Really smart non-play by Brooks at the end.

[JayJ79]

Small high schools can produce outstanding individual players just as easily as big high schools can. MOST high schools don't "recruit" their players like college/pro teams do, instead it is a matter of geography. (obviously, there are exceptions, such as prep schools and the like, and some people do move into a school district for the sole purpose of getting onto a certain team. but for the most part, the school gets whatever kids live in their district).

Of course, larger schools draw from larger populations, so the statistics are such that there is a higher probability of getting talented athletes, and fielding better teams overall. However the individuals from small schools can be just as good or better than individuals from big schools.

[CanuckPanther]

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.


I really respect your reply, Reed. That is very true. Many do not see the best option at the time, or even later. Whether they are loyal fans or not does NOT equate to their ability to realize the smartest play at any one time.
Thanks for your response on that!

[Sex Panther...]

Are you crediting Brooks McKowen for UNI making it to NCAA tournament appearances? With recent UNI success? Last time I checked their were 5 guys on the floor not 1. Isn't their a Valley player of the year on the floor most of the time too?
OH and stats, lets try this on for size.
Ben Jacobsen 1 turnover per 13.7 minutes played. (worst on team)
Brooks 1 turnover per 15.8 minutes played. (2nd worst on team)
....but wait....I believe Jacobsen has played over 1,000 minutes as compared to Brooks 800 some so its basically a toss up.
sexpanther...here's the deal. I didn't come on here to bash any UNI player. Hell I am a huge UNI fan and alum. I was just making a point. An opinion; which is what a message board is all about. Am I right or not?
-Please read my previous post that explains how I think Brooks has improved and his turnovers are coming down. I just simply don't think he is D. I material. End of story.

As far as I am concerned you can post whatever you like, go ahead and make your points. I think you will soon find you are in the huge minority with this opinion however. I believe you when you say you are a huge UNI fan, however I don't believe you when you say it wasn't your intent to bash Brooks. Explain to me how else to interpret the statement "he is not D1 material"? You throw a meaningless statistic at me like turnovers per minute, I won't take the time to explain to you why most point guards are going to lead their team in this "statistical negative". If you don't believe me look for yourself.

http://www.mvc-sports.com/webapps/stats/bball?func=leaders&sport=mbb&type=ind&season=2005-06&games=all&sort=to

On our team you yourself pointed out the fact that Brooks doesn't.

Despite the fact that Brooks has been at best a streaky offensive player in his time at UNI I do give him credit for being an integral part of everything the Panthers have achieved over the past three seasons. I would argue that his best chance at achieving personal statistics has been sacrificed because of the role he has been asked to play on this team. People that have watched every minute of every game understand what I mean. If you are one of those people and can't understand that then you just aren't getting it. Brooks is not a shut down on the ball defender, but if you can't realize what an asset he is as an off the ball defender you need to watch the LSU and WSU games one more time as an example. I would also say he has to be close to taking as many charges as the rest of the team combined this year.

I don't think Brooks needs to apologize for not having D1 "measureables" as you want to argue. We have no one on this team that can run the point better than Brooks currently. Frankly I have grown sick of people coming out of the woodwork and criticizing Brooks as a liability on this team. He's not and there is nothing that you can point to statistical or otherwise that will make it a true statement. He is the guts of this team, he adds toughness to this team. He is a local kid who you should open your eyes and get behind completely because you are missing something special.

[pantherfan4ever]

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.

I disagree.. fans that bash their OWN teams players are NOT true fans... even if they aren't as knowledgeable, bashing ones own teams players is not a sign of a true fan, i dont care if they are knowledgeable or not.....

[pantherfan4ever]

As far as I am concerned you can post whatever you like, go ahead and make your points. I think you will soon find you are in the huge minority with this opinion however. I believe you when you say you are a huge UNI fan, however I don't believe you when you say it wasn't your intent to bash Brooks. Explain to me how else to interpret the statement "he is not D1 material"? You throw a meaningless statistic at me like turnovers per minute, I won't take the time to explain to you why most point guards are going to lead their team in this "statistical negative". If you don't believe me look for yourself.

http://www.mvc-sports.com/webapps/stats/bball?func=leaders&sport=mbb&type=ind&season=2005-06&games=all&sort=to

On our team you yourself pointed out the fact that Brooks doesn't.

Despite the fact that Brooks has been at best a streaky offensive player in his time at UNI I do give him credit for being an integral part of everything the Panthers have achieved over the past three seasons. I would argue that his best chance at achieving personal statistics has been sacrificed because of the role he has been asked to play on this team. People that have watched every minute of every game understand what I mean. If you are one of those people and can't understand that then you just aren't getting it. Brooks is not a shut down on the ball defender, but if you can't realize what an asset he is as an off the ball defender you need to watch the LSU and WSU games one more time as an example. I would also say he has to be close to taking as many charges as the rest of the team combined this year.

I don't think Brooks needs to apologize for not having D1 "measureables" as you want to argue. We have no one on this team that can run the point better than Brooks currently. Frankly I have grown sick of people coming out of the woodwork and criticizing Brooks as a liability on this team. He's not and there is nothing that you can point to statistical or otherwise that will make it a true statement. He is the guts of this team, he adds toughness to this team. He is a local kid who you should open your eyes and get behind completely because you are missing something special.

I dont think i could have said it better myself, nicely said Sex Panther!

People are entitled to their own opinions.. but that sure doesn't make them right! Brooks does take more charges than the rest of the team combined and he is (according to his teamates and coach) our best double down defender on the team. Brooks offensive production could be better, but he has also taken on a role where coach really doesnt want him to be as much of a scorer. I dont understand how anyone could say that he is not D1 material. he is NOT a traditional PG (he is bigger, slower, not as quick) but he DEFINITELY makes up for all of those things by being one of the smartest players we have (as cited by his teamates and coach who know a lot more about Brooks play than we do). He makes heady plays and makes good decisions. Turnovers per minute doesnt mean a whole lot considering most PG's lead their teams in TO's... and i believe i saw someone mention that they dont think he is D1 material and the last time they looked, there were 5 guys on the court.. bottom line is that if ALL 5 guys on the court werent D1 material then the panthers wouldnt have 3 strait 20 win seasons and 3 strait tourny bids.... You dont have to be a great athlete and statistical standout to be D1 material... knowing the game as well as Brooks does and making the right plays and running the team the way the coach wants makes up for his lack of athleticism and no matter who our PG is, they wouldnt get a lot of "stats" because thats not how we use our PG...

Whoever said Brooks is not D1 material, I am glad you have your own opinions and aren't afraid to express them... I am just not sure how you come to that conclusion.. we have one of the best coaches in D1 and I am pretty sure he would NOT start brooks for the past 3 years if he were not good enough to play D1... unless you are also saying that josten, williams, foster, etc are also NOT D1 material (since brooks starts over them and if Brooks werent D1 material then the guys he starts over must not be either)...

[Panthers#1]

Okay, I have been reading the posts about Brooks for a while and I will now give you guys my opinion. I think that Brooks is a D1 player but he is not the type of player we all had hoped he would be. Yes, he has had to sacrafice scoreing and a lot of other things to fit into MD's system. It just really pisses me off when he gets about 5 open, and I mean open, looks at a three a game and doesn't hit one of them. I know his role is to do other things besides score but come on. You would think he would hit at least one of the shots. Yes I realize that he had two great games, Drake and UE, but how come we see the Brooks that we want and then we never see it again.

I do like his size and I like the fact that he can back down some of the other smaller point guards to get the points. I do believe that he is one of the smartest players on our team and hopefully he can improve on his shooting.