Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Despite loss, UCLA is elite team once again

Howland, unlike Harrick, has goods to make Bruins ‘Duke of the West’

Image: HowlandGetty Images
UCLA coach Ben Howland cheers on his team. With Howland at the reins, the Bruins are assured of reclaiming the greatness they once had under John Wooden.

That is happening with UCLA basketball, thanks to Howland. Already he has locked up highly touted forwards James Keefe and Marco Spica and is wooing junior center Kevin Love out of Oregon. More recruits surely will be lured by the unmatched basketball tradition of UCLA, especially with a coach who has proved he is more than capable of perpetuating it.

Also, recruits in Southern California will be less likely to defect to places like Arizona and Duke when they see there is a basketball power right in their own backyards.

When Harrick won his championship in 1995, there was no corresponding buzz. In fact, if the Bruins were to lose Monday night, the program will still receive more of a boost than it did when Harrick’s kids, led by Tyus Edney and Ed O’Bannon, beat Arkansas for the title.

Harrick’s problem had more to do with his image than his coaching ability. Certainly the man could coach. He did a commendable job at Pepperdine, where he led the Waves to four NCAA tournament appearances and was conference coach of the year four times. He also led Rhode Island and Georgia to the NCAA tournament after he left Westwood. But his tenure at Georgia ended abruptly because of various recruiting and academic shenanigans.

That was Harrick. He was always perceived as somebody who wasn’t quite up to the job, even if he could do the job.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

None of that is an issue with Ben Howland. There hasn’t been a hint of scandal. There hasn’t even been a peep of dissatisfaction among talk show hyenas. It’s hard to argue with his results.

The UCLA Bruins are back on top, thanks to Howland.

Move over, Duke.

Michael Ventre writes regularly for NBCSports.com and is a freelance writer in Los Angeles.


< Prev | 1 | 2

advertisement
More news
Image: Keith Appling, Branden Dawson, Brandon Wood
AP
Spartans take big step forward

Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.

Jordan Morgan, Meyers Leonard
AP
No. 22 Michigan beats Illinois

  Tim Hardaway Jr. scored 15 points and Evan Smotrycz added 13, helping No. 22 Michigan remain unbeaten at home with a 70-61 win over Illinois on Sunday.

Slideshow
Florida v Kentucky
  College hoops power rankings
A look at the top teams in college basketball based on performance and potential.

NBCSports.com

College basketball videos
San Diego State v UNLV
Getty Images
Highlights: No. 14 UNLV 65, No. 13 SDSU 63
Mike Moser scored 19 points, and UNLV forced three turnovers in the final 42 seconds to win.

Slideshow
Western Kentucky v Louisville
  Three cheers for college hoops
Take a look at cheerleaders in action from around the country.

NBCSports.com