Benny is back

[ApexSUFan]

I've always been a fan of not having a "set in stone" starting lineup. I think it's really good for team chemistry/morale to know that if you're playing really well, there's a reward. It can help drive certain players to work extra hard in practice, etc. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who starts, but who's getting minutes. Red appears to be spreading the minutes to the players that are playing the best.

 

[mark79]

I've always been a fan of not having a "set in stone" starting lineup. I think it's really good for team chemistry/morale to know that if you're playing really well, there's a reward. It can help drive certain players to work extra hard in practice, etc. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who starts, but who's getting minutes. Red appears to be spreading the minutes to the players that are playing the best.

Great post

 

[realorange]

I've always been a fan of not having a "set in stone" starting lineup. I think it's really good for team chemistry/morale to know that if you're playing really well, there's a reward. It can help drive certain players to work extra hard in practice, etc. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who starts, but who's getting minutes. Red appears to be spreading the minutes to the players that are playing the best.

And as JB used to do, playing and commending players who were doing well in practice.

 

[721Comstock]

I agree. I’m fine with them, but that’s who the rest of the board seems to be focused on replacing. Maliq over McLeod is the move no one really speaks to where I think there’s a legit argument for a change to be made.

Meh.

If Naheem didn’t start, he prolly doesn’t get much run at all.

Brown can’t play all 40.

(Well, he could, but it’d be suboptimal.)

The Highlander played 9 mins.
Brown the other 31.
That’s about right.

And Naheem wasn’t useless -
he had FOUR blocks, a steal, and 2/2 FT’s.

I do agree with whomever said they maybe Red should play some 1-3-1 D while he’s in.
That best utilizes his skills as a rim protector, and means he doesn’t have to chase dudes around the perimeter or get stuck in bad switches.

 

[Sbucketball]

Meh.

If Naheem didn’t start, he prolly doesn’t get much run at all.

Brown can’t play all 40.

(Well, he could, but it’d be suboptimal.)

The Highlander played 9 mins.
Brown the other 31.
That’s about right.

And Naheem wasn’t useless -
he had FOUR blocks, a steal, and 2/2 FT’s.

I do agree with whomever said they maybe Red should play some 1-3-1 D while he’s in.
That best utilizes his skills as a rim protector, and means he doesn’t have to chase dudes around the perimeter or get stuck in bad switches.

I'd rather McLeod play the first two minutes to see if he can hang, instead of subbing him in after 12 minutes and killing the momentum. As long as Brown gets the lion's share of the minutes, I'm fine with that arrangement.

 

[orangefog]

I would give an eye tooth, no, my little finger, no!, a dollar, nah, well, I sure would give something to know Benny’s back story these last couple months. I hope someday we find out. As a former therapist, I can barely control my nosiness. Some days I hate being retired!

And, how does that make you feel?

 

[Jzsshuttles]

I don't see the need to disrupt chemistry. We're not quite getting off to the slow starts like we used to, where the team is immediately in a big hole before the first subs come in. Plus, that give you the opportunity to see if Bell [in particular] comes out hot and hits a few shots early.

But I foresee the Cope / Brown / Benny triumvirate playing starters' MINUTES going forward, which should keep them locked in.

Triumvirate…good word

 

[sufandu]

And as JB used to do, playing and commending players who were doing well in practice.

JB did it different ways. When Waiters came off the bench he wasn't our 6th best player or our 3rd best guard, but it worked for us that he came off the bench. Or remember when Fab Melo started most of the games his freshman year but played less than 10 mpg? And sometimes when a guy really elevated his game at practice or someone really struggled he would make a change. There are different reasons to start guys or bring them off the bench.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

I would give an eye tooth, no, my little finger, no!, a dollar, nah, well, I sure would give something to know Benny’s back story these last couple months. I hope someday we find out. As a former therapist, I can barely control my nosiness. Some days I hate being retired!

No one said that you can't begin a 2nd career as a Sports Therapist. I know I could use some help on the golf course.

That said, I'm hoping Benny is talking to someone. I'm no professional, but it doesn't take a genius to see how someone's two ends of the spectrum are light years apart and that can't be considered normal. His lows are too low and his highs are great, but probably not sustainable. Would love your take on that.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Not sure how Benny getting the starting job back is punishing someone else.

