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4/7/08
Writer Calls Ben Howland The New Marv Levy. Writer Is An Idiot.
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There was already talk before the Final Four started that if UCLA didn't win the national championship this year, that Ben Howland would become the new Marv Levy. Even though that's an incredibly stupid thing to say, it wasn't much of a problem since it wasn't in print.
But then Art Spander, a Bay Area sports writing legend, decided to do it. Bad move, Art.

The truth is that in these past three Final Four runs the Bruins have made, there's only been one year where it really seemed like they had a very good chance to win it all. That was their first matchup against Florida in 2006.

From an objective perspective, the Bruins have lost in the Final Four to the first team since '90-'91 Duke to win back-to-back national championships and the team that I think is going to win it all this year. How in God's name does that make Howland like Levy?

People seem to forget that Levy and the Bills were 8-point favorites to beat the Giants in the first Super Bowl of their four year run. When you're fully expected to win, and lose, that's when you start to enter Marv Levy territory.

Even though a number of experts picked UCLA to win it all, anyone who expected UCLA to breeze past Memphis needs to have their heads examined. Memphis was the more talented team heading into that game, and they proved it.

The fact of the matter is that it's incredibly impressive what Howland has done these last three years. He maximizes the talent he has on his team, while other coaches squander it. Look at Bill Self at Kansas. If anyone should be getting crap it's Self - primarily for only getting Kansas to the Final Four once in the last three years. In 2007 I considered it a criminal offense that he didn't get Kansas into the Final Four. That team was loaded beyond belief, and a legitimate potential hurdle for Florida. But they never got there, getting destroyed by a much less talented, but superiorly coached, UCLA squad.

The problem for Howland is that he coaches under the shadow of John Wooden, who won championships while sitting on the toilet. So naturally Howland will face some criticism because of Wooden's legacy, even though it's unfair.

The only thing Howland is guilty of is maximizing his talent, which is something that doesn't always translate into championships. But there's little doubt in my mind that Howland will wind up with a championship before all its all over - because he's clearly no Marv Levy.
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453 days ago
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Howland's only fault is that he needs to to tweek his offense and also let his players have a little more flexibility to free lance on offense.
 
453 days ago
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Kevin Howland is one of the best coaches in college basketball. Taking a team to three straight final fours is an incredible feat. Unfortunately they ran into the most talented team in college basketball.

I do partly agree with the above post, that the offense needs to open up a little more. It's the same thing that upsets Spartan fans with Tom Izzo. Run way too many sets, but it's clear they know what they're doing.
 
453 days ago
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What's also sad, is that if Bill Self is to lose tonight, his ability to coach will continue to be questioned.
 
453 days ago
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I don't know about Kevin Howland, but until Ben Howland gets over the hump, he's just another coach who never won the big one.

Ben's style works (see Pittsburgh), it just hasn't been proven to work all the way to the title as of yet, hence the Marv Levy reference.  Still, I would take losing in the Final Four every year instead of never making it.

 
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CriticalFanatic wrote:
What's also sad, is that if Bill Self is to lose tonight, his ability to coach will continue to be questioned.

Well, that 6 yr/ 30 million dollar contract with a 6 million dollar signing bonus when he goes to Oklahoma State should stop him from caring what anyone says.

 
453 days ago
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kantwistaye wrote:

Well, that 6 yr/ 30 million dollar contract with a 6 million dollar signing bonus when he goes to Oklahoma State should stop him from caring what anyone says.

You think that'll happen?
 
453 days ago
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CriticalFanatic wrote:
You think that'll happen?
I think he'd be crazy not to consider that money, and the almunus factor might be enough to put Ok State over the top.  Seems to me to be about the only situation for a guy to leave Kansas that makes some sense.
 
 
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