You mean like hypothetically getting the consensus #1 recruiting class in the country and following it up with a first weekend exit, a losing season, and a likely NIT season? Because that's what Howland is working on since 2008.
Whatever it is, my point is that Howland better shake off whatever is happening to his program because if they miss the Tournament again this year it's highly likely he enters 2011-2012 firmly on the hot seat.
No I meant Lavin's downfall began because he got guys like Baron Davis, Rush, Gadzuric, Moiso and Kapono and had no idea what to do with them. Those guys all had talent, the only one who didn't play professionally was Rush and that's because he had an alcohol problem.
The 08 class was vastly overrated. Holiday wasn't good at UCLA but is playing well now at PG in the NBA. Gordon turned out to be a headcase, talented but didn't buy in. Bobo was lazy and has chronic knee problems, and Anderson can't dribble against pressure. The only good contributor from that class is Lee. That wasn't a coaching problem the kids were simply vastly overrated. Gordon, Bobo and Anderson won't have 10 year NBA careers to prove they were misused at UCLA the way Baron, Gadzuric and Kapono did after Lavin.
I agree Howland needs to turn it around. The good thing is I think that's already in process, this years team is WAY ahead of last years at this time. they'll still lose to Kansas, hell they've won 64 in a row at home, but this years team is much better. Last years team would have been blown out by Nova and VCU, 20+ point losses easily.
I think they're a tournament team, not a final 4 team, but they should make the tourney barring major injury(like if Lane's knee turns out to be worse than the MRI showed). When you only have 10 scholarship players and one of them probably should be redshirting(Carlino) you can't afford much injury.
