Duncan compares Howland to Belichick

Scott Duncan is the new face at UCLA practices. Duncan joined Ben Howland’s staff last spring after Kerry Keating left to become coach at Santa Clara.

Duncan, 52, brought along 25 years of coaching experience, including time spent with Larry Shyatt at Clemson and Wyoming, and Pacific 10 Conference time at Washington State, and for the last seven seasons working for Ernie Kent at Oregon.

After UCLA’s first 14 practices, Duncan said he has been asked by several coaches around the country to explain what UCLA has done well the last two Final Four seasons.

“Biggest difference I see -- and I’ve worked for several different head coaches -- I think Coach Howland is the best in terms of knowing exactly how he wants to play and to not deviate from that one bit,” Duncan said. “It’s very simple but very demanding and very accurate in terms of knowing your role. Coach Howland holds you to account for what you’re supposed to be doing, and that’s unique.”

Duncan says he compares Howland, who is in his fifth season at UCLA, to football coaches.

“Somebody asked me the other day, ‘What’s the secret of UCLA? How do they get them to play defense so hard that way?’ ” Duncan said. “I know from being an opponent the last four years Ben was here, we were always amazed UCLA was able to sustain the efficiency level longer than anybody in the conference.

“How do they do that? That’s the key to winning games. It just comes down to he recruits good kids who are very good players, competitive, that are listeners and want to get better. Then, Ben is a very good teacher. He knows exactly what he wants, and nothing is going to change his mind. Nothing is going to get him to deviate from that. To me, that is Bill Belichick.”

Duncan bought a town house in the heart of glitzy West L.A. Duncan said he is pleasantly surprised Bruins players don’t seem caught up in that scene.

“It’s a pro town, a glamour town, yet Ben gets kids to buy into playing for the team,” Duncan said. “From Darren Collison and Josh Shipp to Kevin Love, rarely have I ever, even away from cameras, ever heard the kids talking about themselves.

“They are always talking about winning a championship, talking about their teammates. That’s a skill. Believe me, it’s very, very difficult to teach team.”

Junior forward Alfred Aboya drew applause several times at UCLA’s open practice Tuesday when he made 15- to 17-foot jump shots. Aboya is a career 55.6% shooter, but the majority of those shots have been from within five feet of the basket. Aboya is 0-for-2 from three-point range.

“Alfred is a better shooter for sure than he was his first two years,” Howland said. “I now have confidence that when he’s open from 17 and in that it’s going to go in.”

Howland also complimented junior swingman Mike Roll, Collison and Shipp on their recent shooting.

“You saw Josh today,” Howland said. “In one drill he hit nine in a row. He was 13 of 14 shooting it early in practice.”

UCLA’s practice Wednesday was closed, and there was no access to players or coaches.

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diane.pucin@latimes.com