BU vs. UMES game thread

[amckillip]

Maniscalco will not run the team. There's a guy who signed a LOI who has much better credentials to be next year's point guard, Eddrin McCain . SM will take the place of JC at the 2 spot.

I'm not so sure he has that much better credentials. All-state in Illinois are pretty good credentials, and Sam M played against some pretty tough competition and came out ahead(read: led his team to victory over Evan Turner and Demitri McCameys team)...

I think you are probably right about Eddren running the team because Sam is versatile, but I expect him to have a role more like that of Will last year. More of a 2nd PG than the shooting guard that JC is.

[BradleyBrave]

I'm not so sure he has that much better credentials. All-state in Illinois are pretty good credentials, and Sam M played against some pretty tough competition and came out ahead(read: led his team to victory over Evan Turner and Demitri McCameys team)...

I think you are probably right about Eddren running the team because Sam is versatile, but I expect him to have a role more like that of Will last year. More of a 2nd PG than the shooting guard that JC is.

Sam is more Will Franklin than Dan Ruffin. Eddren McCain is the point guard of the future. Sam will be more of a combo. It's not a put down.

[BradleyBrave]

Regarding the game, that was the worst team I have ever seen. They are a perfect example why Division I should eliminate about 100 teams.

Some observations...

1st half was nice, 2nd half was terrible.

Collins needs to have 18-20 minutes every night. He also needs to learn how to catch the ball, go up strong, and not throw outlet passes to the opposition. I will take the 10 and 14, but the 7 TO's from a big is terrible.

Cole-Scott is close to breaking out, but he still kind of plays like a freshman at times. Hopefully that goes away, because we're going to need him to play like an upper classman.

Austin looked really good in his limited time. A bit lost on defense and a bit timid rebounding-wise, but he set good screens, and definitely knows what to do with the ball around the basket. If he was in shape, I would start giving him some of Salley's minutes. But, as 1508 said, he looked winded.

Salley doesn't give this team much of anything right now. He needs to be in more of a bench role IMO.

The Andrew Warren that showed up today is the one that can make us a contender in this league. We need that 3rd scorer, and he certainly looked the part today.

Egolf continues to make strides. Still is a little weak with the ball sometimes. I'd like to see him post up a little bit.

Offensively, guys are starting to 'get it'. Yes, the competition was awful. But the new guys were starting to make that extra pass, starting to know where guys are going to be at and not be afraid to throw it there, etc. That was nice.

I don't think Jimmy was too happy with the terrible 2nd half. I think there's going to be a solid couple days of hard practice before FGC. Last year, we played a great game against a low-major team from Florida, and followed it up with our best half of basketball in at least a decade (en route to a blowout of Rutgers). Let's hope history repeats itself with a drubbing of FGC followed by a drubbing of Iowa.

[amckillip]

Sam is more Will Franklin than Dan Ruffin. Eddren McCain is the point guard of the future. Sam will be more of a combo. It's not a put down.

Oh I agree completely. On top of that I think if AW can learn from JC this year and develop the 'basketball' smarts JC he could be a very good 2 guard next year. Maybe better than JC (though in a very different way) just because he seems to be more physically gifted.

I really did like what I saw when we had all the seniors out, there were some sloppy plays and mental mistakes, but it sure seemed like the potential was there.

[CABUFan]

I agree that it will probably eventually be McCain at the point and Sam at the 2, but I'm not expecting McCain to start next year.

It's obviously way too early to try and predict next year's line-up, but based on what we know now, I'd expect it would be Sam at the 1, Cole-Scott at the 2, and Warren at the 3, with McCain backing Sam up. The following year I'd expect McCain at point w/ Sam moving to the 2. If McCain's good enough to start over Cole-Scott or Sam, great. I just don't know why we would assume he would be as a frosh.

[braves12]

I have no idea how good Mccain is so it is impossible for me to say who will be the point guard next year. I'm not sure how much Sam will progress this year either. I do not expect for Sam and Ed to be on the floor together a lot next year. I would think with Andrew Warren, Theron Wilson, TCS and Roberts you have a chance for a much bigger lineup at the 2 and 3 spots(except for TCS). I like the idea of a point guard, the 2 &3 filled by 6" 5"ish guys and then DC, Sam S, Will and Anthony in the 4 & 5s.

