Huge Victory for BU tonight!!

[abraveforlife]

learn to win

I think this team had one thing holding them back from a "big" win and that was learning how to win. Loyola is not a big road win and beating Iowa on a neutral court is blahhh. I mean it is simple to say, but I remember them clamming up against Iowa State and Michigan State at the end of games. It boxing terms, they were missing a knock out punch. I am not saying they have it yet, but this a good way to know that you are capable of taking a new step in knowing what you are made of in crunch time. In 2005, it wasn't until the Northern Iowa game (away and at the end of the season) where that confidence booster and the killer attitude came to be. This team is a completly different from 2005, but the attitude is beginning to take shape sooner. It is only wright state, they are a quality opponent, it is a road win, but I think we will be very good and a scary force very soon. They will give Butler nightmares.....I have that feeling

[amckillip]

Sam M is not spectacular folks, he is a good freshman with potential to be a very good player as he develops down the road as a junior and senior--but not like Daniel, Anthony Manuel, or Jimmy.

SamM will graduate with all MVC Honors under his belt. Book IT!

[amckillip]

Heart and soul and desire and hustle are all good to talk about and blah, blah, but basketball is a game of points. AW, who is only a soph, scored the most. And the last time I checked, a field goal counts the same in either half. Defense comes with experience. I just don't think you know what you've got here.

I agree D comes with experience, and Sammy is still better... And if you think a three point at the buzzer counts as much as on early in the game and is as easy to make why can Ruff never seem to hit the same shots he does earlier in the game. Why was AW on the bench? And why would we have lost to MSU? Face it, great players and teams aren't judged on what they do in the first 3 quarters. It's what they do when the games on the line.

[tornado]

Just a word of advice, Butler will try to shut down AW as well. Butler did try to recruit him and Brad Stevens knows him very well and knows he is a excellent shooter. AW has played at Hinkle a lot so lets hope he remembers where all the "dips" are in the floor!

So Hinkle has dips??

AW had a great game, and I am really happy for him.
This will help his confidence, but actually whenever I hear him speak, he really sounds confident already!
As defenses key on Ruff and JC, Andrew will have to step up, and he has.
I hope AW takes it a little personal and wants to win in his own home town!!

[ghunt]

SamM will graduate with all MVC Honors under his belt. Book IT!

Maybe 1st or 2nd team all conference eventually, but he most likely is not going to be a player of national caliber like Daniel, Jimmy, or Anthony Manuel (well, maybe he didn't go anywhere, but the numbers he put up under Albeck's system even after Hawk left were huge)--or even Willie Scott. I think it would be reasonable to peg him as a huskier Zobrist but with better ball-handling skills and without as great of shooting accuracy. Heck, if I'm wrong, great, but he really does not look like he is going to develop into a nationally recognized talent with possible pro-potential.

Also, his minutes should be good, but not at the expense of bigger and more athletic players who match up better. Yes, Sam M may know our defense and offense better than other guys at this point in terms of court awareness and postioning himself, but he frequently is physically mismatched in terms of size and agility, so the end resut is the same at best; he may be where he is supoosed to be, but he will get burned because the other guy is bigger or quicker (either offenseively or defensievley). Don't get me wrong, it's not like it happens every play. However, someone who is bigger or quicker at least will have the basic physical opportunity to make some of those plays. Yes, he should play quite a few minutes. Yes, he needs minuted not only to contribute, but also to develop. But, should he play as much? No, because given that logic, there are about three other guys who are more athletic who need minutes to develop and need to play in obvious match-up situations.

[Beninator]

And as far as the defense for offense rationale switching with Andrew tonight, AW's defense has greatly improved over last year, in fact, folks should have noted the minutes and how well he did against Nitzel.

See my posts and JL's comments in the PJS after the Michigan State game. SamM was blanketing Neitzel and was by far the best defender we had on the MSU All American.

I am not knocking AW at all. I like AW's game and hope he builds from the game he had last night. We are going to need AW to step up this season.

We have a freshman guard who plays good defense and deserves to be in the game in key situations. Folks.. That is good coaching.

[BUBraves2006]

Maybe 1st or 2nd team all conference eventually, but he most likely is not going to be a player of national caliber like Daniel, Jimmy, or Anthony Manuel (well, maybe he didn't go anywhere, but the numbers he put up under Albeck's system even after Hawk left were huge)--or even Willie Scott.

