Carlton Reed

[Panther89]

I read that Carlton Reed may see some time tonight against Wartburg. Lets hope so!
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/app...0704/712150352

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Carlton Reed

Zero PT for Reed tonight. Is he hurting? The only reason I can see for him to not play in a game like this is due to injury / soreness. Makes me worried. Coach Green made a comment at half time that, "they were trying to find a way to work him into the rotation". What does taht mean? You don't "work in" a healthy Carlton Reed...you use him whenever you can. Hope all is well with Carlton.

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

Re: Carlton Reed

Yeah, this was really bizarre. For Jacobsen to have Brown or Viet on the floor - and not Reed - is astonishing.

[Kyle]

Re: Carlton Reed

I'm not sure why it's astonishing to you. Brown and Viet have been playing in this system for 3 years and Carlton is coming off his first 8 minutes of college playing experience in over a year. He's not the savior people. He's going to be a GREAT addition to the rotation and when he's 100% (which he's obviously not as of last night) he can be a very solid guard in the Valley.

We need him during Valley play. We didn't need to put him out there last night vs. a team we can beat without him. Tony Freeman played vs. UNI and didn't play a few days later vs. Iowa State. I can see the same thing for Carlton last night. Maybe the foot was sore and they didn't want to push him. We don't need to push him.

The Valley race is wide open and I for one think that if UNI can put it together for 18 games between December 29th and March 1st...that they can have the regular season Championship that they want. No one is dominate, so the Panthers have the chance to vault to the top...but they need a healthy roster to do it. That's why it's not a big deal that Carlton didn't see the floor last night...because we need him healthy in January and February and March.

If he is hurt that's fine, don't play him, but there is no other good excuse to bench him for the entire game. Although he hasn't seen game time in two years, he is very familiar with Coach Jake's system. He has been practicing the system for a 1 1/2 years. How long does it take to learn the system? Montgomery seems to know it pretty well after practicing for 6 months.

Hopefully you are right when you say they just didn't want to push him and hopefully Coach Green is wrong when he says there trying to "find a way to work him into the rotation." They are two VERY different reasons for not playing him.

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Carlton Reed

If he is hurt that's fine, don't play him, but there is no other good excuse to bench him for the entire game. Although he hasn't seen game time in two years, he is very familiar with Coach Jake's system. He has been practicing the system for a 1 1/2 years. How long does it take to learn the system? Montgomery seems to know it pretty well after practicing for 6 months.

Hopefully you are right when you say they just didn't want to push him and hopefully Coach Green is wrong when he says there trying to "find a way to work him into the rotation." They are two VERY different reasons for not playing him.

This was my point exactly. To downplay Reed's importance to this team is flat out wrong. A savior? No. But a difference maker? Absolutely. I also wouldn't say that the UMKC was a walk over game, either. It went to OT for goodness sake. My hope is that he is not hurting. But short of that, there is no reason he didn't get some minutes last night. He played against Wartburg! If that was seen as a tougher game than UMKC... I really hope he is OK.

[OhNewby]

Re: Carlton Reed

I thought I read that Reed said he was only 85% after the Wartburg game, and for those who watched the Wartburg game closely, he missed some switches on D, didn't run an out of bounds play correctly, and generally looked a little lost on both ends of the floor.

So, I assume that it's a combination of the lingering injury and not knowing the system (yes, that is disturbing) that kept him off the court vs. UMKC. I highly doubt Jake kept him off the court because he thought UMKC was a easy victory (and it wasn't!).

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Carlton Reed

You can only get better and learn the system better by being on the court in game situations. So, again, the only reason for him to not be on the court last night would be injury IMO. That is scary.

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

Re: Carlton Reed

Panther2317,

If it's taking Reed time to learn the system - fine. Don't put him in when the game is tied at the end. BUT, when we were 11 points up in the second half, it would have made sense to stick him in the lineup for at least a couple minutes to assess his impact.

As for Viet and Brown: sure, they have 3 years experience, but that doesn't mean they should be getting the majority of time. Experience doesn't equal talent. Further, under your theory, if our pre-conference record isn't that important, why not PLAY Reed last night, so he gets accustomed to the system with valuable gametime experience??? Again, to my amateur eye, the only justifiable reason not to have given Reed SOME minutes is injury.

Also, I'll give Brown some credit, he made a couple nice driving plays and had a couple nice hoops last night. But right now, he cannot hit the broad side of a barn when he gets a look at a wide open three. Neither can Viet. If Reed can do no better than that - fine. Rotate them. But my suspicion is that - while perhaps not a savior - Reed has more ability than those two. I guess we'll find out as the season goes on.

