Sam M

[Chico]

Maybe he can get a 6th year!

Would give you another year of Sammy bashing.

[abesimpson]

Seth Davis thinks Sam is going to be over-matched for the Big 10 season:

"They also needed overtime to beat Minnesota at home. One thing that has gotten exposed is point guard play. Sam Maniscalco, the transfer from Bradley, was a nice pickup, but when the level of competition steps up he gets exposed."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/01/02/stock.report/index.html?sct=cb_wr_a1

He doesn't mention his ankles bothering him. Hopefully, Sam can play through it and continue to have a productive season. But that's what I initially thought would happen to Sam when he transferred and the Illini got into the conference schedule, it didn't seem like he had very many good games against BCS schools at BU.

[tornado]

quite the opposite -- many commentators are saying that the reason the Illini offense sputtered last night was because they were without Sammy

[amckillip]

Seth Davis thinks Sam is going to be over-matched for the Big 10 season:

"They also needed overtime to beat Minnesota at home. One thing that has gotten exposed is point guard play. Sam Maniscalco, the transfer from Bradley, was a nice pickup, but when the level of competition steps up he gets exposed."

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/seth_davis/01/02/stock.report/index.html?sct=cb_wr_a1

He doesn't mention his ankles bothering him. Hopefully, Sam can play through it and continue to have a productive season. But that's what I initially thought would happen to Sam when he transferred and the Illini got into the conference schedule, it didn't seem like he had very many good games against BCS schools at BU.

I love Sam, but this isn't entirely untrue. He had a great game against USC, a couple of good games against OKST and UVA, a good game but poor shooting night against U of I, and poor games against Iowa State, MSU, and Florida (only counting games where he got good minutes).

This year he looked great against Maryland, looked ok against Mizzou and Minnesota and played poorly against Purdue.

Is Sam an all-conference Big Ten caliber player? No way. Is he a solid serviceable Big Ten starter? IMO, yes. I, however, don't think that there is any doubt that he would be our best player this year.

[thefish7]

I love Sam, but this isn't entirely untrue. He had a great game against USC, a couple of good games against OKST and UVA, a good game but poor shooting night against U of I, and poor games against Iowa State, MSU, and Florida (only counting games where he got good minutes).

This year he looked great against Maryland, looked ok against Mizzou and Minnesota and played poorly against Purdue.

Is Sam an all-conference Big Ten caliber player? No way. Is he a solid serviceable Big Ten starter? IMO, yes. I, however, don't think that there is any doubt that he would be our best player this year.

I liked Sam as a Brave, and he'd have been a big boost to this year's team, but I have many many doubts he would have been our best player.

[amckillip]

I liked Sam as a Brave, and he'd have been a big boost to this year's team, but I have many many doubts he would have been our best player.

So who would be better?

[SFP]

So who would be better?

Some could argue TB is better but I can say TB and DSE would be so much better with SM! That is what he brings to a team plus clutch FTs down the stretch.

Hey guys JP is a 4 not a 5 in any decent conference. Playing at the 5 as a 4 would wear out any player.

[thefish7]

So who would be better?

Taylor Brown is having a great season and is a better talent than Sammy. Given Sam's ankle issues DSE is on par, I think... I also agree with sfp that both TB and DSE would benefit from having Sammy on the floor with them.

[TPS1]

If he was still a Brave, Sammy would probably have been wearing street clothes during the Southern game...just sayin.

[amckillip]

Taylor Brown is having a great season and is a better talent than Sammy. Given Sam's ankle issues DSE is on par, I think... I also agree with sfp that both TB and DSE would benefit from having Sammy on the floor with them.

OK, So Sammy is a Big Ten Caliber Starter, and apparently so are TB and DSE. SO what you're telling me is that we have 2 Big Ten Caliber players, and we've lost 10 straight?? How is that even possible? Not trying to put words in your mouth or anything Fish, just trying to put things in perspective. Either Sam is better than many on here like to give him credit for, or we are so greatly underperforming and could have possibly had 4 Big Ten caliber players...

[ph]

You have a team when you talk like that about bench players.

In 06 we had 4 future pros on the bench. Franklin, Boogie, Zach and Crouch, plus a 5th year 7 footer in Heemkerk.

[Future Walk-On]

You have a team when you talk like that about bench players.

In 06 we had 4 future pros on the bench. Franklin, Boogie, Zach and Crouch, plus a 5th year 7 footer in Heemkerk.

heemSkerk was awesome

[amckillip]

You have a team when you talk like that about bench players.

In 06 we had 4 future pros on the bench. Franklin, Boogie, Zach and Crouch, plus a 5th year 7 footer in Heemkerk.

Ummmmm.... Plus Ruffin and POB. But 'playing pro' doesn't mean much of anything. Also not sure Crouch really had any more of a career playing pro than several of our current players would have. And Heemskerk was not much more than a footnote. But, I'm not sure what much of that has to do with the price of tea in China.

I'm not saying we should be making a Sweet 16 run, an MVC Tourney Run, or even a CBI/CIT run. I'm saying we shouldn't be making an 0-10 run.

[ph]

FYI all of the starting 5 played some pro ball, too. Tony, Somerville and even JJ got on a team in Europe?
I would give you Crouch as a footnote that season, but Heemskerk (although he wasn't going to bring it every game) did provide a significant force in a few games (at ISU and in the MVCt) It helps good starters win games when you get key contributions from the bench.

[thefish7]

OK, So Sammy is a Big Ten Caliber Starter, and apparently so are TB and DSE. SO what you're telling me is that we have 2 Big Ten Caliber players, and we've lost 10 straight?? How is that even possible? Not trying to put words in your mouth or anything Fish, just trying to put things in perspective. Either Sam is better than many on here like to give him credit for, or we are so greatly underperforming and could have possibly had 4 Big Ten caliber players...

I don't think you're putting any words in my mouth, I think TB would start on most any team he played for. I think DSE might play in front of SM at Illinois. YI never said anything about 4 Big Ten players at BU... I also, like you, think SM is a marginal Big Ten player. I think TB IS a Big Ten player, and DSE, like SM, is a marginal Big Ten player. Not sure who the many who think SM is underperforming in the Big Ten that you're associating me with are, but I think SM is doing just about what I'd expect SM to do in the Big Ten... Particularly with the ankle trouble he's having.