When did anyone ever say that he was supposed to become a "national caliber" player? Please find me that post. If he's first team all conference, that's pretty darn impressive. Honestly, what are you people looking for from him? He's not Daniel Ruffin, so stop comparing the two. The improvement and amount of minutes SM is getting as a FRESHMAN (because nobody ever seems to remember that fact - most freshman barely get half his minutes, see Egolf) is pretty darn impressive.

The reason he gets beat on defense at times is that he's extremely aggressive and can get up on somebody too tight. That can be corrected over time.

Considering that Sam can 1. handle the ball effectively, 2. knock down threes, even with guys in his face, 3. drive, kick and find the open man, 4. plays with a high basketball IQ, and 5. plays with absolute maximum effort on every possession, I'll be proud to have him as three-year starter for the Braves.

[shaunguth]

When did anyone ever say that he was supposed to become a "national caliber" player? Please find me that post. If he's first team all conference, that's pretty darn impressive. Honestly, what are you people looking for from him? He's not Daniel Ruffin, so stop comparing the two. The improvement and amount of minutes SM is getting as a FRESHMAN (because nobody ever seems to remember that fact - most freshman barely get half his minutes, see Egolf) is pretty darn impressive.

The reason he gets beat on defense at times is that he's extremely aggressive and can get up on somebody too tight. That can be corrected over time.

Considering that Sam can 1. handle the ball effectively, 2. knock down threes, even with guys in his face, 3. drive, kick and find the open man, 4. plays with a high basketball IQ, and 5. plays with absolute maximum effort on every possession, I'll be proud to have him as three-year starter for the Braves.

Excellent post! The minutes Sam is getting this season will prepare him for the next three seasons.

[BradleyBrave]

When did anyone ever say that he was supposed to become a "national caliber" player? Please find me that post.

One poster posted over the summer that Sam Maniscalco was the type of recruit that can 'take us to the next level'. I don't have time to find the post, but I specifically recall discussing that point with him this summer. I'm not saying that this posters comment singularly put Sam in that light, but it is one specific instance where I remember him being put on a pedestal by some who I don't think had ever really seen him play.

[ghunt]

Please note that I ahve said that Sam M is a good player and has the potential to be a very good player, but that my broader and more key point is the way and the amount he is being played. Not to be redundant, but maybe I need to be--he is playing in mismatch situations and his minutes are cutting into those of better athletes (in terms of raw talent, but not there yet for D-I ball) on the team who match up better and also, very much, need the minutes to develop. Yes, I know that the minutes available are finite, but is it necessary and, yes, fair, that Sam M plays as much as he does? The quotes below referring to Sam M's minutes, that seem to critqiue my points, actually would also apply to the other guys who would probably be gaining if they just played more. And those guys I am thinking of are DC, Sam S, and TCS (quickness) when we need to go small (He could play a couple more, but I think Will's minutes are probably about right).

BUBraves2006's comment:

"The improvement and amount of minutes SM is getting as a FRESHMAN (because nobody ever seems to remember that fact - most freshman barely get half his minutes, see Egolf) is pretty darn impressive."

And shaunguth's comment:

"The minutes Sam is getting this season will prepare him for the next three seasons."

Also, to play a little devil's advocate with my own comments (which, if you've noticed, I have a tendency to do in the interest a balanced discussion on my part, so sorry of the sometimes long posts), I wonder if Jimmy is one step ahead in trying to be sure to get Sam M devloped this year so that Sam M, and the team for that matter, has less adjustment problems to the departure of Daniel next year. In other words, the quicker Sam M gets up to speed this year, the better off the team is next year.

P.S. Being an early '90's alum now in St. Louis, I was watching the game on the Horizon site last night, but my father was listening to Dave and the guys last night. Dad called me after the game to confirm the Ruffin injury, but he said that they mentioned that other guys were banged up as well. Does anyone have any information on who and what the other injuries and or ailments are? Please let us know if you hear. Thanks.

[Beninator]

Yes, I know that the minutes available are finite, but is it necessary and, yes, fair, that Sam M plays as much as he does? The quotes below referring to Sam M's minutes, that seem to critqiue my points, actually would also apply to the other guys who would probably be gaining if they just played more. And those guys I am thinking of are DC, Sam S, and TCS when we need to go small (I think Will's minutes are probably about right).