More of a question then statement. If you move him to the starting lineup, someone else now comes off the bench.

 

[Nicknack]

More of a question then statement. If you move him to the starting lineup, someone else now comes off the bench.

Yeah, true, but that someone (JT) has had the starting position only because of Benny's off court decisions.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Yeah, true, but that someone (JT) has had the starting position only because of Benny's off court decisions.

Yeah, but he earned it. I don't think JT has done anything to lose it unless the coach makes a decision he thinks is best for the team. I love what Benny is doing right now, but he's had a difficult start. He's doing it the right way now, earning his minutes back. I think if he continues playing and supporting his team, then yeah he earned that spot back next year. Earned it. I think the players would respect that and it will be more valuable to Benny.

 

[Nicknack]

Yeah, but he earned it. I don't think JT has done anything to lose it unless the coach makes a decision he thinks is best for the team. I love what Benny is doing right now, but he's had a difficult start. He's doing it the right way now, earning his minutes back. I think if he continues playing and supporting his team, then yeah he earned that spot back next year. Earned it. I think the players would respect that and it will be more valuable to Benny.

If we want a ncaa tournament caliber team and potential run, we need Benny starting (in my opinion). I like Maliq and Cope coming off the bench, but would rather see Benny starting with JT coming in to hopefully give us a spark with some 3's.

 

[Cusefan0307]

If we want a ncaa tournament caliber team and potential run, we need Benny starting (in my opinion). I like Maliq and Cope coming off the bench, but would rather see Benny starting with JT coming in to hopefully give us a spark with some 3's.

Why does Benny need to start, but Brown does not?

Browns been the best player out of those two by far for two seasons.

The board craps themselves whenever Benny does something good. That was the best game of his career Saturday. Maybe bringing him off the bench is good for his motivation.

 

[OrangeinDC]

If we want a ncaa tournament caliber team and potential run, we need Benny starting (in my opinion). I like Maliq and Cope coming off the bench, but would rather see Benny starting with JT coming in to hopefully give us a spark with some 3's.

It's crazy cause I agree with you 100%. Well, 90%, I think we are a tournament caliber team, but clearly having Benny there vice JT makes us stronger. The last couple weeks Benny. Red my ultimately do that, but Benny dropped the ball here, no one else.

 

[OrangeinDC]

Why does Benny need to start, but Brown does not?

Browns been the best player out of those two by far for two seasons.

The board craps themselves whenever Benny does something good. That was the best game of his career Saturday. Maybe bringing him off the bench is good for his motivation.

True.

 

[FireballPhil]

I respectfully disagree completely with this. Why would Red not make Benny a starter at some point? To further punish him? I don't really get that. The kid lost his starting job, got very few minutes for multiple games, and now seems to be accepting his mistakes and okay with working his way back. That was the whole point.

At some point, you allow people (kids in this case) the opportunity to redeem themselves while moving forward. I think Red has done a great job in handling Benny, based on what I know. Therefore, I trust in the process but at the same time, hope that he returns to the starting lineup soon. This also comes from someone who really likes JT.

If it was just a one time thing I would agree, but there was at least two different issues. This isn't a 12 year old kid, he needs to understand there re consequences to his actions. And he will get better for it.

 

[littlereg]

I feel like I’m in the minority here but Taylor does nothing for me I just don’t see it like others have and the thing he was heralded for the most, hasn’t existed at all. Any game against a team that’s even decent he hasn’t showed up at all.

 

[Niastri]

If we want a ncaa tournament caliber team and potential run, we need Benny starting (in my opinion). I like Maliq and Cope coming off the bench, but would rather see Benny starting with JT coming in to hopefully give us a spark with some 3's.

I agree with this to some extent. Unfortunately, Taylor hasn't shown a proclivity to shoot early or often as a starter... There's no reason to think he would be different as a reserve. Unless, of course, Red sends him in with the expectation he's going to shoot, and then runs some plays for him.

 

[djcon57]

I've always been a fan of not having a "set in stone" starting lineup. I think it's really good for team chemistry/morale to know that if you're playing really well, there's a reward. It can help drive certain players to work extra hard in practice, etc. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter who starts, but who's getting minutes. Red appears to be spreading the minutes to the players that are playing the best.

