Really smart non-play by Brooks at the end.

[ceaser150]

The sad thing is when we were at Pepper's after the game, at the table behind us was a group of obnoxious people complaining about Brooks' play. All we could do was roll our eyes. It may not have shown up in the stat sheet, but he made some plays that saved the game for us. Coleman got credit for carrying the team in the 2nd OT, but Brooks set him up for a number of those lay-up with good passes.

[pantherfan4ever]

from espn.com:

But in a rare fundamental mistake, Bucknell's Donald Brown lofted the next inbound pass over everyone's head, throwing it the length of the floor. UNI's Brooks McKowen, a former Iowa "Mr. Basketball" from his high school days, was alone in the frontcourt in a defensive posture; he alertly raised his hands over his head and let the ball bounce out of bounds for a UNI possession.


"There were 8,442 people in here tonight," McDermott said. "And there may have only been one who would not have grabbed that ball. And that was Brooks McKowen. In that situation, for the ball to come loose, and for him to let it go … talk about a feel for the game. He may have only scored one point today, but do not overlook how important and how heady that play was. It helped us win the ballgame."

[pantherfan4ever]

The sad thing is when we were at Pepper's after the game, at the table behind us was a group of obnoxious people complaining about Brooks' play. All we could do was roll our eyes. It may not have shown up in the stat sheet, but he made some plays that saved the game for us. Coleman got credit for carrying the team in the 2nd OT, but Brooks set him up for a number of those lay-up with good passes.

that is sad... but hey, those guys obviously AREN'T true basketball fans if they were complaining about Brooks' play. we could sit here and complain about brooks, jacobson, and stouts nights, but that would be stupid! they ALL did things that didnt show up on the stat sheet to help us get the W!...

Jacobson played great defense, stout changed a LOT of shots and got 13 rebounds, and then there was Brooks.... it only shows that he got like 1 or 2 assists in the game, but he made some VERY nice entry passes that led to some big shots. He also had the huge pass to coleman's missed dunk (VERY Heady play) and i noticed a few other entry passes at critical times that Brooks made.

If Brooks would have grabbed that ball, it would have been game over for sure! We had a lot of "key" plays in the game, but that play definitely set us up for a shot at sending it into another session where we could win it!

[panther2317]

Stout and Coleman combined to hold McNaughton to 4-13 from the floor. Also, Benny and others held Bettencourt to only 2 3-pointers I believe. Great defense all around. That kept the Panthers in the game until the offense came around.

[UNIAlum95]

that is sad... but hey, those guys obviously AREN'T true basketball fans if they were complaining about Brooks' play. we could sit here and complain about brooks, jacobson, and stouts nights, but that would be stupid! they ALL did things that didnt show up on the stat sheet to help us get the W!...

Jacobson played great defense, stout changed a LOT of shots and got 13 rebounds, and then there was Brooks.... it only shows that he got like 1 or 2 assists in the game, but he made some VERY nice entry passes that led to some big shots. He also had the huge pass to coleman's missed dunk (VERY Heady play) and i noticed a few other entry passes at critical times that Brooks made.

If Brooks would have grabbed that ball, it would have been game over for sure! We had a lot of "key" plays in the game, but that play definitely set us up for a shot at sending it into another session where we could win it!

I believe it was Turgen who said that Brooks was a "pest" on defense. I don't think people are giving him the credit due for his work on the defensive end of the floor. He is constantly asked to double down low and still get back outside on his player. All you can say is three straight 20 Win seasons with him at the point. He must be doing something right.

[Panther'73]

I agree UNIAlum95.

[Matt Trump]

that is sad... but hey, those guys obviously AREN'T true basketball fans if they were complaining about Brooks' play.

I'm not sure I would question their level of loyalty or being a true fan. Maybe they aren't as knowledge as they should be before they make this kind of statement, but I doubt that they are not a true fan.

