Has anyone seen Benny's lost game?

[Zelda Zonk]

Weren’t the pre-season Benny reviews of the ‘glowing’ sort? I thought there were genuine, objective arguments for him starting over Jimmy, from alum players and practice observers. So, were those accounts just wildly wrong, or did Benny really just seize up, and **** the bed when the lights came on? A few games ago, I thought it might just be mental—because he wasn’t hitting shots and that can easily just be a brain thing. But later, he just seems to be ill-prepared in all facets of the game.

I think that if he has the character to stick it out, learn, and develop, he has potential to turn it around, even this season. But, I wonder who we are seeing. And how much of what was liked about him in those early reports may have been related to him practicing against us—our not so good defense, and our zone—and in games he’s going with less confidence against m2m Ds that smell blood.

 

[asj410]

Weren’t the pre-season Benny reviews of the ‘glowing’ sort? I thought there were genuine, objective arguments for him starting over Jimmy, from alum players and practice observers. So, were those accounts just wildly wrong, or did Benny really just seize up, and **** the bed when the lights came on? A few games ago, I thought it might just be mental—because he wasn’t hitting shots and that can easily just be a brain thing. But later, he just seems to be ill-prepared in all facets of the game.

Yep, I recall the same. Even Waters was saying that Benny was looking really good in practice, to the point where it was difficult for him to guess who would start between Jimmy and Benny.

 

[SoBristol]

Another lesson in reserving judgment until you see what a frosh can do against real college level competition.

At this point, Benny has high athletic ability and potential but raw skills. So, practice and develop. In games, defend, rebound, put backs, drive and finish if you can. Small steps.

 

[cuseincincy]

I was one who lauded Benny in the exhibition games. Everything you say is correct, he hasn't been the same. I still see the flashes once in a while like the casual drop down to an open Jesse in the lane that you don't often see from freshman forwards. But those moments have been way too infrequent as have the displays of his athleticism. I also said, and stand by, that Benny and the team would be best served if he just focused on defense and rebounding this year. He is a plus athlete that we could use if only for those 2 skills. If he can earn more time by doing those 2 things well, I think the rest of his game will open up as the year goes on. I have no comment on his jump shot.

It was telling that when Jesse fouled out we didn't see more Benny but an offense/defense rotation of Symir and Frank.

 

[Sherman20]

See guys from almost 2 decades ago? Cmon now. You’re talking maybe 5 freshman who have made an impact over the last 20 years and were allowed to just go play. And all those times, there was no other player at that position so he had no choice but to play them...

If there was no leash why isn’t he playing 25-30 a game to get acclimated?

Are you saying having some reigns on what a freshman should be doing on the court is a bad thing?

 

[Sherman20]

If you want to criticize JB, theres plenty there. I have been a huge critic as of late and want him to retire. I blame him for Kadary leaving. I think Kadary is a special player, and time will bear that out at Seton Hall. But Benny hasn’t shown anything to indicate he should be playing more. Benny isn’t playing because of his own skill set right now. Blaming JB is a bad take. Now, I’d prefer JB not pointing it out in the press but there’s no justification right now for Benny to get more time. Zero. There’s not a credible counterpoint.

And Ennis was not 20 years ago. Neither was Chris M. Neither was Donte Green. It doesn’t exactly rain 5 stars in Syracuse and Benny was a borderline 5 star.

Great post. You can add Jonny Flynn, CJ Fair, Paul Harris, Dion, Grant, Tyus Battle, Oshae, Lydon, Malachi, Kadary. Not all those guys had free reign, but they played a lot as freshman and were important contributors.

 

[Orangefizz]

I’d like to see Bennie up top in the half court 2-3 zone with Symir. Offense probably suffers unless they generate a lot of run out steals, which of course is why you’d try that lineup in the first place.

Joe, Bennie, Cole, Jimmy and Jesse is interesting to me.

You want Benny in and Buddy out? What’s interesting about that? Buddy is our franchise player.