team made the NCAA
Tournament doesn’t bode so well for that immediate
improvement we crave so much.
But it also brings up a good point. We can’t be blinded by
the hype surrounding this team. Rebuilding takes time, as Howland
has twice shown in his previous coaching tenures.
At Northern Arizona, Howland’s team went 9-17 his first
year, 7-19 his second year, and 21-7 his third year. At Pittsburgh,
13-15 became 19-14, which became 29-6. In that season, Howland was
the consensus national coach of the year.
The man clearly knows what he’s doing, and he knows that
this team shouldn’t be expected to do too much too soon.
Starting point guard Jordan Farmar is a freshman. As is Arron
Afflalo, the likely starter at shooting guard.
This is a young team, and there are inevitable weaknesses. But
it’s an exciting young team, and weaknesses are forgivable as
long as they play hard and win games they should win.
Whether Howland replicates his three-year rebuilding plan in
Westwood, or the Bruins turn last year’s 11-17 record into an
NCAA Tournament berth this year, only time will tell.
But in the end, it might not matter what Howland thinks at all.
And that’s a wonderful thought.
The direction and success of this team will undoubtedly be
decided by the players. Coaches all too often get the blame, and
the praise, for something that is the players’ doing. So I
prefer to listen to the optimists.
“We’re trying to get back to the NCAA
Tournament,” junior Ryan Hollins said. “We plan on
doing that this year, and we feel confident with this team we
have.
“That’s our goal, and we haven’t shied away
from it.”
Nor should they. The moment that players start lowering the bar
is the moment the program is officially in the toilet. And the
Bruins have been unceremoniously floating around the last couple of
seasons.
But UCLA basketball hasn’t been completely flushed, and a
new string of glory days may still await us.
“We’re never out there trying to make the
tournament,” Farmar said. “We’re trying to do
some damage. Just getting there is not good enough for
me.”
Well, it would be good enough for me. But I like Farmar’s
attitude. In fact, I like the attitude of this entire team.
And even though he can make me feel insignificant, I like
Howland’s attitude. He’s paid to be a realist, and a
good coach.
Players are given the opportunity to represent UCLA, and they
can be dreamers.
“Deep into the tournament,” Afflalo said.
“Late March,” echoed Farmar.
Ah, it’s nice to dream. And dance.
E-mail Regan at dregan@media.ucla.edu.