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The future for Sam M.

  • Thread starter Thread starter georgethedog
  • Start date Start date
real fan said:
First of all you do not have to be fast in order to play good defense,(B.Mullens not fast but good defender) Sam is not a great defender and needs to work on his technique, with the proper footwork he can improve on his weakness .
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Mullins has two physical advantages over Sam M. that help him play better defense as he is taller and longer than Sam M. His footwork is also superior. I don't know if that is natural or not so maybe Sam M. can catch up with the footwork, but he can't get taller and longer. That is what is scary about Sam M. playing the "two" position because he will usually be guarding much bigger players (unless the other coach is not too bright, or can't recruit, and plays a sub-6' two guard).
 
ser_solace said:
I definitely see the weaknesses in his defense this year. Not sure why I didn't notice it last year when he was starting for Ruff.

But I like Sam as a player, and he seems to have the right attitude to work through these things. I remember Coach Les commented that he scrapped the starting line-up after the Butler game and just ran toughness drills to see who would come out on top. Sam was obviously one of them, which is why he maintained his starting position.

Many never expected JC to come back as the player he was in his junior and senior season, and maybe Sam can do the same. In fact, the season's not done yet for him, so who knows...
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I also feel like Sam's defense was better last year. Part of the problem may be that he has been playing hurt most of the season.
 
SM plays with more heart then any player we have had in awhile and he is clutch. Now on the other side of the equation his defense in the 1/2 court set is average at best and he is not an offensive player that can create his own shot. He has been able to drive in on small guards because he is strong and can use his body to fend off the defender and when set we have no better 3 point shooter on the team. Should he start and will he start in the future is the question. I do not like doing the JC comparison with SM because they are such different players. JC was a true 2 and did not have the same handle or physical strength SM but did have the height and the ability to work off a screen put the ball on the floor and pull up for a 3. If SM works on his speed during the summer he should have just as good a shot as anyone to start. I'm not a fan of his defense right now but he can improve. If his speed does improve then he can and should play straight up D and regardless of height he should be able to guard bigger players. Right now he needs to give them a little space or risk getting blown by. I feel his pain because I have to do the same thing when I play ball but luckily at the local Y the shooters make me look much better then SM does.

SM does bring intangibles to this team and right now has been the only consistant scorer. Let's give credit where credit is due. Next year we will have the ability to rotate 3 guys at the 1 because I really hope that AW is our starting 2. That will give DN and SM backup minutes at the 2 and EM all his minutes at the 1. EM will have to learn how to be a scorer in order to be more effective at the 1 otherwise SM will probably see the majority of his time at the 1.

If we do not get JW though AW will play the 3 guaranteed and TB the 4!
 
ser_solace said:
I definitely see the weaknesses in his defense this year. Not sure why I didn't notice it last year when he was starting for Ruff.

But I like Sam as a player, and he seems to have the right attitude to work through these things. I remember Coach Les commented that he scrapped the starting line-up after the Butler game and just ran toughness drills to see who would come out on top. Sam was obviously one of them, which is why he maintained his starting position.

Many never expected JC to come back as the player he was in his junior and senior season, and maybe Sam can do the same. In fact, the season's not done yet for him, so who knows...
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I don't think we were worrying about his defense last season, we were just happy he was there to cover for DR and glad he did the job he did.
 
I actually thought there was a huge defensive drop off while Ruff was down last year. I think that's actually the big difference in our D this year. When Ruff was a Brave he'd be harrying the other teams PG most of the length of the floor and keeping their offense from setting up normally. The point was usually very far away fromt he basket. I think SM tries to play this way, but just is not quite capable. I think SM can become a good positional defender but he has a lot of work to do on technique since he can't cover that up with quickness.
 
I usually sit and lurk, but on this topic I have to chime in. Most of you guys are describing why skill-wise and speed-wise Sam will or won't play what position, and you're making your argurments with skill and finesse. But you've overlooked what should be obvious. Sam has something that the other's don't....natural leadership. That's why it will surprise me greatly if he ever loses his starting spot. He has been showing his leadership skills from the very day that his squad in the red-white scrimmage challenged Ruffin's squad. I remember it well. I am an admirer of good leadership and I see it in Sammy.

I argue that much of what has held us from being great in recent years is lack of strong on-court leadership. As much as I loved the game of Ruff, I felt this was a role he wasn't naturally suited to fill. Sammy is, and it is a skill more important than speed, shooting ability, etc.
 
