I don't want to step on toes . . .

[jman2004]

But lets talk some serious basketball without letting our emotional attachments to certain players come through.

Why does Josten not have a bigger role on this team? The last few games I've been somewhat disappointed in some of Coach Jake's decisions.

For example, it's no secret that Josten is our team's defensive specialist. Against Creighton he was guarding Funk pretty darn tight in the first half. Sure Funk scored, and the team was shooting lights out, but when Josten was in the game guarding Funk, he had to work extra hard just to get a touch. Their whole offense runs through him. So why did Josten only play 4 minutes in the entire half? It blows my mind. Especially while our senior point guard didn't sit once during the entire game. My wife and I sit right behind the visitors bench and we counted that even Nate Funk sat for 4 minutes.

Plus I think that he needs to be a little bit more of an offensive threat on our team. Coming out of high school, that's what he was recruited for. Same with Viet. Travis Brown shows sparks at time offensively, the problem is, they're never allowed to really build up some rhythm because they're not on the court long enough. Josten, Brown, and Viet in my opinion could be some prolific scoring for us from the guard position, but instead, those three all share one position, extremely cutting down on their playing time. While there are other players on the team who rarely (and by rarely I mean "never") sit out.

I guess what I'm trying to say in a polite way, is that our senior point guard is never going to sit out. Even when Kwadzo comes in, Brooks stays in and runs the two guard position. The problem I see with this is that while Brooks was once a big scorer in high school, that's not his role anymore. Josten and Brown both run that position better. Give Brooks a breather and let Kwadzo run the offense for a few minutes without Brooks in there to coach him. He's going to need to do it next year. What is the benefit of leaving Brooks in that long to work overtime playing a position he no longer plays, when we have three great ones sitting on the bench then? This is why Josten, Brown, and Viet cannot get into a rhythm. In my opinion.

I love how UNI slows things down to a half court game, I love how they focus on defense and that this style of play keeps the MVC in any game they play, no matter the team or conference. But we have some players that could actually score for us down on the offensive end if they would be given the same opportunities to play.

Anyone's thoughts? Please don't crush me for my opinion.

[BCPanther]

Actually Josten, Brown and Viet share TWO spots, the two and the three.

The reason McKowen plays some at the two is due to his on floor leadership. The other 3 plus Kwadzo are really in their first year of playing significant roles. Brooks brings the ability to settle a team down and to make sure that everyone on the floor is on the same page. The last thing that comes for players adjusting to new roles is the ability to communicate on the floor. Watch Brooks he is always talking and getting people in the right place. That is why it is hard for Jake to take him off the floor for extended periods of time.

[jman2004]

However, like I said, even Nate Funk sat for a total of 4 minutes, most of them down the stretch when UNI was coming back, for Creighton and he does all that Brooks does for his team and even more.

I can see Brooks' leadership out on the court, but I think Jake needs to trust his other players. Sitting Brooks for a few minutes a game absolutely would not hurt this team, if anything, it'd help them. It'd let those other guys get into a better flow and give Brooks some well deserved rests.

I've been getting frustrated the last few games because it seems like Brooks won't push the ball when he could. Some times he tries to do too much leading to turnovers (for example, not getting Egelseder the ball down low against SIU), missing outside shots while playing the two guard.

I think we need to let Brooks be the point guard. When Brooks comes out, let Kwadzo run the floor for a while, while Josten, Brown, and Viet share the wings. Then put Brooks back in and let him run things again. It'll only make him sharper and more focused.

I guess all I'm saying is that I love what Brown, Josten, and Viet have brought to this team this year and I wish we could see more of them. There is no reason Brooks needs to swing over and play the two as well as the point. In my opinion.

[Sex Panther...]

I respectfully disagree. <pats self on back>

[NEIOWABB]

I agree with jman. Look at Josten's shooting &#37;. 46% overall, 57% from 3.
I love Brooks, but he needs a break too. We have learned the last few years that we need fresh legs come March. Playing 38-40 minutes a night will take a toll on him.

[GonzoCat]

Brett Crawford gave a very good answer with regard to Brooks.

Actually Josten played 9 minutes in the first half, not 4. You are looking at the wrong person as far as who he should have substituted minutes with. He played all 20 minutes in the second half and another player who had a bad first half didn't play much the second. That was a good substitution and allowed us to make a big comeback, but still couldn't get over the hump, which can be attributed to how well CU and Funk in particular played and answered every one of our challenges with big plays when they needed them.

I agree that I wish Brooks didn't play 40 minutes and could get some rest, but in the biggest games and ones in which we never have a lead we need him out there to have a chance.

[TheGrowl]

FWIW - According to the Courier, Brooks played 31 minutes last night.

[NorthernIowaBacker]

But lets talk some serious basketball without letting our emotional attachments to certain players come through.

Well you see thats a problem w/ this board....seems as if everyone is either "good friends of a coach and he is just a great man, baby-sat a player back in the day, etc, work in the AD with someone and he/she is just a wonderful person" and cant help themselves. Never seen anything like it on any msg board before.

