Sam Maniscalco or Daniel Ruffin?

[electricmayhem]

I had a conversation with a co-worker the other day regarding the amount of respect, or lack thereof, given SM. I think SM is a very good guard on a mid-major team, but that DR could have run the show for a squad from a power conference.

Since I'm not writing anymore, I put it to you -- if you are starting a team and could pick either DR or SM as a freshman, knowing what you know right now, who would you take?

Either way, we are lucky to have had both as Braves!

[Braves2011]

both are good guards. SM is probably more consistent than DR. I would have both start on my team anyday

[Chico]

IMO, Sam is more of a team player than Danny was. Also IMO, Danny would try to take over a game at the end when he didn't have to, like the Michigan State game at Carver.

[SFP]

DR was electrifying SM is steady. On any given night, for one game it would be DR and for a whole season, SM and his passion. Great question electricmayhem!

[ph]

Interesting Q

Especially since our most recent frame of reference on either player is less than 100% (Ruff's abs and SM's foot).
I think in the past year JL said he'd forgotten how fast a healthy DR was (after seeing him in a recent pickup game)

I think, right now, I'll have to side with the gaudy National assist leader, DR.

[thefish7]

Voted with my avatar. Love sammy but ruffin was a better point guard at either end of the floor. As a sophomore his defensive quickness was a key reason bradley beat kansas. By the second half of his career he'd added a long range shot to the arsenal and become a very difficult to defend player. His passes were creative enough that he'd have had more assists but some of his floormates didn't realize they were coming. He did develop a tendency towards iso at end of half and games but I have to think out was coached because it always looked like a play.

Sammy is a very good combo guard who is maybe a little bit better of a scorer than ruffin but not as good on D or as good of a distributor. I'm a big fan of both guys, but feel like sammy is a key role player on a bcs team where ruffin could have started.

[houstontxbrave]

SM is a very gritty, hard nosed basketball player.

Ruffin was lightening quick, awesome on the ball defender.

Both could take over games with their offense, both can handle the ball and both are great FT shooters.

By a very narrow margin Ruffin but I guarantee you both could and would have been very successful at any level in the NCAA.

Remember though Ruffin got 5 to play 4 SM has pretty much played consistantly for his 4 years. He got plenty of minutes and big minutes when Ruffin was a senior. It is a very difficult call the more I type.

I guess it comes down to Ruffin being more quick and effective defensively.

[thefish7]

The other way I look at this question-- if ruffin was 6'3 but all other things equal I think he'd be an nba talent. I don't think the same its true of sammy. I'm not trying to belittle sammy at all, I think hes the second best guard we've had here in the jim les era.

[it's boogie time]

Ruffin. He could break a press and was a better defender.

One nice quality that both point guards had was the ability to knock down free throws at the end of the game.

[amckillip]

I will take Sammy every time. Ruff was more athletic, btu that's about it. Every time we were in a big situation he would force a bad pass or take an ugly shot. And at the end of the game he always wanted the ball, but never made the shot. Ruff was very typical of a player who everyone loved because it was easy to see his potential, but he never lived up to it. Sam in the antithesis of that, just last year people were calling to bench Sam for McCain because he was 'unathletic' (we'll call it that), yet Sam was All-MVC first team caliber(he got robbed). People don't see SM as an athlete, so they write him off, but he consistently exceeds expectations. And, to top it off he is far and above more clutch than DRuff (or really and player as of late save maybe WF).

[amckillip]

IMO, Sam is more of a team player than Danny was. Also IMO, Danny would try to take over a game at the end when he didn't have to, like the Michigan State game at Carver.

Perfect example Chico. If we had Sam at last years ability leading the team, I think we win that game.

[houstontxbrave]

Perfect example Chico. If we had Sam at last years ability leading the team, I think we win that game.

I am not trying to start an arguement here, but Ruffin was the starting point guard on a team that one 2 NCAA games, one NIT game and went to the finals of the CBI.

SM has been the starting point guard on a team that went to the finals of the CIT and one that won exactly nothing.

Ruffin wasnt exactly incapable of winning big games.

