Benny Williams dismissed from program

[kidorange]

This thread started out positively but save for a few comments, turned pretty ugly. I'm middle aged and always trying to learn, be more empathetic and less judgemental. I hope some of you can try to do the same. A lot was said here that I'm not ok with.

 

[djcon57]

From the standpoint of winning games for the balance of the season, this additional hit to the team's depth will likely be disastrous.

yeah I think the ship has sailed on this season.

But the good news is 4 years from now we can look back and use Benny as the excuse why we didnt make the tourney like when Jesse broke his wrist

 

[CousCuse]

yeah I think the ship has sailed on this season.

But the good news is 4 years from now we can look back and use Benny as the excuse why we didnt make the tourney like when Jesse broke his wrist

You mean Jesse Edwards who was getting big time NIL offers from top programs across the country? Yea, that's the same thing.

 

[23Zone]

Addition by subtraction is all I'll say on this matter

 

[CuseMan4]

I’m pretty sure we are Louisville loss away from a free fall the rest of the season. Would not be pretty and they need a win bad

 

[FireballPhil]

that's bullshit. I have a kid who's a junior in college and near 21. he has his stuff together but from a maturity emotional standpoint he's just a kid. And I have no idea Benny's upbringing either.

At 21 I was in on deployment in the Arctic circle and then fighting in Desert Storm. At 21 he is an adult. He can vote. He can drink. But he can't be held responsible for his decisions?

 

[Cuse99&01]

yeah I think the ship has sailed on this season.

But the good news is 4 years from now we can look back and use Benny as the excuse why we didnt make the tourney like when Jesse broke his wrist

Depending on how you look at it - Benny could be used as an excuse in a couple ways (I'm not saying either are correct conclusions). 1) he was dismissed from the team, which hurt the chances of making the tournament (as you have stated), or 2) while on the team, he didn't live up to expectations/capabilities and was also a distraction which ultimately lowered the team's celling and created chemistry issues, thus the team didn't make the tourney.

 

[Cuse_NYC]

Well if we’re now doing the right things, please get JT out of the starting lineup and insert Q

 

[bigmike]

Best of luck to Benny. I wonder if some of this turmoil may have shown up in the recent betting lines.

 

[djcon57]

Depending on how you look at it - Benny could be used as an excuse in a couple ways (I'm not saying either are correct conclusions). 1) he was dismissed from the team, which hurt the chances of making the tournament (as you have stated), or 2) while on the team, he didn't live up to expectations/capabilities and was also a distraction which ultimately lowered the team's celling and created chemistry issues, thus the team didn't make the tourney.

Absolutely. Win/Win.

 

[DilemaCuse]

I just think there's a huge difference between (a) someone who is immature, is a potential cancer to team chemistry and mouths off to authority figures, and (b) someone who is physically aggressive toward authority figures. We pretty much know that A is true, but I don't think we need to embellish B to fit a narrative.

Yeah he didnt hit, he bumped or brushed him in passing. Poor choice of words in that tweet

 

[AZOrange]

I’m pretty sure we are Louisville loss away from a free fall the rest of the season. Would not be pretty and they need a win bad

Yeah this has a Tom Petty feel to it

 

[bballbeadle]

My daughter sent me a meme I haven’t seen on here about the last time we got rid of a Williams the next year we were National Champions.

 

[AZOrange]

At 21 I was in on deployment in the Arctic circle and then fighting in Desert Storm. At 21 he is an adult. He can vote. He can drink. But he can't be held responsible for his decisions?

Not sure why people don’t think both things can be true here. He can be held responsible/accountable as an adult, AND he can have the mindset of a teenage boy basically.

 

[Willy75]

Long time coming; no player in SU basketball history has been given more second chances.

 

[Reyes39]

At 21 I was in on deployment in the Arctic circle and then fighting in Desert Storm. At 21 he is an adult. He can vote. He can drink. But he can't be held responsible for his decisions?

Exactly. Shoot, by 11 I was already putting in 120 hours a week in the mines.

Used to have to grow up quicker.

 

[jdubs30]

Long time coming; no player in SU basketball history has been given more second chances.

And people still feel sorry for him

 

[Newhouser]

Not sure why people don’t think both things can be true here. He can be held responsible/accountable as an adult, AND he can have the mindset of a teenage boy basically.

I side with this too. People can be both. Actually when watching Benny I got the vibe of a guy who was acting how he thought he should act when playing poorly -frustrated, tough guy, uber competitor, etc.

I think he just wasn't as good as he thought he was and had a hard time dealing. Wishing him luck and moving on.

At least we won't see the Nye commercial anymore when the creator had to be edgy and include a bleeped out "a--" in the copy. That's a good look.

 

[Jake]

Not sure why people don’t think both things can be true here. He can be held responsible/accountable as an adult, AND he can have the mindset of a teenage boy basically.

Jimmy Bug? Eric? Deshaun’s? It’s on a 33% win pct…

 

[FireballPhil]

Not sure why people don’t think both things can be true here. He can be held responsible/accountable as an adult, AND he can have the mindset of a teenage boy basically.

I would agree both are true. But here is the deal. The guy was getting a free ride scholarship. He was getting what I assume is good NIL money to play basketball. Is he easily influenced? Yes. But is this his first issue? No. At some point even kids learn they have to use a potty instead of diapers.

In any case it is all not relevant now. He is dismissed. I am not happy about it, but I also know he has had more than enough chances to change. Sometimes to straighten yourself our you have to move locations, change your friends. If a drug addict tries to get clean but still hangs with his drug buddies is he going to stay clean? No I am not saying he is on drugs, I am just using that as an example.

The ideal world of him showcasing what we all thought he might become is now gone. We are left with the remnants, pieces that need glued back together. Good luck to Benny in his future, and thanks for all you have done. Good luck to the team as they adjust to life without Benny. May they grow closer and become a full unit.

 

[Willy75]

Yes! I could see Benny on our back line in the old 2/3 causing absolute havoc on offenses. Swatting shots and collecting rebounds. Catching lobs on offense and jamming them home.
It’s so unfortunate that it didn’t work out. Lots of promise there.

I could see Benny playing for Marist, which should have happened long ago.

 

[andyw715]

The athlete aside, I hope he can still graduate from SU even if he’s off the team. I presume he loses his scholarship too. I guess there’s the portal though.

Yeah that was my question.

I would think in this case he didn't live up to his expectations in order to continue his scholarship.

Question though.

Say one of the current guys (I would consider these player to be mis-recruited, no fault of their own) has "the talk" during the off season but really wants to continue their program at SU (ie good student). Does the university extend a scholarship (athletic non-participant) to them to finish?
Their ability is what it is, its not really their fault that it doesn't work out.

 

[pwong]

I get Benny needing to be removed from the team but why do it now? Why not just wait a month when the season is over and let him transfer.

Did anything specific happen after the Wake game that led to this? Seems like Red is just punting the rest of the season to make a statement

 

[Jake]

Believe Red had to make a move here after he was given multiple chances by multiple coaches. It’s a long term move. Can’t have repeated outbursts and expect to be considered a net plus for the team.

There’s a standard behavior expected, and he’s failed to maintain them for an extended time.

IMHO, Benny was not going to be part of the program next year anyway. I think the program tried to help Benny many times, but he did not do much to help him self. At some point, it’s best to part ways.

We’re in the portal market for one if not two big men and a PG.

Let’s hope Cope plays out of his mind. We are incredibly small the rest of the year.

 

[swish7]

And people still feel sorry for him

Bc he's a human being