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There is more than one reason why Pat Douglass would be a good fit

with UCLA, which fired its men’s basketball coach, Steve Lavin,

Monday. I’m not saying the right fit, but a good fit, nonetheless.

Everyone knows Douglass has a great rapport with UCLA Athletic

Director Dan Guerrero, who hired Douglass at UC Irvine. But there’s

more to Douglass than his relationship with Guerrero. Yet that seems

to be the only reason Douglass’ name has come up in the rumors to

become the next head coach at UCLA.

After closely watching Douglass for one full season, and studying

the progress he has made in the past, I’m convinced the Bruins would

find success with a coach like Douglass. Think of it like this: At UC

Irvine, Douglass has had virtual no-name players and developed them

to be among the best in the Big West. Just think if the guy had

blue-chippers, the cream of the crop, to work with.

Douglass is all about player development. A player is totally

different from Day 1 in the program than the final day with leaving

Douglass. That’s the backbone of Douglass’ program, and one of the

primary reasons UCI has won at least 20 games the past three years.

Douglass’ teams are also all about discipline. The Anteaters led

the Big West in free-throw percentage this past season.

And, of course, there’s Douglass’ in-game strategies, which are

perhaps the best in the Big West. The Anteaters went 3-1 in overtime

games this season. In addition, UCI had to re-discover its point

guard, and also its team chemistry. The Anteaters featured four

returning starters coming into the new season, but they struggled at

times in stepping to the go-to scorer’s role.

But Douglass solved that problem, too. He held exclusive team

meetings, and let the player discuss the situation. The Anteaters

quickly became a team, in every sense of the word.

UCI also went through a three-game losing streak, the longest skid

in three years. If you know about the Anteaters, that’s before Jerry

Green came into his own and won back-to-back Big West Player of the

Year honors, and UCI won consecutive regular-season titles.

However, Douglass pulled the ‘Eaters out of the losing streak and

UCI was on its way to a seven-game winning skein. But, that’s not

good enough for UCLA.

It’s not enough that Douglass has a great relationship with

Guerrero. It’s not enough that Douglass would probably take the least

pay on a contract.

In the end, Guerrero will not take away a man (a friend) who is

the right fit for UCI, and put him in a place where he would simply

be a “good” fit for the Bruins.

But, I could be wrong. I’ve been wrong before.

Remember, I’m the same person who said Stanislav Zuzak was set for

an MVP-type season.

Ouch.

* Douglass spoke a bit on the UCLA coaching vacancy Monday.

“I’m happy here at UC Irvine,” Douglass said. “I have no immediate

changes. I have not interviewed for a job in the six years I’ve been

at UCI.”

Douglass would not comment on any hypothetical questions. For

example, would you interview with UCLA if offered?

Last season, Douglass was involved in rumors to become head coach

at Fresno State. A hiring agency contacted him, but Douglass did not

show any interest in the job. Several coaches did not take interest

in the job, mainly because of what unfolded this year at Fresno

State. The school suspended itself from postseason play because of

academic fraud that took place under Coach Jerry Tarkanian.

This year, however, there’s hardly a reason Douglass would turn

down an interview with UCLA, if it offered. Yet, Douglass seems

intent on taking UCI into its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance,

more so after what took place this season.

The Anteaters didn’t even receive an NIT berth, which left a sour

taste with Douglass and his players. That will serve as motivation

for next season.

“We had a letdown (Sunday),” Douglass said Monday. “And we’re

still kind of regrouping.”

It seems the standard has raised each season at UCI. And next year

shouldn’t be any different, especially with its senior core, Adam

Parada, Zuzak, Matt Okoro and Aras Baskauskas.

* Call it a hunch, but I think Quin Snyder, the coach at

Missouri, would be the perfect fit with UCLA. Whoever the next coach

will be, this will truly be Guerrero’s signature hire. When Guerrero

hired Karl Dorrell for the UCLA football team, that pleased the

majority, especially the alumni.

But, basketball will be different. It always is at UCLA. Guerrero

will be hard-pressed to meet the magnitude of the expectations that

come with the basketball coach. And, the coach will be under a little

bit of pressure, too. Wouldn’t you agree?

* One of the possible reasons UCI did not receive its NIT bid

was because it doesn’t bring a large fan base for road games. The

Anteaters couldn’t even outnumber the other Big West teams’ fans at

the conference tournament last week. Utah State, by far, had the most

fans at the Anaheim Convention Center. It looked like the Aggies

outnumbered the Anteaters 2 to 1. And, they were coming from Logan,

Utah, while UCI fans were just but a short drive away from the Big

West Tournament.

Don’t get me wrong. The CIA (Completely Insane Anteaters) and

traditions like the Rip ‘Em Eaters hand sign, have produced a strong

following for UCI. But, you need more if you want help into a

postseason tournament.