Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

[NorthernIowaBacker]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

My God yes.

He's one of the top 2-3 players in the Valley.

I'm pretty pleased with what he's done as a starter the 96 games before this season. A quick foul problem? Hasn't stopped him from putting up 2-time all MVC (2nd team) numbers.

Word.

Also, I can only imagine how coaches across the nation are just laughing about Coleman not starting. One of the dumbest moves I've ever seen.

[Newt99]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

He needs to start!!!

He needs more minutes per game.

He needs to be on the floor at the same time as Jordan much more often.

He needs the coaches to worry less about his foul situation. Why do coaches always freak out about the possibility of a player getting two fouls in the first half?

I just don't get why Koch starts over him. I like Koch, think he is a good player and that he will continue to get better. But nothing I can see justifies a sophomore with his numbers starting over a senior with Coleman's numbers.

Just look at their stat lines from the UMKC game. Koch has a lot of empty columns for a starter. And yes, Coleman played 31 minutes that night, but don't forget that it was an overtime game.

[Matt Trump]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

last year 2006-07....total 31 games.... Eric

avg 2.8 fouls a game
fouled out 4 x in 31 games
avg 28.5 minutes per
9.1 rebounds
1 block shot
2.4 turnovers
13.1 points
53 % from the field
60 % from the line

this year 2007-08.... thru 10 games

avg 1.9 fouls a game
fouled out 0 x in 10 games
avg 22.7 min per
8.5 rebounds
2.3 blocked shots
2.5 turnovers
11.4 points
57 % from the field
65 % from the line

numbers indicate some better....some same....some lower.....

It must be a Coaches decision....

So less points, less minutes, and less rebounds. To me those are pretty much the most important stats you can look at for a big man.

Preventing fouls seems to be more reactive than proactive. I guess I'm more of a proactive guy.

[UNIDadx3]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

Yes
6 less minutes per game????? For one of the best in the conference????
Duh?

[UNIAlum95]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

A couple of questions.

When was the last time an All Valley 1st Team player came off the bench?

Does anyone think that there may be more to this starting thing than is being released to the public?

[jman2004]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

All I'm saying is Eric starts gets 2 fouls in the 1st 5 minutes and sits for the next 15.....

or

Eric comes in at the 5 minute mark, can sense the flow of the game, does not foul, gets a blow at the 10 minute mark, plays maybe 12-15 minutes of the 1st half rather then sitting for 15....

guess it all depends if Eric does or does not foul early....?

This didn't happen very often last season. Eric played more minutes a game last season than he has this season.

He needs to start. It's been fun debating this, we're off to a decent 7-2 start, could make it 8-2 this Saturday, but enough is enough. Jake's had his experiment, he's had his fun, it's time to get him back out there.

I agree, it matters more who finishes the game, but his intensity needs to be on the court more than 22 minutes a game and needs to be out there at the beginning to set the tone for us. Out of his stats the only one that is significantly better is fouls. This is absolutely stupid to do this simply because of fouls.

If we lose Saturday to Nevada, entering conference play at 7-3, I'm not going to let this decision die. Coleman is a star and needs to be starting. It's stupid for him not to and the excuses as to why he doesn't are just that . . . excuses.

[Coachdags]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

If we lose Saturday to Nevada, entering conference play at 7-3, I'm not going to let this decision die.

So no matter how any other of the players, play on Saturday, it will be this one lone situation that will be responsible for a win or loss....?



Last couple of years watching the Panthers they have seemed to dig themselves a hole to climb out of at the begining of games...slow starts....?

Does it matter which 25 minutes you play...? I would perfer to have my best team on the floor when the game is in the balance....

I think Eric should get more minutes a game not worried about when, when...? Is when we need him....

[williebat]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

So no matter how any other of the players, play on Saturday, it will be this one lone situation that will be responsible for a win or loss....?



Last couple of years watching the Panthers they have seemed to dig themselves a hole to climb out of at the begining of games...slow starts....?

Does it matter which 25 minutes you play...? I would perfer to have my best team on the floor when the game is in the balance....

I think Eric should get more minutes a game not worried about when, when...? Is when we need him....

Panther bball without EC is going to eb ahrd to get used to. The best and worst thing about college ball is that players must go.

To me EC is panther bball. He is and has been one the smartest, toughest and most skilled players the panthers have ever had.

I say the more minutes we can enjoy watching EC the better.

