The Get Ben Howland's Phone Number Postgame Report.

I think Howland wins here, and would support the hire if the UTAD was actually smart enough to pursue it (big if there). I think you also have to look at the expectations at UCLA and TN in terms of hoops. UCLA is college hoops' version of Bama. That fanbase believes they are entitled to NCAA championships because of Wooden and the Pyramid of Success. It is a good job in terms of name alone, but they just haven't been much in recent history, not consistently.

All that being said, I would take Howland's success/failure at UCLA at TN over what we are putting on the floor now. Two straight FFs and missing the tourney twice in 4 years. If TN had that sort of success in hoops, Howland would get a statue outside of TBA.

I also think that Howland would not repeat the same recruiting mistakes he made at UCLA. If he had Pearl's on court success, with possible SEC Tourney titles and longer runs in the NCAA Tourney, I believe everyone would forget his shortcomings at UCLA. If he repeated his success at Pitt, which was one of the toughest basketball conferences in the country at that time, I don't think anyone would complain.

 

Sounds about right.

 

Had me until this. UTAD / smart = Oxymoron.

 

http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-78630011/

 

I've always thought of him as a tougher version of Pau Gasol. Not necessarily in similarities, but he's a guy that I wouldn't build my team around, but can use his offensive efficiency to develop into a successful second option for a contending team.

 

38.7%

And if you don't think that's good, I'd like to hear your argument.


ETA: And I realize you were quoting his career percentage. But if you're going to speak to his infatuation with the three pointer, you gotta go with the numbers he's been putting up during said infatuation, which is this year (as 35% of his shots are from behind the arc -- a marked increase from previous years).

 

I had hoped we wouldn't look like a complete shyt sandwich again this year.

 

I'm shocked. I have great faith in Frank, but they look awful times 1,000.

 

I'm right there with you. Maybe they will improve as the year goes on, but I'm not getting my hopes up.

 

What was his draw to Columbia? I don't remember.

 

I thought something happened at Kansas State that he wanted to get out of there.

 

Moving meant he no longer had to work for John Currie.

 

Had completely forgotten he was AD there.

 

I had no idea until Hat specified. I was shocked we were able to lure him to our graveyard of a program.

 

Carolina is odd. They've had a bit of success over the years, but now don't seem to care about it at all.

Then again, upon second thought, they are the perfect example of a SEC basketball program outside of Lexington.

 

They seem to be all-in on football and baseball right now, which is fine with me. I'd like to be good at basketball, but maybe we can remain relevant in football for a while.