MS is gone- who will be our enforcer now?

[Big Mike]

OK DOGS..... I can still enforce but we'd have to play half court! But IMO SS can do the banging around if he can stay out of foul trouble....that's the real question!

[dogsrus]

OK DOGS..... I can still enforce but we'd have to play half court! But IMO SS can do the banging around if he can stay out of foul trouble....that's the real question!

Oh no...I hadn't even considered you actually playing......thats a entirely different thing now......... besides wasn't football your sport.

[BUFAN]

As long as we don't backdown when somebody gets in our face we'll be fine. Play defence, rebound, stay out of foul trouble, make free throws and we will be successful.

[Out of Bounce]

By all accounts Sam M is the stongest player on the team and seems to be the most intense. I think he will take care of business if needed. Its not the same as having a big guy do it but little guys can send a pretty stong message to. I know from personal experince

I agree with all you said about SM and little guys, but I don't think we want our point guard taking hits, being on his butt and getting hurt just to send a message. Thats what we have our bigs for! If Sam's playing down low or in the lane he's out of position anyway. Let the bigs be the message carriers. We need to see the bigs step up and put people on their butts. I said it before we have a lot (4 to 5) bigs and they have a lot of fouls to give. By the bigs doing this, is why I feel we will win the MV.

[BradleyBrave]

I agree with all you said about SM and little guys, but I don't think we want our point guard taking hits, being on his butt and getting hurt just to send a message. Thats what we have our bigs for! If Sam's playing down low or in the lane he's out of position anyway. Let the bigs be the message carriers. We need to see the bigs step up and put people on their butts. I said it before we have a lot (4 to 5) bigs and they have a lot of fouls to give. By the bigs doing this, is why I feel we will win the MV.

I disagree with this statement wholeheartedly. This whole 'enforcer' philosophy is stupid. Hard fouls can be generated by anyone on any player (just ask Tony Young about the MVC title game in 2006), and just because you can hack doesn't make you a leader. I never understood why people thought MS was such a leader because he fouled hard inside from time to time. He wasn't a leader, verbally or by example. Putting people on their butts doesn't win basketball games. Being better at basketball does. If you want to watch people end up on their butts, watch UFC. I want to watch guys who can play basketball.

[SFP]

BB I have to disagree with you. We need someone to be able to give and take some physical play. I have never seen a soft team win much in NCAA basketball. At some point we'll need someone to send a message that if you go down the middle you'll pay for it. I'm saying we need to hack it but a little thunder can go a long way. MS did take it a little to far occasionally but the problem with our team last year was that there was a lack of fire. MS is was in there because he did bring intensity. I like SM because he does bring it on every game but we also need a big that will bring it. All the great ones have a bit of nastiness, they just know how to hide it and not to over react. NCAA basketball at the highest level is a game of contact!

[lefty]

This is silly. When the Illini was second in the NCAA tiorney a few years ago they didn't have an enforcer. they played good basketball period.
That is what BU needs to worry about.
I agree with BB completely on this.

[That Guy]

The last thing this team needs is another Matt Salley, not smart on the court, even worse off it.

[real fan]

We need all of our players to play tough and not let anyone push them around; hockey has enforcers and basketball has team leaders which I believe Sam and hopefully a few more players will lead this team on the floor.

[Out of Bounce]

I disagree with this statement wholeheartedly. This whole 'enforcer' philosophy is stupid. Hard fouls can be generated by anyone on any player (just ask Tony Young about the MVC title game in 2006), and just because you can hack doesn't make you a leader. I never understood why people thought MS was such a leader because he fouled hard inside from time to time. He wasn't a leader, verbally or by example. Putting people on their butts doesn't win basketball games. Being better at basketball does. If you want to watch people end up on their butts, watch UFC. I want to watch guys who can play basketball.

