INDIANAPOLIS “”mdash; Legendary Bruin coach John Wooden was sent
to the hospital Sunday morning and spent Monday night watching the
Bruins’ championship game from a hospital bed with his
family.
The 95-year old Hall of Fame coach was suffering from an attack
of diverticulitis, an inflammation affecting the colon, according
to the Los Angeles Times and is expected to be released from the
hospital within a day or two.
The UCLA players were informed of Wooden’s condition about
30 minutes before the Championship tip-off.
“We tried to stay pretty focused on the game,” Arron
Afflalo said. “But our heart and everything we do on the
floor is always a tribute to him, whether he’s healthy or
not.”
Wooden, who traveled to witness UCLA’s 11th national
championship in 1995, had been invited to watch the Monday’s
championship game in his home state of Indiana, but due to his
health, Wooden was unable to make the trip.
During the McDonald’s High School All-Star Game just last
week, of which he is the cochairman of, Wooden talked about how
much he’s impressed with the improvement of the Bruin program
and coach Ben Howland.
“Ben has really embraced the tradition of the program, and
growing up in Southern California, he understands what it really
means,” Wooden said. “To see him teaching those same
principles to his players just gives me a lot of pride.”
As of late Monday night, word was that Wooden’s condition
had significantly improved, and he wanted to leave the hospital,
but his family suggested that he stay for another night.
While announcing Wooden’s condition to his team Monday,
Howland became a little emotional.
“I was really hoping we would play really well tonight so
he and his family could enjoy that in the hospital room that he was
in tonight,” Howland said. “He’s the patriarch.
He is why this program is where it is. It’s one of the elite
programs in the country and has been since he started that job in
1948.”
Wooden coached the Bruins from 1948 until 1975, when UCLA won
its 10th national title.
Wooden went undefeated in his championship appearances, and
UCLA’s loss on Monday was only its second in 13 tries.
Wooden has recently taken a larger role in the program since
Howland has taken over, talking to all the Bruin players and
attending a barbeque that Howland hosted for the old Bruin
players.
Wooden continues to attend all the Bruin home games during the
season.
“I love being around this group of players,” Wooden
said on Wednesday.
“All the freshmen, especially the Cameroonian kids are
very mature and have a great appreciation for the game.”
“I was very surprised, and equally pleased, with what they
were able to accomplish this season.”