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Maniscalco to Illinois?

Here is the take from Paul Klee.....

All- First, it??™s important to remember other schools can??™t contact Sam Maniscalco unless he requests a release from Bradley - and Bradley grants that release. And neither has happened yet. I do expect it will happen, because it would be a bad idea to burn those bridges. For one thing, you??™re dealing with one of the most successful club programs in the Midwest - and in the country - in Illinois Wolves. And this is a good family with good intentions, so I don't expect there will be any issues, but you never know.

And my answer here is working under the assumption he would request a release after this coaching change. Still with me? Right now there are at least 15 ??“ and probably closer to 20 ??“ programs that have expressed interest in some form in Sammy Maniscalco. It's easy to see why. Solid guard, great teammate, has his business together, wants to win, and veteran combo guards without juco baggage are not easy to come by. I expect he will trim that list and then schedule campus visits. Purdue would be in the mix. Illinois would be in the mix. Minnesota would be in the mix, etc., etc. And there would probably be many others. I expect he would choose a program that can all but guarantee he will be a starting guard with a major role. And those schools ??“ including Illinois ??“ will have to recruit him. I don??™t expect he or his family wants to deal with any baloney in the next program. They probably are looking for a locker room that is focused on winning, without attitudinal baggage, and with a chance to play in the NCAA tournament. For the guy who asked, this is hardly a done deal with Illinois. I don??™t know where you got that from, but it??™s not true. He has a tight relationship with Demetri McCamey, which can be good and bad from an Illinois standpoint, and it would have been a big help in regards to recruiting Maniscalco if Demetri??™s senior season had gone smoother. But yeah, Illinois would have a great chance with him. The Illini present a situation that probably would fit most of the criteria he??™s looking for.

I don??™t expect this is something that will stretch deep into the spring. And all of this is working under the assumption he??™s released from Bradley, which hasn't happened yet.

And I like that he's calling high school games on the radio. He called the Peoria Notre Dame-Central game the other night, and I believe he's on the mic for Chasson Randle's game tonight. Like I said, a guy with a plan and good people around him. Appreciate that. Hope that clears it up for now.

Klee
 
I think I'd have to lean towards the 10%. Although I wouldn't consider him a traitor I would definitely have less respect for him. I guess a part of me would understand his decision but he's been a leader here pretty much from day 1. What kind of leader runs away from their team when it gets tough? Not a leader that I would want that's for sure, and for that reason I would not support him one bit. A traitor no, but losing a fan and respect, definitely.

He'd bring a whole new meaning to the phrase when the going gets tough the tough get going.

Going away or going to work, which will it be sammy?
 
If Sammy moves on to U of I, I'd totally understand. I'm sure he'd be dedicated to BU if Les was still here...but the band is breaking up.

Don't forget...he's just a college student. Not some general leading men into battle. So don't get on him about being a coward or taking the easy way out. Any kid would jump at the chance to play for a Big 10 program and play in the NCAA tournament.

And if he's truly chasing a broadcast career...he's gotta play for the team that gets national exposure. Not the team that people from Chicago say "where is that school?"

Maybe I don't look at things through Bradley-colored glasses like the rest of you guys. But let the kid do what's best for him to succeed. That's what college is for.
 
Headless Bobcat said:
If Sammy moves on to U of I, I'd totally understand. I'm sure he'd be dedicated to BU if Les was still here...but the band is breaking up.

Don't forget...he's just a college student. Not some general leading men into battle. So don't get on him about being a coward or taking the easy way out. Any kid would jump at the chance to play for a Big 10 program and play in the NCAA tournament..
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Honorable?!

The honorable thing would be for him to stand by his commitment to finish his eligibilty out at Bradley and lead THAT TEAM to the NCAA tournament...not ride the coattails of another team for 1 year just for an easier shot...

That's the cowards way out, and that just doesn't seem much like the Sam Maniscalco I have met and come to know!
 
SaintLouBrave22 said:
Honorable?!

