Do YOU want Eric Coleman to start???

[Matt Trump]

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

I've been around coaches my whole life. The first thing that my uncle (who I think was a great basketball mind) told me about coaches is that for a team to be great, every player has to do exactly what the coach says and believe in what they were teaching 100% or there would be problems. This was reinforced when I was playing AAU basketball in high school and my coach was teaching something about a zone offense that was in direct opposition to the way I'd been taught my entire life. I smarted off to my coach that the way he was doing it was wrong and he sat for the rest of the game. My uncle was at the game and when I went looking for sympathy after the game (because the way I wanted to do it was the way he'd taught me since I was 4 years old) he got in my face and said, "You NEVER question your coach, even if you think he's doing it wrong...it's his team...you have to do it his way. You can't have 4 players doing it one way and 1 guy doing it his own way. So, I guess that's why I feel the way I do. I still think my AAU coach was wrong and I'll tell you how horrible I think he was to this day, but when I was a part of his team...I did it his way.

Ok, but we're not playing DI basketball and obviously very few of us have. If we could, we probably wouldn't be here on this site voicing opinions like this. Most fans/analysts/messageboard goers/etc never played the game and will have little contact with the innerworkings of teams. It doesn't matter. We're fans because we care about the teams. We care so much that it makes us angry when things don't go right. People don't trust blindly and will always question. Its human nature.

[UNIPNTHR]

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

It's not "blind trust" that I argue for...trust me. When I see things that I don't like...I'm vocal about it, but ultimately...it's the coaches decision...not yours or mine. We can debate his moves on this site or over a beer all we want...but we're not the decision-makers for UNI basketball...nor should we ever be...we're not in practice everyday. We don't know the inner-workings in film sessions and other team functions.

I could not agree with you more. The players must buy into the coach's system or there will be problems. And I think Jake has the respect of his players and we can see that by Coleman making the best of coming off the bench. It may not be the way he'd like it, but he's doing it and trying to play his best regardless.

But like Trump said, we are not players; we are fans. And this is a fan site, created for the purposes of discussion.

[GonzoCat]

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

UNI has 10 wins this season where Ec didn't start. UNI has 10 wins on the season. I'm ok with EC not starting.

Not true - EC did start for one of those wins.

Just keeping you honest P.

[Matt Trump]

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

Discussion is great and I like debate, but don't you think we've beaten this topic to death while the team is off to a 10-3 start doing things the way Coach Jake wants to do them?

The initial question and conversation is good for fans. But when they start to see evidence that coming off the bench is something Eric does well (he's leading the team in scoring at 12.4 points and rebounding at 9.1 per game coming off the bench...so it's not hurting his productivity) and Jordan is doing well in the starting role as well...averaging 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds. So...it seems to me that the coach is MAXIMIZING both of their potential by playing them the way that he's doing.

Now, with Adam Koch having a benchmark game last night...it would seem that some of the pieces are starting to fall together.

Eric Coleman is the kind of kid I'd want on my team. He's started for a couple of years now and then his coach has asked him to adapt to the role of being their sparkplug off the bench. He's not only accepted that role, he's thrived in it and the Panthers are winning because he's been a great teammate and found a niche in being the 6th man. What this has done is free up Jordan to start and he's excelling in his role as the third leading scorer and second leading rebounder as a true sophomore.

So, when we debate this starting thing. Those are the items that I see. Would I like to see Eric Coleman start? Yes, but I'm not the coach and thank God I'm not...because I don't know if we'd see this productivity out of these guys if the roles were reversed.

Now, thats better than saying "just agree with what coach does". Can I have a hug?

[jman2004]

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

Do you know that what I see (along with the help of PTTB) is that Coleman is now being dominate down the stretch in games...which is what was not happening last year.

I had to eat my words a minute last night while I came to this realization as well. Excellent point.

