Brooks McKowen

[TCuni]

As a side note, according to today's stats from ESPN.com, Brooks is sitting at number 11 in the country for assists/game average. Not bad for a converted 2 guard, I'd say.

[tcondon]

As a side note, according to today's stats from ESPN.com, Brooks is sitting at number 11 in the country for assists/game average. Not bad for a converted 2 guard, I'd say.

Not bad at all. But remember the UNI offense is run on set plays. The point guard is going to have a lot of opportunites for assists with this kind of offense. It is like Brooks is beating everybody off the dribble and then finding the open man. He is running the offense. You put Kwadjo in the same offensive scheme his senior year, I'm sure you'll see similar stats.

[Panthers to the Bone]

7 assists per game is still 7 assists per game. No other player in the post-Weaver era has had that many. If Kwadzo is averaging 7 assists per game in the future, I will be as happy then as I am now with the distribution. Question: How many of those assists have come from transition this year? I don't know, just asking.

[OH BABY! I luv this team!]

Not bad at all. But remember the UNI offense is run on set plays. The point guard is going to have a lot of opportunites for assists with this kind of offense. It is like Brooks is beating everybody off the dribble and then finding the open man. He is running the offense. You put Kwadjo in the same offensive scheme his senior year, I'm sure you'll see similar stats.

Tcondon, Your "theory" on why Brooks has so many assists might have been true a year or two ago but so far this year the UNI Panthers have not really run "ALOT" of set plays. Only about 1/3 of the "set plays" offense is in and a number of the "new" guys are still struggling with understanding those so they really haven't been able to use alot of those set plays. I think the reason Brooks has alot of assists is 2 fold: he IS penetrating more and dishing off to the open man if the shot isn't there and also the transistion game has been there and he has done a great job of finding the open man for quick buckets.
Also, I will never understand the UNI fan who doesn't appreciate what Brooks brings to the floor every night and instead wants to get on his butt about how he is or is not playing. One poster said he has to bring his game everyday if UNI is going to win, well, you can say that about Stout and Coleman too! If you are on the team you better bring your game each and every game so to call Brooks out on this is absurd. Also, all UNI basketball has done since Brooks was the point guard is WIN! He is a winner everybody and that hasn't changed over the years! That is the one constant Brooks brings everyday, HE is a winner! I will take 10 Brooks McKowens on my team before I take one Curtis Stinson etc. because he is a team player and knows how to win. He will take a big charge when you need it, he will tie up the other teams big man and get a big jump ball call when you need it and he will seem to come up with that steal just when you need it! Does he turn it over once in while, yes, but keep in mind he is handling the ball more than any other player on the floor as the point guard and turnovers usually go along with that. If a big man has the ball in his hands for a total of 2-3 minutes in the game and has 1 or 2 turnovers and your PG has it in his hands for 10-12 minutes and turns it over 2-3 times who is more efficient with the ball? Too many fans just look at the NUMBER of turnovers and are not taking into consideration how much time the ball is in the persons possession and when teams are pressing the chance for turnovers increases.
In closing, Brooks McKowen IS the 2006-07 UNI Panther starting point guard and anyone who claims to be a UNI fan should be on the McKowen bandwagon as he along with his teammates try to lead us to a land we have never been to before and that is FOUR straight NCAA Tournaments! Before Brooks arrived on campus how many of you thought this was possible? He certainly has had alot of help with the likes of Coach Mac, Bennie, Crawford, Stout, Coleman etc but Brooks was also a big part of that success and anyone who tries to down play that hasn't followed this program closely!

[BCPanther]

Gary,
I give that observation an "OH, BABY!!"

[UNIPNTHR]

Another thing you must love about Brooks is his basketball IQ. Remember that overthrown pass across the court against Bucknell? Brooks let it go and it went back to be inbounded under our basket? I'm sure if I was in that situation I would have tried to grab it and call timeout. Brooks showed much wisdom.

Also watch how Brooks relates to everyone. He's always communicating with his teammates and the officials. That's an important, almost political, part of the game. He always seems to get calls to go his way and I'd like to think its because he has a good relationship with the officiating crew.

[TheGrowl]

Also watch how Brooks relates to everyone. He's always communicating with his teammates and the officials. That's an important, almost political, part of the game. He always seems to get calls to go his way and I'd like to think its because he has a good relationship with the officiating crew.

I was going to bring that up earlier, but let it slide...

Also, I was very impressed by the leadership Brooks exhibited when both he and Kwadzo were in the SDSU game at the same time. They basically alternated bringing the ball up, but there was no doubt who was in charge.
During stoppages in play, the two would talk and it was almost as if Brooks was giving Kwadzo encouragement (maybe advise?)

Anyway, this team seems to be a tight knit group of young men. I really admired the way Brooks nurtured K.A. We have some young kids on this team that are making a difference, and it's nice to see the veterans supporting them like they do.

[themick]

Not bad at all. But remember the UNI offense is run on set plays. The point guard is going to have a lot of opportunites for assists with this kind of offense. It is like Brooks is beating everybody off the dribble and then finding the open man. He is running the offense. You put Kwadjo in the same offensive scheme his senior year, I'm sure you'll see similar stats.

tcondon brings up a good point. I have always felt stout, coleman, jacobson, and crawford have been way overrated. I mean they score some points, but you have to remember with all the sets UNI runs they have just had a lot of opportunities to score and get open. They are not really that good. That might have been the weakest attempt to take something away from a basketball player ever. I'm guessing tcondon has not watched UNI play this year as many of Brooks assists are coming on fast breaks and his penetration. Brooks has played well give the guy some credit for once.

[UNIPNTHR]

I have always felt stout, coleman, jacobson, and crawford have been way overrated.... They are not really that good.

Wow. I respectfully disagree.

[GonzoCat]

So all you need to do is develope some set plays and practice them and then you can get to the NCAA every year with mediocre players? I wonder why more coaches haven't tried that?

[tcondon]

I'm guessing tcondon has not watched UNI play this year as many of Brooks assists are coming on fast breaks and his penetration. Brooks has played well give the guy some credit for once.

You couldn't be more wrong. I have been to every home game and watched the Washington game on television. I listened to Gary for the Pepperdine and Nicholls State games. What I am seeing is a player in good position running plays. We are not talking about Jared Jordan, the point guard from Marist that is breaking people down time after time.

Brooks does a great job leading this team. His leadership is needed this season more than ever with the slew of young and inexperienced guards.

[themick]

I think most people caught my sarcasm, but i just find it amazing how so many people will do anything to take everything they possibly can away from Brooks. Now an assist for Brooks is different than it is for everybody else. I guess i thought the last few games he did a good job of breaking down the defense and apparently a guy who knows basketball and can get the ball in the right spot is not important. I mean anyone could do that i guess.

[GonzoCat]

Sorry Mick, I guess my sarcasm meter is on the fritz. I totally agree with you re: Brooks.

[UNI Prof]

Sorry. I don't want McKowen handling the ball. I liked him his Freshman year but then after that, I haven't been impressed. Put somebody else in. You can rant and rave all you want about McKowen but my opinion won't change.

You must be kidding.

[Sex Panther...]

Uh oh. I was going to be a nice guy and let this thread just fade away. Let the record clearly state that it was NOT Sex Panther who bumped this.