UCLA head men's basketball coach Ben Howland is resting comfortably after having a standard appendectomy yesterday. The procedure was performed at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center by Dr. Joe Hines. Howland expects to return to work on Monday, Sept. 21, 2009.

The following is a statement released by Coach Howland this afternoon:

"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," Howland said. "The medical staff and community at UCLA are simply the best and I'm so grateful to all of them for their professionalism and commitment to excellence."