Siena’s Brett Bisping Doing Dirty Work

It all turned for Siena’s Brett Bisping in his first start of the season for head coach Jimmy Patsos.

Making just his fifth career start for the Saints and with the ball in a tie game against Purdue, the sophomore was told by Patsos to shot fake so he could get past a defender for an opportunity to give Siena a lead in a game they had earlier led by as many as 16. However, Bisping tried a three, which missed, but he chased down the rebound off his missed shot, which allowed the Boilermakers to push in transition and for Basil Smotherman to throw down a dunk to put Purdue up 65-63.

“I had missed a couple three’s, so he had told me to shot fake and one dribble pull up and I did not do that,” Bisping said. “I just shot a three and when we reviewed it on film, it was clearly should have been a shot fake one dribble pull up. It was my fault as a player not listening to coaching, but I let down the team there so, I’m definitely going to remember that one for a long time.”

The second year player from Peoria, who was recruited by Mitch Buonaguro and the previous coaching staff, said that Patsos was very clear when he entered about what roles would be filled by certain players.

“Everyone has specific jobs,” Bisping said. “Not everyone can get all the shots and we definitely have our guys that need to take a lot of shots, but we definitely need role players. My job is not to shoot three’s, I need to rebound and take out the ball out to Rob [Poole] so he can shoot three’s.”

Siena would not score another point after Bisping’s botched attempt late, however, he has stayed in the starting lineup since that loss and the Saints have won five of their last eight games.

“Brett’s been tremendous for us,” Patsos said. “Don’t get me wrong, he’s had bad games, but he’s had unproductive games, but I am very appreciative of his productive games.”

Since joining the starting lineup, Bisping has scored double-digit points in all but two games. Still he sees his job as the big man who does the dirty work to complement Siena’s young guards.

“I think that’s my job on the team is just to be a helpful guy, a dirty work guy, and make effort plays,” Bisping said. “That’s what I try to do, bring some energy.”

His role at the power forward spot in Patsos’ system has not been a change, but the change in style to a more agressive pace has forced Bisping to adjust in his second season. He said he would like to improve his shape so he can hold his own as the top of Siena’s press.

One of the reasons that the Saints are one of the top 15 teams in the country in grabbing offensive rebounds has been Bisping and teammate Imoh Silas, who have both excelled on the glass this season. Siena’s offensive rebounding percentage so far this season is 39%, second in the MAAC to Quinnipiac.

Bisping’s rebounding prowess and effort plays have shown up early in MAAC play, including against Marist where the sophomore grabbed five offensive rebounds on his way to 16-points, 14-rebounds and his second career double-double in a 67-58 victory. It also allowed him to torch Rider by showing up to make all the effort plays in a 15-point win over the Broncs.

Bisping attempted just one three-pointer between the Purdue game and Rider and it was a miss against Hofstra, but against the Broncs he tied a career-high with three three-pointers.

“I mean that’s definitely not my job on the team,” Bisping said. “I thought they were good looks, but I’m not going to just start taking a bunch of three’s, now I feel like my role on the team is the same as it has been all year.”

One of the drawbacks to handling all the “dirty work” for the Saints for Bisping came Sunday against Iona. The sophomore fouled out for the fourth time this season, which is a consequence of Siena’s style where they have drawn 401 fouls so far this year and had eight players combine this season to foul out a total of 25 times.

“Brett’s sort of had a roller coaster for us and I’ll take that,” Patsos said. “Brett’s effort’s been there. He tries to get better every day in practice and he really does care about the team and the school and that’s what I really love about Brett.”

“He cares about other people, about his teammates, about the school, the community. I think that carries over in life and it really does with that kid.”

Bisping said that Patsos, who is known for being a strong sideline character, brings a lot of energy, but that it should not have to come from the first year Siena head coach.

“He shouldn’t have to be the one that brings energy every day, it should come from us players,” Bisping said. “We’re starting to figure that out or at least trying to. We need to be the ones getting excited and if we don’t, he tries to help out and do that for us sometimes.”

For a team that has no scholarship seniors, the leadership has come from the core of a roster that is the 13th youngest in the country.

“We have different leaders at different times,” Bisping said. “As a team I think we work well together. I think we can listen to each other and we try to hold each other accountable.”

Ryan Restivo covers the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, the America East conference and Hofstra for Big Apple Buckets. You can follow Ryan on Twitter @ryanarestivo or contact Ryan at rrestivo[at]nycbuckets.com.