Sam M Feedback

[Braves4Life]

If it's not serious enough to restrict play then why should we use it as an excuse for his lack of production?

If true, it may explain why he is not able to go to his right with any authority. Review the tape and you'll see he is consistently going to his left............ to the point of being predictible.

[Da Coach]

If it's not serious enough to restrict play then why should we use it as an excuse for his lack of production?

Division I basketball requires the highest level of athleticism. Even the slightest injury or limitation can have major effects on a player. Nobody is using it as an excuse. Note that nobody at Bradley has even mentioned any injury problem. But if you don't think a minor injury can affect a D1 basketball player's peformance, just ask Daniel Ruffin last year when he tried to play with a sports hernia, or a few years ago when Jerome Robinson tried to play with his shoulder injury. I can give you numerous other examples of BU injuries that have affected former player's performances, but weren't serious enough for them to be benched. It happens to every team, every year.

[ser_solace]

Like DaCoach said, an injury can still limit a player from playing at his best but not prevent the player from playing in the game. You'd restrict the player from entering the game if there is the possibility the injury or whatever can worsen.

[Missouri Brave]

I can't believe folks are this worried about the kid. IT HAS ONLY BEEN TWO GAMES, one of them against one of the top programs in the country. Sam is still a young player and he, like the rest of the team, is getting used to playing with a new group of teammates.

He's a tireless worker who is talented. I have no doubt things will work out very well for Sam at BU. Everybody relax. If you want to be worried, there are other things to think about on this team, namely the lack of a productive post player.

[Bradleyguy10]

I actually agree that it has only been 2 games and he'll be fine..but I'm playing devil's advocate right now.

Da Coach you say no one is using it as an excuse but there are numerous people on this thread saying that the reason for his lack of production is because of his injury...that's the definition of an excuse.

Also, I never said a minor injury cannot limit a D1 basketball player's ability. On the contrary, in the original post that got deleted I said that his injury IS causing his lack of production and that should be the sole reason to why he should not be playing as much. Do you see what I'm saying. I am not like everyone else calling for SM to take a seat just because of a few poorly played games. What I am doing is wondering why no one thinks it's a big deal if he is indeed playing poorly because of an INJURY and IS STILL PLAYING.

Make up your mind. Either it isn't serious, he can play effectively and he is doing poorly NOT because of the injury...which some are saying it IS because of an injury

or

the injury IS serious enough and therefore causing his poor play

Most of you are saying it isn't serious and he can play effectively but the main culprit for his poor outings in the last two games have been because of injury....I don't understand that argument. Are people following what I'm saying?

[MacabreMob]

I think JJ played with a broken bone in his hand - or was it a broken finger?

Whatever... everyone has excuses, winners don't use them.

[tornado]

This is ridiculous...not one time in all of Sam M's career has he even mentioned an injury or used one as an excuse.
Stop and give the kid a chance. He has only one year of D-I ball under his belt and he's saddled with the job of being team leader, captain, and starting PG, and somehow people are already complaining about him.

I think he's doing just fine........even KW isn't criticizing...he's saying be patient, and stop criticizing.

http://www.pjstar.com/sports/x1720480029/Wessler-Lets-start-with-some-time-for-BU

Gimme a break.......Sammy is the team's 3rd leading scorer behind a junior and a senior, and he's a fine defender & leads the team in steals.


(ps-- Evansville's Senior PG, Jason Holzinger, is also off to a bad start, 25% FG shooting, 21% 3-pt shooting, should they dump him and go with someone else?)

[Beninator]

Like DaCoach said, an injury can still limit a player from playing at his best but not prevent the player from playing in the game. You'd restrict the player from entering the game if there is the possibility the injury or whatever can worsen.

OK... I'll speculate a little further.. We have depth at guard. Why risk further injury to a player who we need to contribute for the rest of the year by playing the guy for nearly 30 minutes per game who may have some type of injury? Again we dont know the extent of the injury if there is an injury.. If Sam has an injury that is limiting him, why not try our offense with a bigger lineup? ---and for the record I like Sam and hope he makes a significant contribution for the rest of the year---

Sam M minutes for the last two games:

Florida= 25 minutes (5 fouls)
UIC= 33 minutes

[Da Coach]

Da Coach you say no one is using it as an excuse but there are numerous people on this thread saying that the reason for his lack of production is because of his injury...that's the definition of an excuse.....