[amckillip]

I have no idea how good Mccain is so it is impossible for me to say who will be the point guard next year. I'm not sure how much Sam will progress this year either. I do not expect for Sam and Ed to be on the floor together a lot next year. I would think with Andrew Warren, Theron Wilson, TCS and Roberts you have a chance for a much bigger lineup at the 2 and 3 spots(except for TCS). I like the idea of a point guard, the 2 &3 filled by 6" 5"ish guys and then DC, Sam S, Will and Anthony in the 4 & 5s.

I think we say we like a bigger line up a lot, but continually JL goes with a smaller line-up. Not because he neccesarily likes it, but rather there many more talented guards than big men, so he uses what he has. I would very much expect McCain and SamM to play together next year and alot 2 years down the road. Les seems to prefer to have two people that can handle ball on the court at a time(read: DRUFF and TB, DRUFF and WF). And I still say TCS is a liabilty on defense, not so much because of lack of effort, but rather technique, which can often be a lack of effort in practice. I don't expect him to start, but he very well could if he could shore up his D. I think even the thought of him starting this year is scary because we would have 2 players at about 5' 10"...

[SFP]

I have no idea how good Mccain is so it is impossible for me to say who will be the point guard next year. I'm not sure how much Sam will progress this year either. I do not expect for Sam and Ed to be on the floor together a lot next year. I would think with Andrew Warren, Theron Wilson, TCS and Roberts you have a chance for a much bigger lineup at the 2 and 3 spots(except for TCS). I like the idea of a point guard, the 2 &3 filled by 6" 5"ish guys and then DC, Sam S, Will and Anthony in the 4 & 5s.

If all indications are correct EM has some wheels. DR fast. SM just will never have that same ability. You either have it or you do not. I think SM if he keeps hustling and practicing hard will become a very solid college player. I think he has the ability to be a Steve Kerr like player. EM has the potential to be an Iverson like player. Speed at this level with skill can make you a dominant player. I hate to predict next year's line up already but EM starts at point.

[amckillip]

EM has the potential to be an Iverson like player. Speed at this level with skill can make you a dominant player. I hate to predict next year's line up already but EM starts at point.

Lets hope not... I understand what you mean as far EM's type of game, a speedy slashing, dribble drive kind of player, but AI is the most selfish "point guard" I think I have ever seen play. I would much rather he become a DRuff type player, but he has the gift of being bigger and stronger. I don't think we'll ever see a shoot-first PG while JL is coach...

[Da Coach]

From what I see in those videos of Eddrin McCain's high school team's games last year, I think we can expect a point guard a little more like Billy Wright or Anthony Manual, than Daniel Ruffin. He does not appear to possess the jet quickness of DR, but is a cerebral PG who excels at multiple facets of the game.

Link to video clips of Eddrin McCain--

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=5043

[brebeuf1fan@iu]

Sophomore year in high school was the year Andrew took his huge step from a solid bench player to a very good offensive player and then it just got better and better from there. He was our number 1 option offensively by the end of the season even though we had a very good PG in Jordan Carter. I know its not quite the same thing since BU has both Crouch and Ruffin, but I truely believe Andrew is the most talented of the 3 and has the most well rounded game. Also he probably creates the biggest mismatch for opposing teams. I know you have to take my view point with a grain of salt, but I truely think Drew will be put up many more performances like this one as the season goes on.

[Braves4Life]

Sophomore year in high school was the year Andrew took his huge step from a solid bench player to a very good offensive player and then it just got better and better from there. He was our number 1 option offensively by the end of the season even though we had a very good PG in Jordan Carter. I know its not quite the same thing since BU has both Crouch and Ruffin, but I truely believe Andrew is the most talented of the 3 and has the most well rounded game. Also he probably creates the biggest mismatch for opposing teams. I know you have to take my view point with a grain of salt, but I truely think Drew will be put up many more performances like this one as the season goes on.

I agree with what you're saying about Warren. I think he can be "The Man" next year, and a future Bradley great.

I also think it's possible that McCain could start at PG. If he is truly a Top 25-50 PG he could be just what we need. There are some very good freshman PG's leading their teams this year. I just love that little freshman PG at Syracuse, Johnny Flynn - http://www.sportsline.com/collegebas...erpage/1333796