Ruffin update

[mrcoachdude]

http://www.pjstar.com/php/index.php?/news/ruffin_to_see_specialist_today/

Seeing a specialist today....

[BradleyBrave]

Nice find MCD. Snell just said that results weren't available until tomorrow, but we see that the results are in. I'm guessing the specialist will probably just reaffirm that DR needs to give it some rest. IMO, I would hold out Ruff until Wichita on the 5th at the earliest. The specialist may tell him he needs more time than just 2 weeks.

[jasonpeoria911]

For those not to familiar with abdomen strains, the link below will get you up to date. Recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Tough break for Ruffin, our season could be done, record wise, by the time Ruff returns if Sam and gang don't play in top notch form. It could be a blessing in disguise however for Sam's potential next season.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_abdstrai_sma.htm

Jason

[BradleyBrave]

For those not to familiar with abdomen strains, the link below will get you up to date. Recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Tough break for Ruffin, our season could be done, record wise, by the time Ruff returns if Sam and gang don't play in top notch form. It could be a blessing in disguise however for Sam's potential next season.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_abdstrai_sma.htm

Jason

It's good for Sam's development, but losing our best player in a season that's supposed to end in the NCAA's isn't a blessing in any disguise.

[MacabreMob]

Sounds like an injury that could bother him quite a while (maybe all season and beyond).

That ess-yuu-xxx.

Wish Ruff the best in his recovery.

[georgethedog]

For those not to familiar with abdomen strains, the link below will get you up to date. Recovery can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Tough break for Ruffin, our season could be done, record wise, by the time Ruff returns if Sam and gang don't play in top notch form. It could be a blessing in disguise however for Sam's potential next season.

http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/sma/sma_abdstrai_sma.htm

Jason

If Sam's potential for the next 3 years is any more than 10 minutes a game spelling someone else who is a difference maker, BU's future is not bright at all. If Sam is a starting guard on this team who plays 30 plus minutes we better have some BIGS (and lots) who can play. Sam will be an excellent guy to bring in to eat up some minutes to rest a better player. Sorry, Sam if you are reading this, but that is just the way it is.

[ER3]

If Sam's potential for the next 3 years is any more than 10 minutes a game spelling someone else who is a difference maker, BU's future is not bright at all. If Sam is a starting guard on this team who plays 30 plus minutes we better have some BIGS (and lots) who can play. Sam will be an excellent guy to bring in to eat up some minutes to rest a better player. Sorry, Sam if you are reading this, but that is just the way it is.

I think you are selling Sam short if you are proclaiming that his ceiling as a BU player is nothing more than a 10 minute per game back-up PG. I think he is and will be much better than that.
TCS is not a better player than Sam...Eddren McCain is not a better player than Sam...so unless Jim Les has some secret 4-star point guard that is ready to sign a LOI in the spring for next year, Sam will likely be the starting point guard for BU for his sophomore and junior years, at the very least.
I am certainly not pleased with the contributions of our 'vaunted' recruiting class for this year so far, but Sam and TW are the exceptions...I really, really don't understand the bashing of Maniscalco that has gone on so far this year...

[Braveman]

We should forfeit the season now...

[BUBraves2006]

I really, really don't understand the bashing of Maniscalco that has gone on so far this year...

Thankfully a voice of reason. I've said this repeatedly ... what exactly did you expect a freshman to do? Be an All-Conference selection? He usually makes good decisions on the floor, better than most freshmen can ... he is a pretty good outside shooter ...

If we can't view things as they are in reality then we can look at them tangibly with stats:

Ruffin's freshman stats (28 games - 31 min/gm) - 6.3 ppg, 1.4 steals, 132 assists v. 73 turnovers (1.80 ratio), 3 reb/gm, 76% FT, 27% 3pt, 37% FG ...

Maniscalco's freshman stats (12 games - 18 min/gm) - 4.8 ppg, 0.4 steals, 27 assists v. 15 turnovers (oh amazing - 1.80 ratio), 75% FT, 38% 3pt, 40% FG ...

So where exactly is the problem here? I'm not saying Sam can become AS good as Ruffin, but a "10-minute per game backup PG" ... honestly.

