Willie Lowell is upset. He didn't play much to start the season, because he was the 12th man on a talented team.

DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT	MIN	FG	FGA	3PM	3PA	FT	FTA	OFF	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
3/31	@Greenville	W 86-49	10	4	8	0	0	2	4	1	4	2	0	1	0	0	10
3/31	@Wisconsin, Stout	L 50-68	12	2	3	0	0	1	2	1	3	1	1	2	0	1	5
4/1	@Bowdoin	W 74-49	7	0	1	0	0	0	2	1	3	1	0	0	0	0	0

In the first 7 team games, he appeared in the 3 above. He sends me this message after the 4/3 AM game:

I'll be honest, I'm starting to doubt when/if I'm ever going to see some minutes...at least at Hamline. I need at least 3 or 4 more minutes a game.

Following that, he mixed in some DNP with a couple games of more minutes.

4/3	Chowan	W 57-61	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0
4/4	@Marietta	L 60-69	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0
4/4	Massachusetts Liberal Arts	L 86-81	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4/6	Augsburg	W 46-90	10	1	1	0	0	0	0	1	6	2	1	1	0	1	2
4/7	@St. Thomas	W 86-77	9	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2
4/7	@Carleton	W 86-71	13	2	2	0	0	2	2	3	5	1	0	1	1	0	6
4/8	Concordia, Moorhead	W 66-81	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	0

After the 4/8 AM game, he sends this message:

What's the point of staying at Hamline if I'm not going to play? I like it here, but I also want to play. If you won't do it, I'm sure I can find a school that will.

Throughout, his WE has been dropping.

Now, as I mentioned, he was my 12th man - but that's this season. I'm graduating much of my front court next season, so I would like to keep Lowell around for depth next year. I was in a weak spot of my schedule, so I decided to get Willie some real PT/starts.

4/9	@Gustavus Adolphus	W 78-59	26*	1	2	0	0	3	4	1	8	4	1	2	2	2	5
4/9	@Augsburg	W 97-71	22*	2	3	0	0	2	3	2	11	1	1	0	2	4	6
4/10	St. Olaf	W 55-79	23*	1	2	0	0	0	2	0	6	0	2	1	1	0	2
4/10	Bethel	W 57-91	22*	1	4	0	1	0	0	3	6	1	1	0	2	0	2
4/11	Carleton	W 68-81	17*	2	3	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	1	0	2	4

For the year, his line now stands at:

Name	Yr.	Pos	GP	GS	MIN	FG%	FG3%	FT%	OREB	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	PF	PTS
W. Lowell	Jr.	PF	15	5	12.4	.548	.000	.526	0.9	3.8	0.9	0.8	0.6	0.5	0.7	2.9

The easy part of the schedule is coming to an end, and I've got to make a decision on Lowell.

Is he set on leaving after the two messages no matter what?

If he is, his *** is going to be nailed to the bench for the rest of the year to allow guys to prep for being without him next season.

If he's not set, is he expecting even more PT?

Does a kid who has threatened to transfer over PT send a "I'm happy" message once he is happy, the same way a promised kid will do?

I don't think those are for sure leaving messages. I have gotten a message where they were more decisive about leaving than yours and they stayed.

Also yes they send a message about being happy, in fact I just got one today.
"Coach, thanks for increasing my playing time - that means a lot to me."

Posted by maz621 on 4/11/2012 9:40:00 AM (view original):
I don't think those are for sure leaving messages. I have gotten a message where they were more decisive about leaving than yours and they stayed.

Also yes they send a message about being happy, in fact I just got one today.
"Coach, thanks for increasing my playing time - that means a lot to me."

Thanks, maz. Do you mind sharing how much PT you had to get the kid in order to get that message?

My guys email was a little different than yours as he told me how much PT he wanted. He was getting around 6mpg and asked for 3-5 more.

If you don't want him to leave, is it really going to be that damaging to make him your first backup at PF or C, until the CT starts?

Those are not guaranteed leaving messages, the first is just a "friendly attention getter" indicating the player is not happy (in case you haven't noticed the work ethic drop...). Getting the second one does indicate there's a possibility that if things don't change, the kid might disappear at year's end -- it's certainly not a sure thing. I've intentionally tried to irritate players into leaving so I could get scholarship money for the slot as opposed to cutting them at year's end and it didn't work. 

maz is right that you usually get an e-mail saying that he's happy you listened to him, etc. Sometimes you'll see the WE drop reverse itself by a point or two (sometimes even all the way)

kmasonbx - In terms of wins/losses, probably not that damaging (with one or two games the exception). In terms of development though, yes, because he'd be stealing minutes from the (now) sophomore and freshman who I expect to start next year and who I would rather see the development time go to.

rednu - The WE drop has reversed itself (I think by 2 points from the max drop) so hopefully that is a good sign. 

If the WE drop is reversing you should be in good shape... for the moment. He may still change his mind and start dropping if he gets mad again of course.

I promised a guy 15 minutes but found someone better after he had already signed.  I now want him to transfer after this year.  He's currently getting around 7.5 minutes a game.  What are the chances I get my wish and he bolts?

