Feb. 19, 2003
Special to SienaSaints.com
~By Kevin Martone (Collegehoopsnet.com)
Mike Buhrman cannot be considered little by any measure. The Senior forward on the Siena College Men's Basketball Team stands six feet, nine inches. He weighs 235 pounds. He shows his academic girth as a student: Buhrman is a two-time Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Academic Team selection. He has even been given a sizable nickname: Big Buhrm. He has a big heart - and bigger threshold for pain - as well. Buhrman continues to fight the pain and frustration of a sprained ACL, yet another in a series of leg injuries that have limited his playing time and effectiveness as a Saint. Despite all indications that Mike Buhrman is centered on things big, when he returns to the court this season, he will do all the little things a college basketball team needs to be successful.
"My role will be the same as it has always been," Buhrman said. "I'm just going to do the little things: take charges, set screens, get rebounds when I can, and hit an open shot if that's needed. [I will do] whatever it takes [to help the team]." Head Coach Rob Lanier agrees. "We pride ourselves in being a tough, aggressive, hard-nosed team," Lanier said. "Mike embodies all of these characteristics. He has a high basketball IQ and he can shoot the ball, both of which will land him minutes" when he returns from his current leg injury. Buhrman hopes to get back on the court alongside his teammates within the next couple of weeks, before the Spring semester begins. He has been completing rehabilitation since the injury occurred earlier this season and can't wait to get back into a game to help Siena continue their early-season success, racing out to a 5-1 record, 2-0 in the MAAC.
In the meantime, Buhrman continues to try to find ways to help the team. He admits "it's tough to lead without being on the court." For a player who likes to lead by example, once drawing seven offensive fouls in a single contest against MAAC-rival Canisius College during his Sophomore year, Buhrman has struggled to make an impact. "I try to point things out [to my teammates] ... and just try to pump them up [during games]," Buhrman said.
Coach Lanier praises Buhrman's impact on the sidelines. "Mike is a very mature individual whose mere presence has helped the team evolve," Lanier said. "By sitting through our practices, he has developed almost a coach's perspective which will no doubt help him upon his return [to the court]." His off-the-court presence has definitely been felt, if the success of the team and its three new freshmen is any measure. "They've produced wins for us," Buhrman said, referring to freshmen Michael Haddix, Antoine Jordan, and Paul Williams, who have each performed well for the Saints in early action. "They expected success...they have stepped up really well," he added. Although Buhrman doesn't take credit for the team's early success, his determination and support have been positive influences on the newcomers.
Little Things Count Off the Court Too
Buhrman's off the court successes can also be attributed to his focus on the little things. "You just have to take advantage of your time," he said. "You have to have your priorities straight." Buhrman's priorities are as grounded as you would expect from a guy not known for his leaping ability. He selected Siena (over other suitors such as the University of Pennsylvania from the Ivy League and the Patriot League's Bucknell College) for the opportunities o the basketball court that former Head Coach Paul Hewitt offered ("They had a strong team coming back [my freshman] year," Buhrman recalled.) as well as the chance to earn a degree in accounting without burdening his family with student loans. "Penn and Bucknell [didn't] offer [athletic] scholarships," he said. He did the math and realized that his middle class family would not receive much aid. His academic accolades offer proof that Buhrman passed this first accounting assignment.
One Last Shot
Before Buhrman moves on to success at some luckyvaccounting firm, he has one last semester, one last season as a Siena student-athlete. He feels like he has some unfinished business. Early in his career, he averaged approximately five points and four rebounds per game, portending future statistical success that hasn't materialized due to his various injuries. But Buhrman measures personal success only in team victories. "I'd love to ... repeat as MAAC champions...[and] get back to the NCAA Tournament,"Buhrman said.
He knows he is "not the smoothest-looking player," but he has been successful his whole career because of his effort and focus. "Even in high school," Buhrman said, "when I was one of the best players on our team, I still did all the little stuff. I dove for loose balls, took charges...it's just part of the game: do what it takes to win." When it is time for Buhrman to remove the Green and Gold for the last time at the end of the season, he simply wants to be remembered for "the fact that [he was] a hard worker and ... went out on the court every day and played [his] heart out and just did whatever [he] could for the team to win." This legacy is already assured. But if Buhrman can find a way back onto the court for his final season, the Saints could very well make it back to the NCAA Tournament on his big shoulders and little deeds.