Make up your mind. Either it isn't serious, he can play effectively and he is doing poorly NOT because of the injury...which some are saying it IS because of an injury

or

the injury IS serious enough and therefore causing his poor play

I don't see it as an excuse. It is information that might help explain something.

And I also don't agree that every injury that affects a kids play should be considered serious. Lots of things affect play, and many of them never become public.
I don't know how much effect this injury has had, but if the medical people and coaches feel we have a better chance of winning by Sam being on the court, then I have no problem with that.

[BradleyBrave]

I don't understand the Sam bashing whatsoever. He's a captain, and was an integral part of our team as a freshman. He's had two average/below average games, and people are going crazy about his play. As it turns out he might be a bit more banged up than he's led on, and is gutting his way through it when we're already down a man. I just don't get it. Sam will heal up and make big plays again this year, there's no doubt in my mind.

[bu fan 9]

Sam will be just fine.

[amckillip]

Whatever... everyone has excuses, winners don't use them.

I actually havent heard Sam, or the university say a single thing about the injury... so I'm not sure this makes sense even in the *wink* context.

[shaunguth]

I actually agree that it has only been 2 games and he'll be fine..but I'm playing devil's advocate right now.

Da Coach you say no one is using it as an excuse but there are numerous people on this thread saying that the reason for his lack of production is because of his injury...that's the definition of an excuse.

Also, I never said a minor injury cannot limit a D1 basketball player's ability. On the contrary, in the original post that got deleted I said that his injury IS causing his lack of production and that should be the sole reason to why he should not be playing as much. Do you see what I'm saying. I am not like everyone else calling for SM to take a seat just because of a few poorly played games. What I am doing is wondering why no one thinks it's a big deal if he is indeed playing poorly because of an INJURY and IS STILL PLAYING.

Make up your mind. Either it isn't serious, he can play effectively and he is doing poorly NOT because of the injury...which some are saying it IS because of an injury

or

the injury IS serious enough and therefore causing his poor play

Most of you are saying it isn't serious and he can play effectively but the main culprit for his poor outings in the last two games have been because of injury....I don't understand that argument. Are people following what I'm saying?

Actually, I've been hearing AW's absence as more of an excuse/reason where it concerns Sam's play. I do not see the point in giving Sam 30 minutes/game if he is indeed injured to some extent. Hopefully, he will not have to put in those kind of minutes in our next two games.

[Bradleyguy10]

I'm not going to press this anymore because either I am making myself unclear or people are just refusing to answer the very simple question I am asking.

I do think SM will be fine. I do think he will come back and contribute in a big way. I'm not bashing SM what so ever...more so the thought process of playing him while he's hurt and not producing.

and Da Coach I'm sorry but not necessarily you but others are using his injury as an excuse/reason for his lack of production. If it's a serious injury it qualifies as a "reason" in my book. If it's not a serious injury it qualifies as an "excuse" in my book, for his lack of productivity these last two games......and that's all I'm gonna say...agree to disagree

[RaiderOfBradley]

Last year Sam could play off of two of arguably the better players that have put on a Braves uniform. With this said, there are a couple of things that I would like to see Sam do.

First off, if he is going to be the point, he needs to recognize situations. Over the first two games this year and most of last, he always goes at a hell bent for leather style. A point guard is supposed to be the floor general...you push the ball when the opportunity presents itself and slow it down when the numbers aren't there. Sam, way too often, charges up the floor, outruns his teammates and is left with no options once he gets into the offensive end.

He needs to adjust to the situations and personnel on the floor. For example, you may want to push if you have Andrew and Chris Roberts on the wings. If you have Sam S. lying on the floor and two guys also under the boards after a missed shot, this is the time to slow up and set the offense.

With his shooting, he isn't hitting like last year and it definitely has to be the additional focus on him. However, there were several times in the Florida game when Sam chucked up a 25-footer and there was still plenty of time on the shot clock. Through the working of the offense, those shots will open up for him and patience is the key.

All in all, though, let's give him and the team time to make the adjustments. There are quite a few new faces on the squad, Andrew is out presently and it is early in the season. Sam will return to form because he is an intelligent player.