Sam M

[abesimpson]

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 was curious, so I looked at the stats and this is what I come up with..
Sam played 12 games against BCS teams at BU (Iowa Stx2, Iowa, Vandy, Mich. Stx2, Cinn., Virginia, Florida, Ok. St, Illinois, USC) and he had 99 games against the MVC and everyone else.

Pts/g 3-pt % A/TO S/g
BCS 5.75 30.2 .75 .67
Mids 12.4 35.5 1.9 1.5

Obviously, a lot of other factors involved that are hard to control for (some very good BSC teams, home/away/neutral court, familiarity with MVC opponents, experience, Sam's ankle issues, post-season games), but it's clear he didn't play as good as usual against BCS teams. The A/TO ratio and steals/game differences I think are the most telling that he wasn't at the same level as the BCS guards.

Still, no one Illinois would probably want with the ball in their hands for a shot or free throw and the game on the line other than Sam.

I love Sam, but this isn't entirely untrue.

And I'm not, not licking toads....

[Da Coach]

I watched today's game with a couple Illinois fans, and it was everyone's opinion that Illinois' offense stalls, and the do not play as well when Sam is not on the floor (he didn't play today). Weber's offense needs a point guard who knows the offense and is unselfish, and helps create shots for the other players, especially Meyers Leonard and the other big men. Illinois clearly doesn't have anyone other than Sam who does that. Illinois big men should have had their way today against Nebraska's weak collection of big men (they only have 2 non-guards who play any significant minutes). But Illinois' big men (Leonard, Griffey, Djimde, Egwu, and Shaw) collectively only had 9 shots for the game. That won't win many Big Ten games.
Sam may not be a star at the Big Ten level, but he is a valuable player for them.

[PTownHawkeye]

Slightly unrelated, but nice to see Sammy at tonight's Bradley game. LOTS of people coming up to shake his hand, several hugs. Definitely a "beloved" player. He sat with his dad in Section 24, and Meyers Leonard came up with his girlfriend to sit a row below them for the 2nd half.

[mrcoachdude]

Nice to see Sam there tonight...should have asked for illini tickets

[tornado]

Sam and his dad really still love their school, team, and teammates - and were vigorously cheering them on - they are fine folks and I enjoyed talking with them...

[Da Coach]

Sam likely to return to action Thursday in Illinois' game at Penn State-

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x713195446/Illini-still-have-one-scholarship-to-fill

also note the top line-
If Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber wouldn??™t have taken transfer Sam Maniscalco last spring, the former Bradley point guard would likely be playing somewhere else in the Big Ten.

As was reported here last spring, Sam had multiple Big Ten offers, as well as offers from teams in other BCS conferences.

[lefty]

Sam likely to return to action Thursday in Illinois' game at Penn State-

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x713195446/Illini-still-have-one-scholarship-to-fill

also note the top line-
If Illinois basketball coach Bruce Weber wouldn??™t have taken transfer Sam Maniscalco last spring, the former Bradley point guard would likely be playing somewhere else in the Big Ten.

As was reported here last spring, Sam had multiple Big Ten offers, as well as offers from teams in other BCS conferences.

What other schools offered for the BT and BCS?

[Da Coach]

There were more than 1 other Big Ten school interested in his services, as well as schools from the Big 12 and ACC.

[Nacho]

While these are certainly not the bible... here are what the recruiting services said...

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Sammy-Maniscalco-50542

Rivals- 3*: Offers from Bradley, Green Bay, and Loyola.

Scout- 2*: Only list Bradley, but I think they take down the other offers once someone commits.

[Da Coach]

We are not talking about teams recruiting Sam out of high school in 2007.
We are referring to the schools interested in his services after he was released by Bradley last March.

[kds]

While these are certainly not the bible... here are what the recruiting services said...

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/recruiting/player-Sammy-Maniscalco-50542

Rivals- 3*: Offers from Bradley, Green Bay, and Loyola.

Scout- 2*: Only list Bradley, but I think they take down the other offers once someone commits.

?

[Nacho]

We are not talking about teams recruiting Sam out of high school in 2007.
We are referring to the schools interested in his services after he was released by Bradley last March.

WHOOPS. Probably should have read the thread before posting. My bust

[TPS1]

I wonder if his starting days are over. ILL seemed to gel pretty well after his period of ineffectiveness and during the time he has been unable to play.

[tornado]

in addition to those comments - if you read the rest of the stories, there are even more comments in the coverage that say that Weber and the Big Ten coaches are actually out there sorta recruiting to land other grad student transfers off other teams' rosters...

Weber flatly admits he's“...just putting out feelers now, seeing what’s out there and what might become available,” he said.


His words suggest they're trying to recruit kids off other mid-majors' rosters...

He even goes one step further with this comment...
"If I was at a mid-major or a low-major, I wouldn’t like it (this rule that allows grad transfers) at all,’’ he said Tuesday"

[SFP]

I like Weber because he is so honest. He should be doing whatever he can within the rules to make his team better. I believe the rule is a good one but a coach should not be able to contact those players. If a player contacts you that is different. I'm sure there are ton of back channels to skirt a rule as such.