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Sam Maniscalco update

Da Coach

Da Coach

Moderator
Staff member
Sam has been having a great senior season. He has lead St. Patrick's to 1st place in the East Suburban Catholic Conference, including a big win over St. Joseph's.

Tonight they had a conference rematch against Notre Dame High School of Niles (Jim Les' old high school).
St. Patrick's lead nearly the entire way and won the game. Sam Maniscalco was the leading scorer, though I do not yet have a final score to report. Sam had around 20 points, despite gimmick defenses and double-teaming played against him the entire night.

St. Pats remains in 1st place in the ESCC with an 8-1 record (15-4 overall). Their only loss was last Saturday against Benet. In that game, Sam scored a season-low 9 points. Benet played a unique defense designed specifically to counter Sam. They assigned 2 players to double-team Sam the entire game and played a 2-1 zone against the the rest of St. Patrick's players.

The only other time I have seen a similar defense played was when Bradley played Indiana State in 1979, and Dick Versace (in his first season as BU coach) employed a similar defense against Larry Bird. He scored just 4 points (the lowest scoring output of his career including high school, college, or pro), but Indiana State still beat Bradley that year, and remained undefeated until they lost to Michigan State in the NCAA Championship game.

St. Patrick's plays again Saturday night against Elk Grove, and has 2 games next weekend against Marist and a rematch next Saturday (Feb. 10) against St. Joseph.
 
I am so excited to see this kid on the court for the braves, I really think he could be incredible. I just wonder how we're goin to keep all these talents happy next year.
 
I don't want to overhype recruits, and the only one I have seen play so far is DeAaron Williams, but people who have seen Sam play are really impressed with him.

This is a great year for point guards in Illinois with Derrick Rose (Memphis), Demitri McCamey (Illinois), Jacob Pullen (Kansas State), Aaron Johnson (UAB), and others, but Bradley has gotten a great one in Sam.
 
Re: Sam Maniscalco update

Da Coach said:
The only other time I have seen a similar defense played was when Bradley played Indiana State in 1979, and Dick Versace (in his first season as BU coach) employed a similar defense against Larry Bird. He scored just 4 points (the lowest scoring output of his career including high school, college, or pro), but Indiana State still beat Bradley ..
Click to expand...

I believe Bird's teammate Carl Nicks went for 29 in that game as Larry Bird outsmarted the BU defense by
repeatedly drawing his double team to the far corner, then allowing his teammates to go 4 on 3.


In case anyone wants to view some info about that game, here's a link.
You can see that Larry Bird scored double digits in every college game he ever played except for the 4 he got against BU in 78-79.
Bird also had double digit rebounds in 76 of his 94 college games and double digit assists in quite a few also.
http://www.indstate.edu/athletic/mensbb/0607/Media guide/history-tradition.pdf
 
Yeah, I'm really looking forward to see Sam in a Braves uniform after reading about his wonderful success this year. Ruff will be missed when he graduates, but Sam sounds like he could fill his shoes well.
 
Re: Sam Maniscalco update

There used to be a photo in the BU Media Guide that was taken of Bird being guarded by Harold McMath from behind and Carl Maniscalco infront.

I beleive it was the white guy who made the half courts shot that had a big game in Peoria that night. One of Birds 4 points was on a break away dunk.

I was 8 at the time so the memory is not great but I remember being there and how exciting the atmosphere was for the IndyState game that evening.

tornado said:
Da Coach said:
The only other time I have seen a similar defense played was when Bradley played Indiana State in 1979, and Dick Versace (in his first season as BU coach) employed a similar defense against Larry Bird. He scored just 4 points (the lowest scoring output of his career including high school, college, or pro), but Indiana State still beat Bradley ..
Click to expand...

I believe Bird's teammate Carl Nicks went for 29 in that game as Larry Bird outsmarted the BU defense by
repeatedly drawing his double team to the far corner, then allowing his teammates to go 4 on 3.


In case anyone wants to view some info about that game, here's a link.
You can see that Larry Bird scored double digits in every college game he ever played except for the 4 he got against BU in 78-79.
Bird also had double digit rebounds in 76 of his 94 college games and double digit assists in quite a few also.
http://www.indstate.edu/athletic/mensbb/0607/Media guide/history-tradition.pdf
Click to expand...
 
Grassman said:
Da Coach said:
Here is more info about Sam's numbers from last night's game. St. Pat's beat Notre Dame 46-35 and Sam scored 23 against ND's double teaming. Sam's teammate Ed O'Callaghan, had a great game with 11 rebounds and 5 blocks.

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...,5797308.htmlstory?coll=cs-highschool-utility
Click to expand...

Any chance St. Pats will get to Carver for The IHSA elite 8?
Click to expand...

If they can get past Loyola Academy (featuring the Jordan brothers and a couple other very good players), they would have a good chance. Last year, Loyola ended St. Pat's season with a win over them in the sectional. Despite the poor showing on national TV, Loyola is still a very good team.
 
Sectional assignments are out...but the seeds won't be out to next week. St. Pat's is in the same sectional as Loyola. Pretty sure they will be seeded 2 and 1 respectively. The opposite side of super sectional features all Chicago teams...several good ones but no Derrick Rose. Check it out, its the Hoffman Estates #1:

http://www.ihsa.org/activity/bkb/2006-07/2assign.htm

I haven't seen either team play but the thing is Loyola has a bunch of good players...St. Pat's is not so balanced.

That would be tons of fun if Sam got to play at Carver this year but it'll be an uphill battle.
 
