It’s no secret. Bobby Planutis is a shooter, and after sitting out a year per NCAA transfer rules, he’s ready to start lighting it up again from beyond the arc. This time, in game action.
At Mount St. Mary’s, the six-foot-eight transfer shot 33-67 from 3-point range, which was nearly 50% of his attempts. In 32 games, Planutis averaged 5.6 points per game, shot 47% from the field and 90% from the free-throw line, scoring 179 points.
Going back to his year off and during the off season, Planutis said he shot until he felt good. There were no set number of reps or time limit. It was just him, a basketball and an empty gym.
“I don’t try to put a certain number of reps up,” Planutis said. “I just shoot it until it feels good, and I keep shooting. If it doesn’t feel good, I do the same thing. I just keep shooting. I try to get in the gym multiple times a day.”
Other than his on-court game, which Bona fans will see soon enough, Planutis spent a lot of time in the weight room. Last season, he said, one of his main goals was to get bigger, stronger and faster. After putting on around 20 pounds, he’s accomplished that.
“I feel pretty good,” Planutis said. “I gained about 20 pounds. I’d say it went well. All of it mostly through lifting.”
Bonnie’s head coach Mark Schmidt, entering his 13th season, talked about Planutis’ progress and the dedication he showed during his year away from game action.
“He’s gotten bigger, but I wish he was 235 pounds,” Schmidt said jokingly. “He’s really worked at it. He’s gotten stronger. A lot of times when guys take a year off, they get depressed and don’t want to work, because it’s, like, why am I working? The season is another year away. Bobby realized that the season was going to come quickly. He took advantage of the year, from both a physical standpoint and learning the playbook. He’s a much better player than he was last season.”
In terms of the role the redshirt-sophomore will play on the offensive end, Schmidt said Planutis’ ability to shoot three-pointers stretches the floor, allowing more opportunities for buckets in the paint.
“In today’s game , the four man (forward) has become the face of the offense,” Schmidt said. “If you have a four man that can shoot, it stretches the floor, allowing Amadi [Ikpeze] and Osun [Osunniyi] to work inside in space. Bobby’s ability to shoot will give us more opportunities for easy baskets inside.”
Planutis’ plan is similar, but he extended a challenge to opposing defenses.
“Spacing the floor out, playing off the other guys,” Planutis said. “Kyle [Lofton] makes plays, Dom [Welch] makes plays. Like I’ve said, go ahead and double those guys. Leave me open.”
Even with his improvements, Schmidt said there’s one area he’d like to see Planutis improve at as the season progresses. Rebounding – a key component to any teams success. At Mount St. Mary’s Planutis averaged 3.9 rebounds per game (126 total).
“One thing Bobby needs to get better at is rebounding,” Schmidt said. “Bobby’s got to be able to grab four, five, six or more rebounds. You can’t be a power four and grab zero. That’s the challenge.”
And that’s certainly a challenge that the recently named captain Planutis will take on. In just his second season as a Bonnie, Planutis has established himself as a leader, earning the utmost respect from his teammates and coaches.
For Planutis, it’s simple.
“It feels good that my teammates picked me,” Planutis said. “Show up on time and work hard. That’s all that’s required.”
Schmidt said, “It says a ton about Bobby. It speaks volumes,” Schmidt said. “Coaches don’t pick captains, players do. His commitment, his leadership skills and how important basketball is to him, it shows he’s got the respect of his teammates.”
With his much anticipated Bona debut just weeks away, Planutis remains eager and hungry. Not only to help this Bona squad get back to the Atlantic 10 title game, but to rock the Reilly Center.
On Nov. 5, against Ohio, he’ll get to do just that.
“It’s a great crowd,” Planutis said. “It kind of sucked not being able to play last year. We can feel it even before we run out of the tunnel.”
By Mike Hogan, Managing Editor
hoganm17@bonaventure.edu