I would really like for TCS to break out and have a big game other than the ST Ambrose exhibition game, but at this point in the season, TCS hasnt shown me anything which would allow him to earn extra game time. TCS also needs to improve his defensive skills. Therefore, I think that TCS' minutes are about right. We need to WIN games AND develop players so decreasing SamM's minutes is an extremely bad idea!imho

Like others I would like to see more minutes for DC and even Sam S (given the right match up), but those minutes could be taken away from other players such as Matt Salley and Will Egolf.

[BradleyBrave]

I would really like for TCS to break out and have a big game other than the ST Ambrose exhibition game, but at this point in the season, TCS hasnt shown me anything which would allow him to earn extra game time. TCS also needs to improve his defensive skills. Therefore, I think that TCS' minutes are about right. We need to WIN games AND develop players so decreasing SamM's minutes is an extremely bad idea!imho

Like others I would like to see more minutes for DC and even Sam S (given the right match up), but those minutes could be taken away from other players such as Matt Salley and Will Egolf.

TCS is completely lost. I have no doubt he's talented, and you don't score 1100 points in JUCO by accident, but right now he's absolutely clueless on the floor. His shot looks awful, and his decision making is just as bad. Of all the new guys, he seems to have the most trouble letting the game just come to him (for lack of a better term). At some point maybe he'll get that little spurt that gets him going, but 10 games in I think we're past the point of playing him just to get his feet wet. Conference is right around the corner, experimenting is over.

[ER3]

TCS is completely lost. I have no doubt he's talented, and you don't score 1100 points in JUCO by accident, but right now he's absolutely clueless on the floor. His shot looks awful, and his decision making is just as bad. Of all the new guys, he seems to have the most trouble letting the game just come to him (for lack of a better term). At some point maybe he'll get that little spurt that gets him going, but 10 games in I think we're past the point of playing him just to get his feet wet. Conference is right around the corner, experimenting is over.

Agree fully...the TCS mirage from the St. Ambrose game has completely faded. Athleticism alone does not earn playing time (see: Saihou Jassey)...The athleticism that TCS has would be a really useful thing to rotate in if he could somehow limit his negative plays, but unfortunately he is nothing but a string of negative plays waiting to happen right now...It's too bad because that Will Franklin role is out there waiting to be filled...but we just can't keep giving minutes to TCS and hope that he will figure it out somehow...Hopefully it will end up being a situation like Crouch's sophomore year...and TCS will somehow rediscover that confidence in the offseason and end up being a valuable contributor next year...because we will need it. But for this year, we are two games away from the Valley schedule, and I would have to think we are nearly done trying to allow a JUCO player to "get his feet wet".

[ghunt]

I would really like for TCS to break out and have a big game other than the ST Ambrose exhibition game, but at this point in the season, TCS hasnt shown me anything which would allow him to earn extra game time. TCS also needs to improve his defensive skills. Therefore, I think that TCS' minutes are about right. We need to WIN games AND develop players so decreasing SamM's minutes is an extremely bad idea!imho

It sounds like the minutes for Sam M to develop are fine, but not for the others, espcially the bigger guys.

Like others I would like to see more minutes for DC and even Sam S (given the right match up), but those minutes could be taken away from other players such as Matt Salley and Will Egolf.

Sam S and Will are not getting few mintues to begin with. I think the overall point is that we need to have the 4 true 4 and 5 players on the floor more.

I think this the discussion here is finally getting to the differences of opinion more clearly. It appears that the thought is that DC and Sam S's minutes should not come at the expense of Sam M? That although we have 4 players who can truly play the 4 and 5 with degrees of success, we should instead play three and four guards and let Sam M be mismatched in terms of not only speed, but especially size? This is not only a Sam M discussion, but gets at the overall lineup on the floor. With Sam M in, we should find it ok that that we sometimes wind up with a line up with AW or TW playing the 4 with Salley at 5? (Ok, sometimes that happens with him not even on the floor, but that is still a little messed up at times).

Given my other posts in the past couple days, it seems that we as a team are hung between going small and going with a slightly more traditional line up but with quard emaphasis and team speed. We are not taking full advantage of what we could do if we go small (full court pressure?), and we are not necessarily putting the bigger guys on the floor in a consistently useful way.

Given the criticism, though, we are still a d*** good team that I think will go about 24 and 7 heading into the conference tourney.

[Long-Hair's Lunatics]

Does anyone have any info on Theron's injury or Ruff's

Please PM me if you know.....


Thanks Long-Hair's Lunatics