Article about Sam Maniscalco

[tornado]

perhaps he knew exactly how things shaped up -- and perhaps those who say he didn't have no sources and no clue

[afan]

WOW....... Just let go of that hate!!

I do not see this as hate at all. He is simply stating the facts and common sense. Why are some posters trying to make the story complicated. It's simple..he bailed.

Period.. end of the story. I love Bradley basketball and consider the entire SM situation a negative to Bradley basketball. For all those SM lovers post your comments about him on the Illinois fan site. By the way has any one noticed that all of Sam's supposed reasons for leaving are all about I and nothing about team?

[Braves4Life]

Do you care to elaborate, B4L?

Your post was kind of funny to me but probably not to some.

Sometimes you remind me of a an elementary school kid pulling little pranks while keeping your eye on the teacher so you don't get caught.

That's a pretty good assessment of me LittleBrave. You get what I meant...... Tweak!

[shaunguth]

I do not see this as hate at all. He is simply stating the facts and common sense. Why are some posters trying to make the story complicated. It's simple..he bailed.

Period.. end of the story. I love Bradley basketball and consider the entire SM situation a negative to Bradley basketball. For all those SM lovers post your comments about him on the Illinois fan site. By the way has any one noticed that all of Sam's supposed reasons for leaving are all about I and nothing about team?

Yes....he graduated and chose to get on with his education. It should be fairly obvious to everyone that he won't be playing basketball for a living, so why not move on? Again.....I find it funny that the very teammates people are claiming he "quit on" don't seem to have a problem with his decision and are apparently still hanging out with him in their spare time.

I certainly hope everyone that feels the way you do towards SM now, reacts the same way toward Geno if/when he decides to "quit" on his team, become a traitor, and move on at some point in the future.

Oh.....and I believe "those SM lovers" should continue to post on whichever board they want to.

[Braves4Life]

It should be fairly obvious to everyone that he won't be playing basketball for a living, so why not move on?

Don't you think he has the talent to play overseas for several years? I think if his ankles ever heal completely that he has a pretty good shot.

[shaunguth]

Don't you think he has the talent to play overseas for several years? I think if his ankles ever heal completely that he has a pretty good shot.

Yes....I think he has the talent to play overseas.

No....I don't think his ankles will ever be healthy enough for him to make a living playing basketball.

[real fan]

So whenever he was gone you wouldn't be excited about BU hoops? BU hoops is a whole lot bigger than SM or any one person for that matter.

Plus who knows for sure how much he is going to play this year anyway?

BU hoops is much bigger then S.M. or any of the other players that chose not to come (Remy Abell) , I only concern myself with Bradley and Sammy may have done us a favor in that if he continues to have foot problems and cannot play up to standards like the Quincy game last year then he did us a favor by letting BU get another recruit for the future, did not like him bailing on us but also hope he ends up ok.

[tornado]

Oh.....and I believe "those SM lovers" should continue to post on whichever board they want to.

I don't yank my devotion to a Bradley player after they graduate or leave -- and SM, just like JL has always been
the CONSUMMATE Bradley Brave saying nothing but positives and superlatives about their school and their fans...
So I just don't get it that a few fans choose to do the diametric opposite and hate on the very players who they once revered.

As for whether Sam could play overseas -- I say with 100% certainty that he can (barring injury) -- since he's already a graduate,
he's already gotten feelers sent his way from Euro teams ...
Good ball handlers are the one commodity that Europe simply does not produce an excess of.
UNI's Ben Jacobson, who ended his career in 2006 and who has been playing quite successfully overseas ever since,
had virtually identical numbers as Sam had...
(Jacobson, who played four years at UNI - after the same number of games as Sammy -
had 1320 pts, 341 rebs, 233 assists, and shot 32.8% from 3-pt his senior year,
Sammy has 1210 points, 235 rebounds, 355 assists, and shot 33.8% his senior year)

[Future Walk-On]

Can we all just admit he wanted to play in the Big 10 with a great chance of making the NCAA tourney for the first time.

I am sure most of our players would have done the same thing if they saw greener grass....

[BeBrave]

Can we all just admit he wanted to play in the Big 10 with a great chance of making the NCAA tourney for the first time.

I am sure most of our players would have done the same thing if they saw greener grass....

But is the grass really THAT much greener? Not saying that I have a problem with him leaving. But he is joining an Illinois team that could finish at the bottom of the Big Ten, he will most likely be getting less playing time and, he left a fan base that adored him. Wouldn't you want to spend your senior season on a team where you were everyones favorite player and the face of the team with a significantly passionate fanbase?

Good luck to Sam though. I hope he does great and leads the Illini to a Big Ten championship and gets to play in the NCAA tourney. I just don't think it will happen.

[Buesch N Chips]

Can we all just admit he wanted to play in the Big 10 with a great chance of making the NCAA tourney for the first time.

Of course not. It's not about what is best for Sam, it is all about what is best for me.

[bigdaddystuck]

Actually enjoying the back and forth on this subject.

Everyone has an opinion on SM leaving, most are based on emotions. I for one have no problem with SM leaving. He is no different than any other student that chooses to change schools. Happens all the time, some do it for financial reasons, some do it for a change of pace, some do it to for love....etc.....to me the reasons for it are irrelevant. Personally, no I am not happy that he chose to leave or the school he chose....because I really dislike Illinois!

Whatever those reasons are, he did not want to stay. Does any team want a guy who really doesn't want to be there, as part of the team? I don't think he is a traitor or some one who deserves my hatred. I am also not going to hope he does well there either, but also don't want anything bad to happen to him. He is no longer a player on this team and for the most part I do not spend my time wondering how he is doing or worry about him regretting his decision.

[InMnBob1]

I am okay with Sam doing what's best for him but he did blow us off at the same time. He shouldn't be able to blow us off and still get the love. Can't have it both ways and we shouldn't as a fan base put up with it either.

[GenoFan01]

Just let it go. SM's gone, but let's focus on the upcoming season. We have a new coach, a lot of new players, nowhere to go but up from last season, so it's time to move on. New season in T-minus a week.

[LG281]

Just let it go. SM's gone, but let's focus on the upcoming season. We have a new coach, a lot of new players, nowhere to go but up from last season, so it's time to move on. New season in T-minus a week.

Agree whole-heartedly here...and I can't wait.

However, for a lot of reasons other than its what I want every year, I hope Geno & Co. can manufacture a stellar season. It'll be that much sweeter.