Sam M & Andrew W....

[Grassman]

Sorry, bb...I am normally in agreement with you about 98% of the time...but to say that Maniscalco doesn't project to start next year or even be the first guard off of the bench is baffling to me.
So, you must think that McCain and Norris are both going to somehow move ahead of Maniscalco in the rotation next year?
Well, that would be great news for us if that were the case, but I don't see it happening.
McCain has no offensive game and/or confidence right now...and his minutes are being scaled back accordingly. I like him as a player, he has good athleticism and toughness and I think he will be a good player for us, but he will not play more minutes than Maniscalco next year...unless he has a miraculous offensive improvement in the off-season.
I like Norris, too...but he is still adjusting to the speed of the D-I game and struggles far worse than Maniscalco defensively at times...I don't see how anyone could realistically project him to move ahead of Maniscalco next year, either.

You can trot out shooting percentages and qualitative assesments about how you don't think Sam can defend, that he's a step slow, and so on...but the fact of the matter is that he plays the most minutes of anyone on the team currently, takes almost all of the shots for this team in crunch time, and is trusted to have the ball in his hands at the crucial moments in games...all of this as a sophomore.

I'm not saying he is going to have his number retired when he is done playing...I just can't believe how little credit he seems to get for his game. I watched him play defense all night long last night, looking for these supposed glaring weaknesses he has, weaknesses that clearly negate everything good he does on the offensive end...and I just don't see it. He gave up an open 3 to McFarland early in the game when he was late rotating back from helping, but other than that, I watched guys try to drive on him all night long, and I never saw one of them beat him...now I fully understand that this was Missouri State, and they are not blessed with the most athletic of guards...but still, the way people talk about Sam, it makes it sound like he is so completely inept defensively that he couldn't stop me from getting to the hole...and I just haven't seen it that way this year as a whole.
I do remember last year and teams spreading the floor and beating Sam like a drum at times...and I'm sure that's where this perception was built. But honestly, I don't remember too many times this year where he has appeared to be totally overmatched on the defensive end (other than a couple games where he was hobbled with his foot injury). Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see with him...but then again, maybe those that have labeled him as an utter defensive liabilty are just seeing what they want to see, as well. It probably goes both ways...

Hey, I am seeing what you are seeing. Sammy will be a key player and contributor during his reamining years at BU! No doubt about it!

 

[SFP]

I would like to see a bigger lineup no doubt but if all things are equal SM will start next year unless there is another coach. I could be wrong and we'll see a lineup of:
EM
AW
CR
TB
WE again if healthy.

If this happens that means JP and MK are expected to contribute or we picked up a JUCO big. I like going big and this starting lineup would be as athletic as we ever had even with Boogie and ZA.

 

[BradleyBrave]

I would like to see a bigger lineup no doubt but if all things are equal SM will start next year unless there is another coach. I could be wrong and we'll see a lineup of:
EM
AW
CR
TB
WE again if healthy.

If this happens that means JP and MK are expected to contribute or we picked up a JUCO big. I like going big and this starting lineup would be as athletic as we ever had even with Boogie and ZA.

Why is Sam starting such a given? JL sat him when he wasn't performing at times this year, and had him coming off the bench a few times as well. I wouldn't assume that Sam's spot is set in stone. No one's is really, although I think you'll be hard pressed to have EM or AW out of the starting lineup. Everywhere else is up for grabs IMO.

 

[SFP]

Fair enough BB! The only thing usually set in stone is the position these players will play. AW would make a great 2 but will play the 3, TB should play the 3 but will be a 4. It would be sweet if JP or MK come in and show some real game and can start at the 4 and then have the rest of the starters move down in position. Then we would have a starting team of EM, AW, TB, JP, WE.....

As someone has said, "if we go big no one will beat us."

 

[real fan]

I like E.M. a lot but he has not played well offensively for quite some time and defenses are starting to back off of him which is making it a lot harder for our other players to get off open shots, he is going to have to start making some outside shots or we will not be able to play him as much.

