Brooks

[UNI MadCat]

I came to this debate very late so I won't add much, but I find it ironic that there is a huge thread with many people still thinking he is underperforming even though his stats are slightly better this year over last:

2005-06: 3.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, 1.66 TOpg
2004-05: 3.4 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.34 TOpg

Whereas BJ and Crawford are each averaging 3 ppg less than last year (17.9 down to 14.5 & 13.3 down to 10.5) and shooting 5-6% lower. Shouldn't we be getting all over them??

(NOTE: I don't think we should be debating it, I'm simply pointing out that there are untouchables and some things never change.)

[ejacobson]

I came to this debate very late so I won't add much, but I find it ironic that there is a huge thread with many people still thinking he is underperforming even though his stats are slightly better this year over last:

2005-06: 3.5 ppg, 2.9 apg, 1.66 TOpg
2004-05: 3.4 ppg, 2.2 apg, 1.34 TOpg

Whereas BJ and Crawford are each averaging 3 ppg less than last year (17.9 down to 14.5 & 13.3 down to 10.5) and shooting 5-6% lower. Shouldn't we be getting all over them??

(NOTE: I don't think we should be debating it, I'm simply pointing out that there are untouchables and some things never change.)

MadCat Ben and Crawford are down A) for a very small portion due to missing more shots, very small and B) mostly due to the fact that Grant and Coleman have matured greatly and improved greatly. The team over all is shooting better and scoring more or the same, and that is becasue Ben, Crawford, and Brooks are getting the ball down low much better this year and EC and GS are making teams pay for just playing our shooting guards Ben and Crawford.

Four of 5 starters are avg in double figures, and since I have started watching UNI Bball I have not seen that, especially with 2 post players in double figures, more shots for them, less for ECrawford and Benny, but hey if Ben only avgs 14.5 a game and UNI keeps winning who cares. I think everyone here is not getting all over Brooks just saying that they think he has the potential to be better is all. Thats what I meant.

[DWadle1983]

I also came to the debate late. I'm not sure I understand the issue. I understand the questions about Brooks' scoring average (although I would focus more on shooting percentages), but Greg McDermott has a better idea of who should be starting because he knows why he wants certain lineups on the floor. Coach Mac may believe Brooks should be starting because of what he does in other aspects of the game, or he wants John Little coming off the bench so that he has a certain number of scorers on the floor when he has to give the starters a blow.

[pantherfan4ever]

I also came to the debate late. I'm not sure I understand the issue. I understand the questions about Brooks' scoring average (although I would focus more on shooting percentages), but Greg McDermott has a better idea of who should be starting because he knows why he wants certain lineups on the floor. Coach Mac may believe Brooks should be starting because of what he does in other aspects of the game, or he wants John Little coming off the bench so that he has a certain number of scorers on the floor when he has to give the starters a blow.

Exactly what I have said from the beginning of this thread Nicely Said

[Pantherfan04]

I do agree that Brooks is playing better, which from the beginning is what I have been hoping for!! I do believe that he is a big reason for our big wins as of late. He is starting to knock down more shots and take care of the ball better!!! Again, please read everything that people write, because as I have said the whole time, I am cheering for Brooks and hope that he starts playing better (and it's what most people have said), which he has. I have never said that I think he is a bad player, becaue he is not. When I originally posted, he was struggling, he went through a very tough streak for a while, but is really coming around. We really need him to continue to improve (as well as the rest of the team) and make a run at the title and in the tournaments.

[UNI MadCat]

MadCat Ben and Crawford are down A) for a very small portion due to missing more shots, very small and B) mostly due to the fact that Grant and Coleman have matured greatly and improved greatly. The team over all is shooting better and scoring more or the same, and that is becasue Ben, Crawford, and Brooks are getting the ball down low much better this year and EC and GS are making teams pay for just playing our shooting guards Ben and Crawford.

Four of 5 starters are avg in double figures, and since I have started watching UNI Bball I have not seen that, especially with 2 post players in double figures, more shots for them, less for ECrawford and Benny, but hey if Ben only avgs 14.5 a game and UNI keeps winning who cares. I think everyone here is not getting all over Brooks just saying that they think he has the potential to be better is all. Thats what I meant.

You don't get it. I'm not ripping anyone. My point was, we shouldn't be ripping any of these guys. They are playing great team basketball. I was simply pointing out that its ironic that people choose to get on a guy for having roughly the same, or better season than the year before but don't point out other changes in other players. This UNI team defines the word and I don't care what the stats are individually, I just want "Ws", which is how they think too.

(Btw - last night should quiet the BM doubters a bit too!!!)