[Dub]

Ruff - more gifted athletically
Sam Man - natural leader on and off floor, more focus, more mental toughness. If I'm starting a pro team that is going to play night in - night out, I want Sam in the long haul.

[thefish7]

I will take Sammy every time. Ruff was more athletic, btu that's about it. Every time we were in a big situation he would force a bad pass or take an ugly shot. And at the end of the game he always wanted the ball, but never made the shot. Ruff was very typical of a player who everyone loved because it was easy to see his potential, but he never lived up to it. Sam in the antithesis of that, just last year people were calling to bench Sam for McCain because he was 'unathletic' (we'll call it that), yet Sam was All-MVC first team caliber(he got robbed). People don't see SM as an athlete, so they write him off, but he consistently exceeds expectations. And, to top it off he is far and above more clutch than DRuff (or really and player as of late save maybe WF).

As one of the EM for SM guys from last year, it was because Sam was hurt. He looked pretty much awful until they figured out how to treat his ankle. He was excellent after that. I just want to clarify that I think that's why most people were wanting to make that change. I don't think anyone continued with that line once it was known that he'd been hurt and they fixed it because he went from pretty bad to very very good almost like it was a light switch.

[shaunguth]

Here are the "Per 40" numbers through the first three seasons played:

Points
14.2 - Maniscalco (3,249 minutes)
12.5 - Ruffin (3,017 minutes)

Rebounds
3.2 - Ruffin
2.7 - Maniscalco

Assists
6.3 - Ruffin
4.1 - Maniscalco

Turnovers
2.3 - Maniscalco
3.1 - Ruffin

Steals
2.0 - Ruffin
1.3 - Maniscalco

Assists per Turnover
2.0 - Ruffin
1.8 - Maniscalco

Minutes Played per Foul
17.1 - Ruffin
15.6 - Maniscalco


Year-By-Year Breakdown:

Points
19.1 - Ruffin (06-07) (1,073 minutes)
16.8 - Ruffin (07-0 (971 minutes)
15.7 - Maniscalco (09-10) (1,034 minutes)
15.4 - Maniscalco (08-09) (1,181 minutes)
11.3 - Maniscalco (07-0 (1,034 minutes)
10.3 - Ruffin (05-06) (988 minutes)
7.4 - Ruffin (04-05) (956 minutes)

Rebounds
4.2 - Ruffin (07-0
3.6 - Ruffin (04-05)
3.2 - Maniscalco (09-10)
3.1 - Ruffin (05-06)
3.0 - Ruffin (06-07)
2.6 - Maniscalco (07-0
2.3 - Maniscalco (08-09)

Assists
7.0 - Ruffin (07-0
6.9 - Ruffin (05-06)
6.4 - Ruffin (06-07)
5.5 - Ruffin (04-05)
4.4 - Maniscalco (07-0
4.1 - Maniscalco (09-10)
3.7 - Maniscalco (08-09)

Turnovers
2.1 - Maniscalco (07-0
2.1 - Maniscalco (09-10)
2.5 - Maniscalco (08-09)
2.9 - Ruffin (06-07)
3.1 - Ruffin (04-05)
3.4 - Ruffin (05-06)
4.0 - Ruffin (07-0

Steals
2.3 - Ruffin (06-07)
2.2 - Ruffin (07-0
2.1 - Ruffin (05-06)
1.7 - Ruffin (04-05)
1.4 - Maniscalco (08-09)
1.3 - Maniscalco (09-10)
1.2 - Maniscalco (07-0

Assists per Turnover
2.2 - Ruffin (06-07)
2.1 - Maniscalco (07-0
2.0 - Ruffin (05-06)
1.9 - Maniscalco (09-10)
1.8 - Ruffin (04-05)
1.8 - Ruffin (07-0
1.5 - Maniscalco (08-09)

Minutes Played per Foul
22.5 - Maniscalco (09-10)
20.3 - Ruffin (04-05)
19.8 - Ruffin (07-0
16.7 - Ruffin (05-06)
15.3 - Ruffin (06-07)
14.6 - Maniscalco (08-09)
12.8 - Maniscalco (07-0