I think my frustration is that this team has a LOT of talent (as we did last year), and to lose games we shouldn't, and barely win games that should be blow-outs, is very disconcerting. And I'm not sure where the blame should fall for that....

[DRAKELAWPANTHER]

Re: Carlton Reed

"The blame should fall with you in wanting a team to live up to YOUR expectations." That's right, 2317: my expectations are to blame for our 25% three-point percentage and 7 turnovers in 8 minutes (or whatever it was). I have news for you: fulfilling the expectations of fans is what leads donors to give and improve programs. So don't pooh pooh fan expectations.

And you're right. If you're willing to settle for mediocrity, we won't ever see eye to eye on this one. 8-2 certainly isn't bad. And the sky isn't falling. But when you're a Valley team, you don't have much margin for error if you want to see post-season play. And when you're fortunate enough to have as much talent as we do - after 3 years of post-season berths, you have to capitalize on that talent. Especially this year - where the rest of the Valley is weak.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Carlton Reed

I'm with you 2317. I know I got blasted for saying a few years ago that I had not expected us to win at Creighton when we let it slip away with many saying I should expect us to win EVERY game. Sorry, folks. These are young kids playing hard against other young kids who are also playing hard. Sometimes things work your way, sometimes they don't. Are there games I EXPECT to win. Yes. Are there games I HOPE to win? Yes, on that as well. Are there some where I think we are the distinct underdog? There are those as well. The great thing about the last three or four years is that there have been fewer and fewer of those.
The only game I have been truly disappointed this year was the Iowa game and that was because it was probably the first time I can remember going into to that game thinking we were the clear favorites. We played okay, Iowa just shot lights out. I think Iowa is going to surprise some people by the end of the year now that they are getting healthy. Their style is much like ours, they will play solid defense and that will keep them in games. If they shoot well, they can and will win, if they don't they won't. The difference is I don't think we have to shoot nearly as well to win games, which is why we will win more than we lose this year. It may not be sexy, but it is what has worked and what will continue to work. And as long as we stay with that philosophy we will have a chance at postseason play again this year.

[Panther Alum 83]

Re: Carlton Reed

I know I got blasted for saying a few years ago

...
But you don't carry a grudge.

[williebat]

Re: Carlton Reed

8-2 is not mediocre. .

It is not the 8-2 record that is mediocre. It is the fact we have have lost twice to teams that we were clearly better than. Not playing up to potential once is one thing but twice (one at home against a bitter rival) is another.

that is the concern.

I think a lot of fans are hoping that coach Jake makes some corrections soon so we can compete in the valley.

[senator]

Re: Carlton Reed

Well, we beat UMass who has shown to be better than us. too. Do you really think we're better than everyone we've played? If so, then who on our remaining schedule is better than us? Maybe we should win our last 20.

Realism....catch it.

It is not the 8-2 record that is mediocre. It is the fact we have have lost twice to teams that we were clearly better than. Not playing up to potential once is one thing but twice (one at home against a bitter rival) is another.

that is the concern.

I think a lot of fans are hoping that coach Jake makes some corrections soon so we can compete in the valley.

[williebat]

Re: Carlton Reed

Well, we beat UMass who has shown to be better than us. too. Do you really think we're better than everyone we've played? If so, then who on our remaining schedule is better than us? Maybe we should win our last 20.

Realism....catch it.

realism is very overrated. Especially in sports where half the fun is hoping beyond hope for that special game or season to catch fire.

Analyzing teams strengths and weaknesses and wins and losses is also a fun part of sports.

loosen up have fun -Catch it

[Kyle]

Re: Carlton Reed

Well, we beat UMass who has shown to be better than us. too. Do you really think we're better than everyone we've played? If so, then who on our remaining schedule is better than us? Maybe we should win our last 20.

Realism....catch it.

I hope the players and coaches don't 'catch' your 'realism' attitude. The program will never get better unless fans continue to raise expectations.

If the team and fans followed your rational in 2001 than the program probably wouldn't have been launched into three straight NCAA tourney births. Instead, Coach Mac set the bar up a notch, thus the team, fans, and program responded. After years of being bottom dwellers in the Valley, we saw the post season after just 3 seasons (and for the first time in 14 years). Now you think keeping those expectations high is unrealistic?!?

Hope...catch it