Yep...Specifically I don't like if the set in stone starting lineup is causing you to fall behind with regularity. I willing to give it a couple more ACC games. But we need to see SOMETHING from this lineup at some point. Otherwise, you are digging a hole unnecessarily

 

[Niastri]

Why does Benny need to start, but Brown does not?

Browns been the best player out of those two by far for two seasons.

The board craps themselves whenever Benny does something good. That was the best game of his career Saturday. Maybe bringing him off the bench is good for his motivation.

Williams has higher upside than Brown. Brown is a very good player. But unless Brown develops a three point shot he can use in games, Williams gives us much more if he can reach his potential. I feel as if Brown is nearing his potential already. There is a reason he wasn't heralded nearly as much as Williams coming out of high school.

That said, I've come around to the Brown, Williams, Copeland, Starling, Mintz lineup is probably our best.

If Taylor, Bell and McLeod are starting, they better do something productive quickly, or the reserves who are proving to be more effective should be coming in sooner.

We need the starters to play enough minutes, if only so the best lineup doesn't suffer overuse as the season goes on.

One thing we haven't mentioned is the psychological effects of having McLeod in there for a few minutes to start the game... After he blocks a few shots, does that get into the head of players as their driving, even after he's on the bench?

 

[Niastri]

Yep...Specifically I don't like if the set in stone starting lineup is causing you to fall behind with regularity. I willing to give it a couple more ACC games. But we need to see SOMETHING from this lineup at some point. Otherwise, you are digging a hole unnecessarily

Williams is still in the "show me" phase of being excellent. Maybe a few more good games before we anoint him? I'm a Williams fan boy, but I can see the benefit in Red making sure his new mindset is here to stay.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

Williams has higher upside than Brown. Brown is a very good player. But unless Brown develops a three point shot he can use in games, Williams gives us much more if he can reach his potential. I feel as if Brown is nearing his potential already. There is a reason he wasn't heralded nearly as much as Williams coming out of high school.

That said, I've come around to the Brown, Williams, Copeland, Starling, Mintz lineup is probably our best.

If Taylor, Bell and McLeod are starting, they better do something productive quickly, or the reserves who are proving to be more effective should be coming in sooner.

We need the starters to play enough minutes, if only so the best lineup doesn't suffer overuse as the season goes on.

One thing we haven't mentioned is the psychological effects of having McLeod in there for a few minutes to start the game... After he blocks a few shots, does that get into the head of players as their driving, even after he's on the bench?

I'm not a big man, nor a big man's coach, but it's bizarre that McLeod can have a six plus inch advantage and still lose the opening tip.

That alone doesn't really mean much in the grand scheme of the game plan, but if they could ever teach him to consistently play 7'4" then it would go a long way to the success of the team.

 

[djcon57]

Williams is still in the "show me" phase of being excellent. Maybe a few more good games before we anoint him? I'm a Williams fan boy, but I can see the benefit in Red making sure his new mindset is here to stay.

I literally said nothing about Williams in my post.

You can put Brown and Q in or whomever. I just don't like seeing the current starters dig a hole. We need to see a positive start. Hopefully, we see Bell and/or Taylor knock some shots down early vs Duke

 

[Cusefan0307]

Williams has higher upside than Brown. Brown is a very good player. But unless Brown develops a three point shot he can use in games, Williams gives us much more if he can reach his potential. I feel as if Brown is nearing his potential already. There is a reason he wasn't heralded nearly as much as Williams coming out of high school.

That said, I've come around to the Brown, Williams, Copeland, Starling, Mintz lineup is probably our best.

If Taylor, Bell and McLeod are starting, they better do something productive quickly, or the reserves who are proving to be more effective should be coming in sooner.

We need the starters to play enough minutes, if only so the best lineup doesn't suffer overuse as the season goes on.

One thing we haven't mentioned is the psychological effects of having McLeod in there for a few minutes to start the game... After he blocks a few shots, does that get into the head of players as their driving, even after he's on the bench?

I’m not even talking about lineups. There‘a a narrative by the board that always leads to giving Benny different treatment than other guys on the team..

Brown as a freshman was better than freshman Benny and Brown as a sophomore is better than sophomore Benny. Brown can shoot. He made a 3 against Niagara. He just doesn’t get many opportunities out there.

The stats are not even close. Brown has better stats across the board for their career including a PER of 22 vs 12 and 4 win shares vs 1.7. At the end of the day Brown is the better player.