Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court

Make the Most of What You’ve Got

When I came out to UCLA from Indiana State Teachers College in 1948, I had been led to believe we’d soon have an adequate place to practice and play our games. However, that did not occur for almost seventeen years.

During that time I conducted UCLA basketball practice in a crowded, poorly lit, and badly ventilated gym on the third floor of the Men’s Gymnasium building. Much of the time there was wrestling practice at one end, a trampoline on the side with athletes bouncing up and down, and gymnastics practice on the other side. The gym was known as the “B.O. Barn” because of the odor when it was busy.

In addition to all of this commotion, cheerleaders in leotards often practiced alongside the court. Of course, ...