[NJ Panther]

I love the small school bashing. Brooks wasn't brought here to do what he is doing. I believe he was thought to be a great scorer, which hasn't turned out at this level for what ever reason, but don't say it is because he went to a small school and played against lesser talent he doesn't stack up. I would like to introduce you to Grant Stout. North Mahaska is even smaller then Wapsie. He came in undersized and a little soft, but a lot can be said for hard work and being put in the right situation. AGWSR and Webster City could both be added to this arguement, but since Viet and Jared's impact hasn't been made yet, I will wait.
ps I am not saying 4A isn't better basketball, I understand the difference, but to say a kid can't play cause he played at a 1A or 2A school...maybe you should got watch Hoosiers.

Good stuff and a nice destraction. I went to a 4A school and while I believe 4A is much deeper quality wise there are certainly years the top 2A or 3A schools could beat the top 4A schools. Certainly there have been years where Unity Christian (2A), SC Heelan (3A), and Hall Western (they've fluctuated btw 2 and 3 I believe) could have beaten anyone in the state (I'm sure there are other programs as well, I just know those three the best). Case in point: When my alma mater Sioux City East won 4A in 2002 we had 1 loss: to 3A SC Heelan. We beat Waterloo East twice (3 future DI players) as well as nationally ranked Minneapolis Patrick Henry (at least 4 future DI players), but our lone loss was to the 3A runner-up. Is it easier to rack up points in 1 and 2? Oh absolutely, especially in certain conferences and on certain teams, but certainly not all situations. There is also more of a chance to start as a frosh simply based on the small size of 1A and 2A talent pools. But there are certainly smaller programs that could, and in the case of at least SC Heelan do, compete for conference and state titles in larger classifications. I've always dreamed of the state tourny concluding with the 4 classification champs playing each other for a Grand Championship. It'll never happen, but it would be amazing basketball

[KaBullseye15]

most things brooks does well dont show up in the stat column, he plays hard and if he wasnt D1 material i dont know how he starts for ranked basketball team. and if hes not D1 material then whats that say about Josten and Williams who play behind them. saying hes not D1 material is the most ridiculous thing ive heard, yeah his stats arent always great and he doesnt do everything right all the time but who does? if he sucked he wouldnt get playing time, every team has role players that fill the spaces and brooks does a good enough job of it.

[mtrain4]

Set plays don't work against a 2-3 zone or any zone only man to man guarding. We need to penetrate against a zone to have them collapse so then we can dish the ball to guys who are open that's how you beat a zone not by tossing it around the outside of the 2-point arc.

Set plays can work against a zone. Obviously man to man set plays do not work against a zone but there are plenty of set plays for a zone. Heck, not only have I seen UNI run set plays against a 2-3 in a game, I've been to practices in which they'd been working on them. Penetration does help beat a zone but you can run sets to beat a zone as well.

[mtrain4]

Another point to add to the person talking about how sometimes s 2A or 3A team can be better....one name: Jordan Egleseder. I don't think you'll find a single 1A-4A player to stop him and he plays for a 1A team.

[Lil Panther]

The best team I have ever seen in the state, and I realize this is very argumentative was the Iowa Falls team of 99. 2A with Nick Collison and Mike Lindeman. There point guard was all state Football but I can't remember his name. They would have won it in 4A that year, and many other years as well.

[BCPanther]

The difference between classes is depth. In a 1A school you may only have 1 or 2 quality players, but based on sheer numbers at a 4A school you may have 8 or 9, its all about population.

[Newsbreaker]

There are odd times when a smaller school would be able to beat the 4A schools, but that's exceedingly rare. The 4A schools just have a much large talent pool from which to draw, and better 'feeder' systems that kids get into.

[Matt Trump]

The best team I have ever seen in the state, and I realize this is very argumentative was the Iowa Falls team of 99. 2A with Nick Collison and Mike Lindeman. There point guard was all state Football but I can't remember his name. They would have won it in 4A that year, and many other years as well.

Tony Howard was a huge factor on that team. He played football for the Panthers, but had to cut his career short due to concussions. He made a great coach, however. Super guy as well.

There was also Joey Leikweg (spelling) who was a good one too.

That team was freaking stacked.