The honorable thing would be for him to stand by his commitment to finish his eligibilty out at Bradley and lead THAT TEAM to the NCAA tournament...not ride the coattails of another team for 1 year just for an easier shot...

That's the cowards way out, and that just doesn't seem much like the Sam Maniscalco I have met and come to know!
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Meh...agree to disagree. I think any athlete's goal is to play at the highest level they can, against the highest level of competition. I think Sammy has the right to do that.

But I guess the only opinions that should matter are that of his teammates. And if I was his teammate, I'd congratulate him, wish him well and secretly be jealous that he has an opportunity to play on a national stage.

I feel the same way when a coach accepts a job at a better school. Fans get all silly and feel betrayed. But that coach has a right to try and make it to the top of his profession.
 
SaintLouBrave22 said:
Honorable?!

The honorable thing would be for him to stand by his commitment to finish his eligibilty...
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Was Les dishonorable when he transferred from Cleveland State to Bradley?

He had an opportunity to raise his game and he took it. In my opinion, that's not being a coward. That's stepping up to a challenge.
 
After reading the posts calling SM a traitor if he leaves, it is very apparent that the Les-haters on this board are indeed very naive and didn't consider or simply have no clue what happens when a coach is fired... :roll:
 
And the source is what exactly? Some clowns on a U of I message board?

Leave a school where you would be THE man, running the show, to the U of I where you join a backcourt with Paul, Bertrand, Head, Richardson, and Tracy Abrams? Don't buy it.
 
Do I want to see Sam back at BU? Yes
Would I be upset if he transferred? No (though wouldn't be thrilled to see him at UIUC either)

He is graduating, and we do not have a graduate level program for his major. If this was a guy/gal in any of our other programs nobody would think twice about a player that graduated moving on, given the academic circumstances.

Calling him a traitor or getting on him for taking the easy way out is an overly emotional reaction.

If Les were still the coach and Sam still left, would everyone be more or less upset?
 
In a few weeks maybe MVC TV can televise a "Decision" on whether SM stays or leaves kind of like ESPN did for LeBron James.

I just hope SM doesn't decide to take his talents to Champaign.....
 
Future Walk-On said:
Gosh why do you guys hate UIUC so much. They never did anything to us!
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What do you mean??
They beat us 5 years ago in that tournament early in the season to break our undefeated record!!! That left a sour taste in my mouth...
just kidding.
My dad and I enjoy watching and rooting for U of I. They are my favorite school to root for outside of the Valley. They're an Illinois school, and I've always pulled for Illinois programs to do well...including ISU (red), but not to do better than BU! I hold nothing against them and can't understand why others here have malicious thoughts about UIUC. Maybe they can elaborate and fill us in??
 
LG281 said:
If Sam wants to study something not offered by BU then I'm fine with it. I'm all for using your talents to exceed. And I certainly understand someone wanting to leave a bad situation...however, what is so bad about Sam's situation?

He has been going to school for free, playing ball where his dad played, he has a ton of fans and a city that adore him, and he has had a ton of great rehab on feet/ankles/whatever. The BU basketball team is treated great on campus, amongst the other athletes, in the city, and wherever they go.

So again I ask, whats so bad about his situation...a new coach? Thats not bad - its just different.

I'll agree with those that feel a defection is like a big slap in the face. An in-state school (I detest U of I) or MVC school would make it burn that much more - I hope that is not the case.
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Well said and I would retract my "traitor" statement if he transfered for reasons BU did not offer something he wanted to study but we all know that would not be the reason. I want him to stay as much as everyone else. I have 5 grandkids that all wear his # 5 tee shirt. We all may be jumping the gun here. If he waits till he meets the new coach and then decides that person is not for him then a transfer would make alot more sense to me.It's nice to be loyal to your coach but what about the other 12 people you went to battle with night in and night out. I love Sammy and what he has meant to BU but I would not watch the Illini just to see him play if he leaves.
 
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