[UNIDadx3]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

Don't care if he starts but think he should be on the floor at least 8 minutes more a game.

[williebat]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

Don't care if he starts but think he should be on the floor at least 8 minutes more a game.

well said

that pretty much sums it up for me as well.

[senator]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

Don't really care. Whatever option gives UNI the best chance to win, in the opinion of the coach. No one else's opinion is too significant here. Disagee with Jake if you will, but his is the only opinion that matters.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

Absolutely Start Him.

We Would Be 14-0 If He Were Starting This Year!!

He Is Unstoppable. The Players We Are Starting Stink. Fire The Coach.

Um wait. Let's compare all of last year to the first ten this year, which includes a couple games where he wasn't needed for more than ten minutes-Northern Illinois, Wartburg.

But we lost two games he didn't start!! Yes, in one he picked up two fouls in about 90 seconds (SDSU) in the first half and played only about 15 for the game (read: he was in about 13 of the 2nd half). The other game he played with the flu (Iowa). I'm sure if he would have started neither of those would have been issues.

How about comparing how Jordan is doing in games this year compared with last?

How about Koch? I know, I know, last game he didn't have a lot of stats. But just watch the games and you see he does a lot of little things that don't register as stats. Oh, that's right. We don't have McKowen to kick around anymore, guess Adam picks up the mantle (along with Brown, Viet, Coach Jake....)


Please, let's go back to an up-tempo team that plays no defense. Kind of like how Sam Weaver coached it.

No thanks, I'll take this coaching staff AND their decisions on who does or doesn't start. Seems to be working so far.

[UNI MadCat]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

I dont think he should play at all. This way he never fouls out. Its perfect!!!

I agree with the others that say, the experiment needs to come to an end now. Those of you gushing over his lowered propensity to fouling this year, remember we haven't started playing in the MVC which will be much more physical than a lot of our games to this point. Even with the MVC in a bit of a "down" year, when you play a true round-robin, teams are very familiar with eachother and the physicality goes up. Expect those foul numbers to go up.

Nothing like pulling this gig to make your players worry more about screwing up as opposed to just going out there and playing ball. Its similar to the questionable pressure the coaches put on the players for shooting too early in the shot clock. I feel like I'm watching Hoosiers. I dont expect Jimmy Chipwood to join the team but one of the other "keys" to their success as a team in that movie was the coach loosening the reigns and allowing the "boys" to play without worrying how he would react after each shot. I keep hoping something similar would happen for UNI but have yet to see it, sans Wartburg.

(By the way, I voted "yes". )

[clenz]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

Agin I ask the question WHY NOT START YOUR BEST PLAYER??? He is getting less fouls per game because he is playing 6 or 7 less minutes per game. He is also averaging less point and rebounds per game. Are you happy with that?

Again I'll pose this question..If you were Phil Jackson back in the 90's would you start Ron Harper ahead of MJ? Or If you were him now would you start Someone else a head of Kobe? If you had Shaq back in the day would you start someone else over him? Heck lets put this into Panther level. Would you have started Jordan over Stout last year?

[jman2004]

Re: Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

So no matter how any other of the players, play on Saturday, it will be this one lone situation that will be responsible for a win or loss....?

That's not the point. We lose on Saturday that's a 7-3 non-conference record. Yes, that's a decent record, but with our strength of schedule, if we wanted to make any sort of splash whatsoever (with the Valley being down and all) we needed to win those games.

I'm not buying the "you can't win 'em all" philosophy in this case. Our team has talent (Coleman probably being the most) and we had every opportunity to "win 'em all". We really did. South Dakota State for crying out loud people. There is no way we should lose THAT game.

If we lose to Nevada, I'm not going to say I'm going to start criticizing Jake openly, but the questions are going to start coming. 7-3 start in a sophomore coaching effort, with a team that Mac DEFINITELY DID NOT LEAVE IN SHAMBLES!

Guys, that's the most important part of all this. Mac left Jake the reigns to this team at what some could argue was the height of UNI basketball. Coming off great seasons, returning great players, bringing in nice recruits and where has he taken that? Dare I say we've regressed a little?

Now, we very easily could beat Nevada and play great competitive ball in conference this season, but IF we don't, I think the blinders need to come off.

A decision like not starting Coleman is just an example of all this. That's what I meant. Not that the entire game rests on Coleman's play only.