[ejacobson]

I just realized we are all sounding like a bunch of hawk fans here whinning about stuff while our team is playing amazing basketball and winning. These guys, all of them, from the starting five to the practice squad all deserve our total support. Everyone of them is making huge scarifices and making big play after big play. This road trip just proved how good these guys are and how good they can be when they play the way they are capable of playing. I know that I criticized Brooks as well and I had no right. Its fun to speculate but I think like many have posted before in this thread we shouldn't be detracting from any players abilities and capabilities. Brooks has had a rough strech getting used to not being the scorer, but he has done his best, and I think he is improving every game and I hope that he keeps getting better and better and that in March he explodes with his best games to ever for the Valley and NCAA tournys. Its going to be a great year of UNI hoops.

p.s. I re-read my eariler posts and re-thought my post here and had to change it after listening to some hawk and husker bball fans yesterday. UNI is a great school with a great bball team following and I think we all got a little greedy and spoiled with it all. I dont think anyone wanted to seem mean or critical of Brooks but thats what it came across as and I think everyone here loves this team, but we should all just be excited with the great year they are having and not debating what are the short comings of the players. As 2317 posted in another thread, these are just college kids, STUDENT-athletes who have to be students first and play basketball for fun, at least thats what we all hope.

[Panthers#1]

I really like Brooks a lot and I hope he does well. I want him to improve and become the best point guard UNI has ever seen. But you have to see that there are times that when people pressure us he usually stops near half court and makes a pass that one of our guys has to reach for. Also, I really don't feel comfortable sometimes when he is taking the ball up the court because people pressure him and then he'll make a bad pass. I hope he improves and stays in the starting roll a long time but right now, I would take Mike Willams.

[Sex Panther...]

I really like Brooks a lot and I hope he does well. I want him to improve and become the best point guard UNI has ever seen. But you have to see that there are times that when people pressure us he usually stops near half court and makes a pass that one of our guys has to reach for. Also, I really don't feel comfortable sometimes when he is taking the ball up the court because people pressure him and then he'll make a bad pass. I hope he improves and stays in the starting roll a long time but right now, I would take Mike Willams.

Apparently someone who we all regard as one of the best coaches around feels differently.....WOW, just.....WOW

[CF Panther]

Apparently someone who we all regard as one of the best coaches around feels differently.....WOW, just.....WOW

This is the type of response that just keeps topics like this going and heated. There is nothing in that post that deserves this type of response; nothing at all. This Panther fan is entitled to having a differing opinion from yourself and me; responses like this make you look rather arrogant and turn off other Panther fans. That is never a good thing.

[Sex Panther...]

He or she is entitled to his or her opinion. I am completely fine with that, but I'm also entitled to find it completely baffling...which I do. I would think that most people who follow this team would as well. To clarify, I should say that my reply is more centered on frustration for this entire thread not at this one poster...so I apologize for that. Brooks is what he is....it ain't changing folks. Apparently what that is is good enough to be the coaches choice to be the starting point guard on a team with back to back NCAA tournament appearances, 14-2 this year and currently has an RPI rating of 9.

I probably should have left the post alone and let it speak for itself. I think both Jared and Mike add to this team and do good things.

First it was J Lit who should be the starting PG...now it is MW. Who's next? Personally I feel the coaches have made the correct choice and it is not even worthy of discussion....pretty sure this won't be the last time I'm called an arrogant a-hole

[NJ Panther]

Its just too bad this season has been such a disater. Our point guard sucks, our two other superstar guards are under performing, we got destroyed by ISU, we have no bench, and all in all we're a complete disapointment and should all go home.
If you go back and read this and other threads this is what you hear over and over on PN. You'd think we were 2-14. We're feaking 14-2, second in the conference (hardly can count SIU's 3-0), and knocking on the top 25 door!!! If things keep going the way they are (I take nothing for granted though) it will be Dance number 3 come March. Its pretty darn amazing that we have so many massive "problems" and are doing so stinking well. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion on how good a player is and nothing said on here about Brooks was heinous, but some of the responses to critical posters almost were. EJ's post was great, but then people had to continue on the same pointless path. Lets end the negativity and get back to cheering our boys on to a conference title!

[NJ Panther]

I'm not for censorship here or anywhere, but the time may have come to put the ol' lock on this one as it did with the infamous Wingert thread. This is just getting stupid. Just a suggestion mods, totally your call.

[Sex Panther...]

Sir, yes Sir! ....just kidding.

I agree. No matter what I see in this thread I will not react..promise. The Panthers could be on their way to a magical season and you are right all of our focus should be on that. I'll be there Wednesday in the Dome and Saturday night in Normal rooting on the Panthers......all of them

[CF Panther]

He or she is entitled to his or her opinion. I am completely fine with that, but I'm also entitled to find it completely baffling...which I do. I would think that most people who follow this team would as well. To clarify, I should say that my reply is more centered on frustration for this entire thread not at this one poster...so I apologize for that. Brooks is what he is....it ain't changing folks. Apparently what that is is good enough to be the coaches choice to be the starting point guard on a team with back to back NCAA tournament appearances, 14-2 this year and currently has an RPI rating of 9.

I probably should have left the post alone and let it speak for itself. I think both Jared and Mike add to this team and do good things.

First it was J Lit who should be the starting PG...now it is MW. Who's next? Personally I feel the coaches have made the correct choice and it is not even worthy of discussion....pretty sure this won't be the last time I'm called an arrogant a-hole

If Williams knew the offense as well as Brooks, no doubt in my mind he'd be our point guard. Brooks is the man for the job at the time being, and has picked his game up the last few games also.