Quotes from Ben Howland

I don't know where people got that I didn't have a good relationship with my players. I'm demanding, yes; I'm on their butt. I expect 100%, but they all knew I loved them, I cared for them, and I'll always be there for them.

This is UCLA. The expectations are higher here than anywhere. The amount of success both in terms of championships and wins as well as success off the floor has been second to none in college basketball. I knew that when I took this job. I know the expectation level, and no one has higher expectations than I do.

I had a relationship with John Wooden. I spoke at his memorial service.

I get to work with the best and the brightest at UCLA. We get to recruit great kids, and that makes coaching very fun for me.

For the most part, I've been very, very blessed and been lucky to have great kids. We want to recruit great kids, good people. For the most part, we've done that.

There's no question that I've made mistakes along the way when you look at recruiting in terms of evaluations of players or character in an instance or two.

The number one thing in recruiting in terms of making it a great job is players in your own area.

There are things that I will think about, that I have been a part of because I was the head coach at UCLA, that I will always cherish. I grew up loving this program as a kid.

At UCLA, there will always be high expectations. That's why you want to play here or coach here.

I try to be honest. I try to take the high road. That's all I can do.

My dad taught not only tolerance but appreciation for every human being.

How many people do you know who love their jobs? Did your dad love his job? Was he passionate about it? Because I am. I love it. I love the relationships. I love teaching. I love the competition. I love everything about it.

Winning, to me, is relief; losing is like dying. It's gut-wrenching.

I can't think of much higher praise to give a player than to say, 'This point guard reminds me of Jason Kidd.'

If you went and did a microscopic investigative report at Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Carolina, Indiana - what are you talking about? You're always going to have some stuff come out that will be looked upon as not being good.

Putting your feet in ice cold water? That's not fun.

One of the very best things about being a coach or student-athlete at UCLA is if you need medical attention, you won't find any better place in the country than at the incomparable UCLA Medical Center.

Losses are always bad. They're always tough. Doesn't matter what year.

Usually you have a feel for what a kid's abilities are by the end of their sophomore year.

My first introduction to Russell Westbrook was as a leader. It was pretty impressive.

Flagstaff, up in the mountains where I lived, there is 130 inches of snow a year.

Kevin Stallings has been a picture of consistency at Vanderbilt.

Archie Miller does a fantastic job at Dayton.

Typically, you'll see that zones work better in November than in February. As the season goes on, teams get better and better at attacking zones, and it becomes harder to become an effective zone defense as the season progresses. But early on, it can be can good at times.