Dub said:
I usually sit and lurk, but on this topic I have to chime in. Most of you guys are describing why skill-wise and speed-wise Sam will or won't play what position, and you're making your argurments with skill and finesse. But you've overlooked what should be obvious. Sam has something that the other's don't....natural leadership. That's why it will surprise me greatly if he ever loses his starting spot. He has been showing his leadership skills from the very day that his squad in the red-white scrimmage challenged Ruffin's squad. I remember it well. I am an admirer of good leadership and I see it in Sammy.

I argue that much of what has held us from being great in recent years is lack of strong on-court leadership. As much as I loved the game of Ruff, I felt this was a role he wasn't naturally suited to fill. Sammy is, and it is a skill more important than speed, shooting ability, etc.
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Sam can be the greatest leader in the world, but being a good leader doesn't make you shoot better or defend better or grow 3 inches. We need Sam to do 2 of those 3 for him to be effective and for BU to be better at basketball. :wink:
 
Dub said:
I usually sit and lurk, but on this topic I have to chime in. Most of you guys are describing why skill-wise and speed-wise Sam will or won't play what position, and you're making your argurments with skill and finesse. But you've overlooked what should be obvious. Sam has something that the other's don't....natural leadership. That's why it will surprise me greatly if he ever loses his starting spot. He has been showing his leadership skills from the very day that his squad in the red-white scrimmage challenged Ruffin's squad. I remember it well. I am an admirer of good leadership and I see it in Sammy.

I argue that much of what has held us from being great in recent years is lack of strong on-court leadership. As much as I loved the game of Ruff, I felt this was a role he wasn't naturally suited to fill. Sammy is, and it is a skill more important than speed, shooting ability, etc.
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Agree. IMO, DR was a "me first player". A good example was the Michigan St game at Carver last season, a game BU should have won.
 
Braves4Life said:
Sam Maniscalco = Heart and Soul of Bradley Basketball :) :)

Any opinions change after today? ;)
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He's got heart, not sure about soul (haven't seen him dance). :lol:

I don't recall people saying Sam shouldn't see the floor (although I have tended to avoid some of the Sam threads because I think they get a little out of control), but I think some people were perhaps wanting him to perhaps not shoulder so much of the burden running the point and scoring points. With EM emerging as the true PG, and DD taking over some point duties as well, Sam can do what I think he does best, and that's be a scorer. He played great today. He's got to be that knockdown 3-point shooter for us, as he's the closest thing to it we have.
 
BradleyBrave said:
He's got heart, not sure about soul (haven't seen him dance). :lol:

I don't recall people saying Sam shouldn't see the floor (although I have tended to avoid some of the Sam threads because I think they get a little out of control), but I think some people were perhaps wanting him to perhaps not shoulder so much of the burden running the point and scoring points. With EM emerging as the true PG, and DD taking over some point duties as well, Sam can do what I think he does best, and that's be a scorer. He played great today. He's got to be that knockdown 3-point shooter for us, as he's the closest thing to it we have.
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This is something we see eye to eye. When SM can set his feet and square up he's arguably, as deadly a shooter as we can hope for. If he could mix his drives with a few pull up jumpers, I'm not sure who coud stop him without doubling him up. Then he can use his point guard skills and dish it up.
 
SFP said:
This is something we see eye to eye. When SM can set his feet and square up he's arguably, as deadly a shooter as we can hope for. If he could mix his drives with a few pull up jumpers, I'm not sure who coud stop him without doubling him up. Then he can use his point guard skills and dish it up.
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Sam = Mullins in that aspect....make him move to shoot and he's not that great but if he can set and step into one look out...

I agree w/ your statement there as well...

We passed the ball better today than we have all year and it starts w/ Edge and Sammy and rubs off on all the other players...

A great effort by one of the chosen leaders today...

It was a great game for Sam and certainly something for him to build on as we move forward to Wichita State this week.
 
I think Eddren's development has helped Sam a bunch. Earlier in the year I think Sam was just trying to do too much (and he was dealing with the foot injury). Asking Sam to run the point, defend the other team's best guard all game and score a bunch of points is just asking too much. Give some of that to other members of the team and Sam gets a bunch better.

Over his young career I have been guilty of focusing on some of his weaknesses but his leadership, toughness along with his good shooting mean he is going to be on the floor a bunch and that probably won't change throughout his career.
 
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