 

[BradleyBrave]

I like E.M. a lot but he has not played well offensively for quite some time and defenses are starting to back off of him which is making it a lot harder for our other players to get off open shots, he is going to have to start making some outside shots or we will not be able to play him as much.

Kinda reminds me of Dan Ruffin, Rob Dye, and Billy Wright as freshmen...

EM will be just fine, don't worry.

 

[jeffsu]

Fair enough BB! The only thing usually set in stone is the position these players will play. AW would make a great 2 but will play the 3, TB should play the 3 but will be a 4. It would be sweet if JP or MK come in and show some real game and can start at the 4 and then have the rest of the starters move down in position. Then we would have a starting team of EM, AW, TB, JP, WE.....

As someone has said, "if we go big no one will beat us."

I'd like to see SM in for EM in that lineup (not to get the EM/SM debate going again... I don't care if thats starting lineup or just a commonly used one during the game) but that would be quite the scoring lineup.

 

[Boiler]

No we haven't

No we haven't

but nobody can deny with a straight face that we haven't been shot over almost the entire season.

It's been our overly aggressive, switching, chasing defense that has left shooters open on the opposite side of the court. Unless you play 'em staight up and BU gets a 6' 5" defensive specialist, Sam's the man to lead the way with his fearless shooting, ball handling, and free throw shooting skills.

 

[romar]

AW also missed the last month of the season with a broken hand, so he didn't have any 'extra' games. AW was also playing behind all-conference guards in Will Franklin, Jeremy Crouch, and Dan Ruffin, and sharing time with JJ Tauai and Danny Adams as a freshman. The backcourt has been nowhere near that crowded or that talented since Sam has been here.

Also, where was the shooting percentage comparison? Sam is shooting 3's at 33% clip this year, and 41% overall from the field. Last year AW shot 43% from the fied, and 41% from 3 - significantly better than Sam's 33%. As a freshman, AW shot 46% from the field, and 46% from 3. Conversely as a freshman Sam shot 41% from the field and 36% from 3. The numbers clearly speak for themselves here.

Sam will be a solid 4 year guy, and I like his as a player, but a BU great is a big, big stretch. Next year he doesn't project out to start, or even necessarily be the first guard off the bench. AW is twice the talent Sam is, and will have twice the career. If given the choice between the two, 10 of 10 MVC coaches would take AW. This comparison is silly, really.

Your argument of who AW played with and behind cuts both ways - AW has always been the second or third offensive option and has never had the defensive bulls-eye placed directly on his back as SM has much of this year. That may explain the difference in field goal percentages as well. I think any comparison between players can be called "silly" as well as any effort to refute that comparison. I like both AW and SM and can't wait to seem them play together next year. I just think that Big Mike was trying to give SM his just due as his Soph season has progressed.

 

[braveatheart]

I contend that our best lineup this year is when SM, DD, CR, TW, and DC are on the floor.
Next year, I think our best lineup will be when SM, DD, AW, TB, and WE will be on the floor...until proven otherwise.

I totally agree ER3. Last year I cringed when DR went down and we had to play SM at point but you know what, he did pretty good. Better than I thought he would. Still I wanted DR to get healthy.

This year I was hoping EM would come in and make SM take a seat. I thought he did for a while. I have changed my mind in the last 3 games though and I think SM is our best point gaurd. He does a great job of bringing the ball up the court, rarely turns the ball over, great free throw shooter, fair 3 point shooter, good driver of the lane and good basketball IQ.
EM is a little quicker, better rebounder and a little better defensivley.
That line-up ER3 likes is full of scorers. SM,DD,AW,TB are a lot of guys for the other team to gaurd. They will have to leave somebody open and that open guy will score. If EM is in there, they will just leave him open. I am not getting down on EM as I think he can get better and will get better. But as it stands now SM has the edge.
I think this year that CR has earned a starters role with his play of late. He deserves to play ahead of EM. This all should make georgethedog happy as these lineups are also our biggest.