Since many of our posters were not even alive when Sam's father played point guard for Dick Versace's first 2 teams at Bradley (1978-79 and 1979-80), here is a picture from the front of the 1979-80 media guide. Carl Maniscalco is the kid in the back row with the red flower on his lapel. Mitchell Anderson is in the center and Rick Malnati (now the head coach at New Trier High School) is at the left mid portion of the picture--

79-80mediaguide.jpg


Image of "Cisco" Maniscalco's page from the 1978-79 Bradley media guide--
Cisco1.jpg
 
Da Coach said:
Since many of our posters were not even alive when Sam's father played point guard for Dick Versace's first 2 teams at Bradley (1978-79 and 1979-80), here is a picture from the front of the 1979-80 media guide. Carl Maniscalco is the kid in the back row with the red flower on his lapel. Mitchell Anderson is in the center and Rick Malnati (now the head coach at New Trier High School) is at the left mid portion of the picture--

Image of "Cisco" Maniscalco's page from the 1978-79 Bradley media guide--
Click to expand...

Coach that was a seriously strong team seeing the media guide takes me way back thanks!!

I can name all the players in the photo other then the white guy in the front cant remember his name. Also behind him was Ken Garrett who is in the 1,000 point club and he actually quit that team less then half way through that season.

Great team and amazing memories for a young boy growing up in Peoria.
 
Yes, that's Ken Garrett in front of Rick Malnati, and to the right of him is Harold McMath. 2 other guys who played a key part in the NIT Championship a couple years later- Donald Reese is in the front row near Versace, and David Thirdkill is in the back row with the cane. Eric Duhart and Eddie Matthews, who was a freshman that season, are the 2 in front of Maniscalco. Bobby Ford is behind Reese, and Hasan Houston is the guy who is all smiles with a cane behind Ford. I think it is Jeff Robinson behind Houston.
Yes, that's Ken Garrett (he scored exactly 1000 points in his Bradley career before he quit the team that season) in front of Rick Malnati, and to the right of him is Harold McMath. 2 other guys who played a key part in the NIT Championship a couple years later- Donald Reese is in the front row near Versace, and David Thirdkill is in the back row with the cane. Eric Duhart and Eddie Matthews, who was a freshman that season, are the 2 in front of Maniscalco. Bobby Ford is behind Reese, and Hasan Houston is the guy who is all smiles with a cane behind Ford. I think it is Jeff Robinson behind Houston.
The kid in the lower left is Dan Secli, a big kid from Canada who injured his knee in a high school All-Star game before he came to Bradley, and redshirted that 79-80 season. He tried to make a comeback the next year, but unfortunately, he never played a game for Bradley.
 
Da Coach said:
Yes, that's Ken Garrett in front of Rick Malnati, and to the right of him is Harold McMath. 2 other guys who played a key part in the NIT Championship a couple years later- Donald Reese is in the front row near Versace, and David Thirdkill is in the back row with the cane. Eric Duhart and Eddie Matthews, who was a freshman that season, are the 2 in front of Maniscalco. Bobby Ford is behind Reese, and Hasan Houston is the guy who is all smiles with a cane behind Ford. I think it is Jeff Robinson behind Houston.
Yes, that's Ken Garrett (he scored exactly 1000 points in his Bradley career before he quit the team that season) in front of Rick Malnati, and to the right of him is Harold McMath. 2 other guys who played a key part in the NIT Championship a couple years later- Donald Reese is in the front row near Versace, and David Thirdkill is in the back row with the cane. Eric Duhart and Eddie Matthews, who was a freshman that season, are the 2 in front of Maniscalco. Bobby Ford is behind Reese, and Hasan Houston is the guy who is all smiles with a cane behind Ford. I think it is Jeff Robinson behind Houston.
The kid in the lower left is freshman Dan Secli, a big kid from Canada who injured his knee in a high school All-Star game before he came to Bradley, and redshirted that 79-80 season. He tried to make a comeback the next year, but unfortunately, he never played a game for Bradley.
Click to expand...

Dang I thought of his name on my drive home from work. Of course you beat me to it LOL thanks. You are right about Jeff Robinson from Lockport, he never really paned out. Duhart was the starting point guard, wonder how many people remember that... other then you Coach.
 
I remember Eric Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhart :wink:

That was really a great era. I lived and died The Braves while in high school during Versace's run..........What a wild ride! Lot of funny rumors and stories about those Versace teams (probably mostly true :wink: )

I think J Les is bringing these good times back :D
 
I think Dick Versace must have sworn to Eric Duhart's mom that Eric would be a starter, because Duhart started then came right out and in went Hasan Houston - who never got the chance to start. Never could figure it out, but it worked right up to the NCAA game.


BY THE WAY-- if anyone wants to hear more about Sam Maniscalco, and if you haven't already received my PM on him, then PM me and I'll send it to you.
 
Houston

Houston

T: This was the era when the 6th man played a prominent role. Coach V knew he could bring in instant offense with Hoppy off the bench. Just loved that 10-15 bank shot of his :wink:

What's the latest on Hop's health?
 
I have not heard anything recently.
For those who do not know--
Hasan Houston was a key member of that 1979-1980 Bradley NCAA team, and is enshrined in the Bradley Hall of Fame with the members of that team. He has been critically ill after he collapsed and has suffered severe brain damage requiring round-the-clock care.

The web page that was set up by his friends and family to try to raise support for Hasan was not been updated for over a year, and now is no longer functioning--
http://www.hasanhouston.com/index.html

If anyone knows more about his current status, please post.

The Peoria Journal Star did a long article about Hasan in December, 2004, but the article is no longer available on the internet--

Here was a post from aboput a year ago where his situation was brought up.--
http://www.bradleyfans.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?p=15641#15641
 
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