[basketball nut]

Thankfully a voice of reason. I've said this repeatedly ... what exactly did you expect a freshman to do? Be an All-Conference selection? He usually makes good decisions on the floor, better than most freshmen can ... he is a pretty good outside shooter ...

If we can't view things as they are in reality then we can look at them tangibly with stats:

Ruffin's freshman stats (28 games - 31 min/gm) - 6.3 ppg, 1.4 steals, 132 assists v. 73 turnovers (1.80 ratio), 3 reb/gm, 76% FT, 27% 3pt, 37% FG ...

Maniscalco's freshman stats (12 games - 18 min/gm) - 4.8 ppg, 0.4 steals, 27 assists v. 15 turnovers (oh amazing - 1.80 ratio), 75% FT, 38% 3pt, 40% FG ...

So where exactly is the problem here? I'm not saying Sam can become AS good as Ruffin, but a "10-minute per game backup PG" ... honestly.

Could not have siad it better myself and your stats point it out. SM is not DR but then DR is a 5th year senior and SM is a 1st year freshman. SM will be a fine point guard and yes there are many teams in the Valley that he could start on. How quick we forget 7 of the last 10 years and just give up hope because we play 2 bad games against 2 very good teams. Either one of these teams would probably win the MVC (2nd at worst) and we cry like babies. Was I disapointed in the effort, of course I was but it wasn't the end of the season by all means.

[ph]

What gets me about the medical profession:
Ruffin was aparantly in too much pain for a negative MRI so a specialist was called.
Now if the MRI was positive, wouldn't that specialist also be needed?
Why wasn't the specialist appointment immediately after the MRI results?

[Dallas Brave]

I think the DR injury is a chance for this team to develop. DR is our best player, yet the other players (and coaches) are too dependent on DR being on the floor.

My New Year's Resolutions:

1. Sit DR for 3-4 weeks and allow for full recovery.
2. Focus on developing an inside game. Play DC, RA, and SS a lot,, even when they mess up. They will get better with more play.
3. Perfect the better balanced offense when DR returns by winning most, if not all, of the remaining league games
4. Win the conference torunament in St. Louis
5. Get to the Sweet 16 (or farther) with a kick-butt team that utilizes outstanding guard play with a solid inside game

[ph]

Good post DB.
I wish we had more development earlier this season. Ruffin wound up playing way too much early on, even in the exhibition. without him we played lost. (Great, now I'm making myself more worried)

I do agree that BU, most likely, needs to do everything that they can do to make a strong MVCT run. Even with a healthy Ruff, this team does not play with the guard depth to win 3 games in 3 days. (The 3 guard spots were mostly played by 4 guys, DR, JC, AW, SM) Even with TCS, that may not be enough..

[tornado]

What gets me about the medical profession:
Ruffin was aparantly in too much pain for a negative MRI so a specialist was called.
Now if the MRI was positive, wouldn't that specialist also be needed?
Why wasn't the specialist appointment immediately after the MRI results?

I have a partial answer for you...

Of course DRuff HAS been seeing specialists all along.
The group who serve as team docs at BU are ALL specialists, and the two orthopedic guys are highly speiclized (sub-specialized) in the area of sports medicine and injuries.

However...as you may be able to glean from the PJS story, the muscular injury DRuff has is particularly frustrating because it isn't badly damaged enough to need or risk surgery to repair, and yet there IS enough abnormality that he should not play until it heals.
The specialist Daniel is now going to see is a very top specialist "nationally", and the team wants to know what other top docs think, since Daniel is not only important to the team, but his health and recovery is also of utmost importance to his own career, and future ability to play and provide for himself and family.
So the primary goal, way above all others is to do the right thing for Daniel, and not to even consider what's important for the team and fans until and unless DRuff is healthy.

He may not play much or at all Saturday....let's just keep pulling for him to get well!

[real fan]

I agree that we need to do what is best for Ruffin and my guess is he will rest for a couple of weeks ; I disagree that Sam Maniscalco is a good role player as he has really improved from the 1st game; remember he is only a freshman ; the real problem we have is that there are no backups for him at point guard so he is going to have to stay out of foul trouble and play 30 to 35 minutes ; also it is time for Cole-Scott to start playing better as I think he has the talent to help this team win games.