[clenz]

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

Coleman is amazing off the bench, he sucks when he starts. BENCH COLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jman2004]

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

Coleman is amazing off the bench, he sucks when he starts. BENCH COLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How long you gonna keep this up?

Not that I'm complaining, because I actually agree with you, if you know what I mean. Whether he gets his numbers or not, I could care less, it's dumb for him NOT to be starting. It doesn't help us, it doesn't hurt us, but it's just plain ol' dumb.

[clenz]

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

How long you gonna keep this up?

Not that I'm complaining, because I actually agree with you, if you know what I mean. Whether he gets his numbers or not, I could care less, it's dumb for him NOT to be starting. It doesn't help us, it doesn't hurt us, but it's just plain ol' dumb.

Keep what up? I fully support Jake and every move he makes. I've seen the light, and it is very bright, especially coming from Jake's dark end, if you know what I mean.

GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deke3]

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

I had to eat my words a minute last night while I came to this realization as well. Excellent point.

Bingo! EC is a dominant towards the end of the game...reducing his minutes, bringing his intensity into the game after the first few minutes is "one" strategy. I like it and I think it is working.

[oldcat]

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

I can't believe this thread is still active! The blood should have been beat out of it by now!!!!

[jman2004]

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

Are you sure you're not 12 going on 13? Look at his and Jordan's productivity numbers in their current roles. First...EC is playing more minutes than Jordan even though he's coming off the bench and he's looking strong down the stretch of games and he's the team's leading scorer and rebounder.

The productivity is not the point. Coleman deserves to be named and labeled a "starter". He's earned it. Jacobson can still figure out how to keep him fresh at the end of the game by regulating his minutes elsewhere throughout the game.

I do like your admiration of this team 2317. Just because I'm not always like that (even though I promise, I will be at times) please don't let it impact your opinion of me. When I see things like I have this season, I like to talk and discuss them. I'm sure clenz is the same way and doesn't intend to come off as a smart-@$$.

I personally, see your point of view, on paper, Coleman not starting definitely probably isn't hurting this team right now. But to me, it's not about that.

[dan_beeding]

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

I can't believe this thread is still active! The blood should have been beat out of it by now!!!!

Over two weeks now, and for some reason, *gasp* Jake hasn't listened to the fans. Could that be because he is a bit more familiar with the tendencies, work ethic, and cohesion of this team? I don't know if it motivates Coleman more in practice, or even in games, where he feels the need to prove his worth out on the floor. From what I've seen this year, if he will be fresh in March from playing less minutes, and he is still putting up POY type numbers off of the bench, why our resident gurus and former high school all-stars, etc. are still debating this is beyond me. Don't mean to ruffle feathers, but really, at this point last year, we were 12-2, and Coleman was averaging 15 and 10 in about 31 minutes. Stout was averaging 15 and 8 in about 29 minutes. This year Coleman averages 23.5 minutes, with 12.5 and 9.1 while Jordan and Koch stepped in nicely averaging 42 minutes between them and 19 pts/14 rebs. Equal minutes spread among more players with just as much production is how I would interpret that. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[clenz]

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

I know I said I was done, but there was one line I need to ask for clarification on. Dan_beeding said "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Was Coleman starting broke?

[dan_beeding]

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

I'm not sure if you read my whole post or not? I don't know if you were at the MVC tourney in St. Louis last year, but I was. Try to get ahold of some video of a game early in the year, particularly the Iowa game from last year. Then check out a tape of the game against Bradley in early March. Look at the difference in Stout, McKowen, and Coleman. The bounce wasn't there, the fire wasn't there, and they just looked beat. Tired legs were a problem last year. Whether you're willing to admit it or not, no amount of training can prepare you for the number of minutes that those three logged last year. I would say learning from a bad experience is a pretty good thing to attempt, as Jake seems to be doing, no?

[jman2004]

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

I know I said I was done, but there was one line I need to ask for clarification on. Dan_beeding said "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Was Coleman starting broke?

What if it is "broke?" Are we allowed to talk about ways to fix it then?