Well I do agree with you about MS and the whole enforcer thing and I to want to watch good basketball.
I don't think I said hack people or foul just to foul or play outside the rules or play outside your basket ball skills. I did say put them on their butts and refered that we have fouls to give with the number of bigs we will have this year. You can do this with in the game rules. SS sets big time screens that drops bodies to their butts. All I am saying is I want to see the bigs put a body on someone. Move people out of the lanes. I hate to see uncontested baskets, rebounds and little guys running through the lane to the hoop. Coachs teach to stop these and one of the ways is to put a body on someone. If that ends up with someone on their butt, OK.
You are always one who is always reminding everyone that BU hasn't won the MV in years, all I am doing is giving my opinion on one of the things/ways I believe it will take to do this. If you don't agree thats your right.
As for the VFC, I don't watch it. I'll leave that to those who like it.
BU will win the MV this year and I really don't care now meny butts they put on the floor to do it.

[Out of Bounce]

BB I have to disagree with you. We need someone to be able to give and take some physical play. I have never seen a soft team win much in NCAA basketball. At some point we'll need someone to send a message that if you go down the middle you'll pay for it. I'm saying we need to hack it but a little thunder can go a long way. MS did take it a little to far occasionally but the problem with our team last year was that there was a lack of fire. MS is was in there because he did bring intensity. I like SM because he does bring it on every game but we also need a big that will bring it. All the great ones have a bit of nastiness, they just know how to hide it and not to over react. NCAA basketball at the highest level is a game of contact!

You understand the game the way its teached and the way its played. Great post!

[Bradleyguy10]

I also like the idea of a player instilling some fear into the opposing team, and making them rethink about going into the paint. As previously said SS pulls off some monstrous screens, and I would NOT be surprised if SS is our starting center and wouldn't be afraid to play GOOD yet physical basketball. DC will obviously get good minutes, but as we all know his intensity is a little scarce, and won't do it for us. Will Egolf developing well could possibly do a little bit but he also seems slightly timid, but I don't know. If our bigs just play good defense and block balls like no other...that will send an even better message though.

Here's to just winning...

[BradleyBrave]

BB I have to disagree with you. We need someone to be able to give and take some physical play. I have never seen a soft team win much in NCAA basketball. At some point we'll need someone to send a message that if you go down the middle you'll pay for it. I'm saying we need to hack it but a little thunder can go a long way. MS did take it a little to far occasionally but the problem with our team last year was that there was a lack of fire. MS is was in there because he did bring intensity. I like SM because he does bring it on every game but we also need a big that will bring it. All the great ones have a bit of nastiness, they just know how to hide it and not to over react. NCAA basketball at the highest level is a game of contact!

Yes, Matt Salley brought such nastiness that our team was regularly destroyed in the paint and on the glass. Yes, a very intimidating and 'nasty' streak that Matt Salley brought to this team. How are we ever going to replace such intimidation?

Honestly people - This 'enforcer' concept is stupid, and there were bigs on just about every team we played that I would have rather had starting at center, and at least one other guy on our roster (Collins). Matt Salley was a 6th or 7th man on a good team, and a starter on ours. If we are seriously worried about replacing what he brought to the table, we have some serious, serious problems. It sounds like I am the only one NOT worried about replacing him.

[Chico]

Agree 100% BB. Leave the "enforcer" to the sport in which if there isn't a fight, they go home disappointed. MS hurt us more than helped us last season with his stupid T's, and dumb fouls.

[SFP]

We were not a NCAA team because we did not have another big that could bring it to the table and we had to start MS. That is not a slight on MS but the state of our big men last year. I never said I loved MS and thought he was a star but he did bring an intangible that is maybe missing from this year's team. I still say every great team has someone if not a few guys willing to protect the paint.

The NBA looks for a bit of nastiness in their players. Larry Bird would bite your head off, the Pistons would well they were the nasty boys, the Jordan Bulls did not get past them until they got a bit nasty...I can go on and on about an attitude that the best teams have.

Yes, Matt Salley brought such nastiness that our team was regularly destroyed in the paint and on the glass. Yes, a very intimidating and 'nasty' streak that Matt Salley brought to this team. How are we ever going to replace such intimidation?

Honestly people - This 'enforcer' concept is stupid, and there were bigs on just about every team we played that I would have rather had. Matt Salley was a 6th man on a good team, and a starter on ours. If we are seriously worried about replacing what he brought to the table, we have some serious, serious problems. It sounds like I am the only one NOT worried about replacing him.