If you break a recruiting promise by that much the chances he leaves for you are certainly better than 50/50.  At least in my experience.

5/1/2011 11:27 AM	yanks250125
Why did my player Broadnax just send me an email saying he is mad about his playing time when he has started the past 4 games and averaged over 21 mpg, and averaged over 15 mpg in the last 7 games? He said he was only getting 12, which is true, and I know it's based on the whole season, but NOW his work ethic takes a hit after starting 4 consecutive games?
5/1/2011 2:15 PM	Customer Support
Thanks for the note. It seems pretty clear that you already know the answer to the question. It is up to you how you utilize him. But the guy is a Junior for heaven sakes and he has only started 4 of 9 games so far. And also, so far, he is averaging less minutes than he did as a freshman. You don't like him complaining but if I were in his situation I'd likely consider it to. This isn't a malfunction of the game. This is how life works. Cut the player a break. He's a Junior. Give the time he has earned. If not don't be surprised by his attitude response.

I asked a similar question to CS a year ago and got this stupid answer.  My player complained after he had started in 4 consecutive games.  Why would he pick then to complain.  This idiot at CS says "This is how life worsks."  Clearly, if you are a janitor and get promoted to office manager, you wouldn't go to the boss and complain about your tenure at the job, you would be thrilled with the sudden promotion.  I think some fixing is necessary for the timing of these transfer/minute threats/complaints.

Posted by yanks250125 on 4/12/2012 9:08:00 PM (view original):

5/1/2011 11:27 AM	yanks250125
Why did my player Broadnax just send me an email saying he is mad about his playing time when he has started the past 4 games and averaged over 21 mpg, and averaged over 15 mpg in the last 7 games? He said he was only getting 12, which is true, and I know it's based on the whole season, but NOW his work ethic takes a hit after starting 4 consecutive games?
5/1/2011 2:15 PM	Customer Support
Thanks for the note. It seems pretty clear that you already know the answer to the question. It is up to you how you utilize him. But the guy is a Junior for heaven sakes and he has only started 4 of 9 games so far. And also, so far, he is averaging less minutes than he did as a freshman. You don't like him complaining but if I were in his situation I'd likely consider it to. This isn't a malfunction of the game. This is how life works. Cut the player a break. He's a Junior. Give the time he has earned. If not don't be surprised by his attitude response.

I asked a similar question to CS a year ago and got this stupid answer.  My player complained after he had started in 4 consecutive games.  Why would he pick then to complain.  This idiot at CS says "This is how life worsks."  Clearly, if you are a janitor and get promoted to office manager, you wouldn't go to the boss and complain about your tenure at the job, you would be thrilled with the sudden promotion.  I think some fixing is necessary for the timing of these transfer/minute threats/complaints.

Talk about "attitude response", sounds like the guy at customer service was having a bad day.  I don't send many tickets, so I don't know from experience, but are the answers usually this snappish.

I frankly don't remember exactly when they are, but players evaluate their playing time at specific junctures of the season.  They just look at what has happened until that first juncture on average, not at trends.

Posted by dahsdebater on 4/12/2012 11:10:00 PM (view original):
I frankly don't remember exactly when they are, but players evaluate their playing time at specific junctures of the season.  They just look at what has happened until that first juncture on average, not at trends.

yeah, i know that...but that's definitely not "how life works"

Posted by kucewicz on 4/12/2012 10:58:00 PM (view original):

Posted by yanks250125 on 4/12/2012 9:08:00 PM (view original):

5/1/2011 11:27 AM	yanks250125
Why did my player Broadnax just send me an email saying he is mad about his playing time when he has started the past 4 games and averaged over 21 mpg, and averaged over 15 mpg in the last 7 games? He said he was only getting 12, which is true, and I know it's based on the whole season, but NOW his work ethic takes a hit after starting 4 consecutive games?
5/1/2011 2:15 PM	Customer Support
Thanks for the note. It seems pretty clear that you already know the answer to the question. It is up to you how you utilize him. But the guy is a Junior for heaven sakes and he has only started 4 of 9 games so far. And also, so far, he is averaging less minutes than he did as a freshman. You don't like him complaining but if I were in his situation I'd likely consider it to. This isn't a malfunction of the game. This is how life works. Cut the player a break. He's a Junior. Give the time he has earned. If not don't be surprised by his attitude response.

I asked a similar question to CS a year ago and got this stupid answer.  My player complained after he had started in 4 consecutive games.  Why would he pick then to complain.  This idiot at CS says "This is how life worsks."  Clearly, if you are a janitor and get promoted to office manager, you wouldn't go to the boss and complain about your tenure at the job, you would be thrilled with the sudden promotion.  I think some fixing is necessary for the timing of these transfer/minute threats/complaints.

Talk about "attitude response", sounds like the guy at customer service was having a bad day.  I don't send many tickets, so I don't know from experience, but are the answers usually this snappish.

I've had nothing but great responses from CS.  I think this is the exception, not the rule.