[jman2004]

His 31 minutes last night should prove my point. When he (the leader of this team) is well rested, we can look pretty darn sharp. When he's not well rested, we slow down as a team and are not as sharp.

Lets look at the whole season, especially MVC play.

In our two big conference losses, Illinois State and Creighton, Brooks played 39 minutes and 40 minutes respectively, with a total of 9 turnovers in the two combined.

In our three big wins (I'm considering Witchita St, SIU, and Missouri St), he's played 35 minutes, 35 minutes, and 31 minutes (with 12 turnovers total, still not great, but better overall).

Brooks has kind of driven me crazy at times this season, but overall, he doesn't do that bad of a job. All I'm saying is that it's good for this team to trust their other players and not let him do too much. Offensively, he's only shooting 40% from the field and 27% from 3 pt. range.

As already mentioned, Josten is shooting 46% from the field (57% from 3's), Brown is shooting 43% from the field (33% from 3's) and Viet is shooting 52% from the field (50% from 3's), all respectively better than Brooks with much less total attempts.

Again, I don't mind Brooks running the court as our point guard, but I strongly disagree with sliding him over to the two guard all the time when Kwadzo comes in, just to keep him Brooks in the game. Let him rest, he needs it. When he can rest 5-7 minutes or so a game, we'll be tough to beat. But when he plays 38-40 minutes a game, we will be less likely to be sharp in the end of the game.

I realize he has great leadership skills on display this season, but some of the other members on the team do too. He's not the only one I see out there barking and keeping people on task.

[jman2004]

NorthernIowaBacker, thanks. That's exactly why I said that.

I come on here wanting to talk basketball, real basketball, what's really obviously wrong with this team, things that obviously really work with this team, etc, and instead, you're kind of forced to choose your words wisely because you don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.

Thanks for noticing the same thing I kind of did.

[UNI Prof]

NorthernIowaBacker, thanks. That's exactly why I said that.

I come on here wanting to talk basketball, real basketball, what's really obviously wrong with this team, things that obviously really work with this team, etc, and instead, you're kind of forced to choose your words wisely because you don't want to hurt anybody's feelings.

Thanks for noticing the same thing I kind of did.

I think you're more than welcome to talk "real basketball," however that is defined. If someone takes you to task, be a big boy and deal with it. This board is full of good people, so I don't really see it being much of a problem.

You might also take into consideration that being a fan requires a certain amount of emotional attachment. If nobody cared about UNI basketball, I would guess this board wouldn't be here.

[jman2004]

I do realize that UNIProff, I'm emotionally attached to Josten right now, however not because he's a friend of mine, or I went to high school with him, or because he's my brother, but because I think he works his butt off on and off the court.

That's the emotional attachment I'm talking about. For example, at the Creighton game, I was getting frustrated as was everyone else and I made a comment about Brooks throwing a turnover (it was said in the heat of the moment). The guy next to me says something along the lines of "at least Kwadzo isn't in there. Man, I went to school with Brooks and that boy could shoot. He's awesome." That's what frustrates me.

I'm not saying that the people on here aren't good people, every one on here is a Panther fan and that's what counts. I just feel that it seems that a lot of fans judgement is often clouded because of some off the court personal attachments they hold. Maybe that's because Cedar Falls is such a good community as a whole, a lot of people know a lot of people. Coach Jake goes to my church and we see these players around a lot. They're not god-like figures that seem unapproachable. Maybe that's the problem.

But this is a message board where Panther fans can come and talk about things. Things like basketball. Things like what we see wrong with the team or things like what we see right with the team. I don't think that players should be un-criticizable just because they're nice guys or because you or somebody knows them personally. We're not questioning if they're nice guys and we're surely not putting them down. We're talking about the UNI Panther Men's Basketball team.

So for the record (or for future posts), I really do enjoy everyone on the team. "I Love This Team" as a matter of fact. I just wanted to talk a little basketball.

[panther2317]

I think Josten knows his role. He knows his job is to defend a tough assignment and to hit open shots when he's given the opportunity. He hit 4 of 5 last night from 3. So...he did his job. There's only one ball out there and I think everyone knows that it's Stout and Coleman as the #1 and #2 options, then they look to the perimeter to find Josten, Brown, McKowen, Viet. And that's how the offense works. Koch, Ahelgbe and Jones will get shots too...but only in the framework of the offense or in transition.

We love JJ, I think he's the most improved player on UNI's team (with Viet being a close second) and his role has expanded TREMENDOUSLY from last season...but I love him the most as a player because he knows his role. He's a defensive specialist first...and a scorer second.

[panther2317]

Also...in the middle of a run for a conference championship...why are fans pitting one Panther players vs. another??? That's something 12 year old kids do...support THE TEAM!!! GO PANTHERS...not go certain player!

[UNI Prof]

I like Josten's game a lot. His jump shot is a thing of beauty and his defense has been incredible. However, I would guess that Jake knows a lot more about how to use his talents effectively than I do. Josten could play 40 minutes in a win and I'd be happy; he could play 8 minutes in a win and I'd be happy as well.