USA East Coast Basketball trip with Benny Williams

[Orangezoo]

A couple of years ago, I was extremely hopeful that Jalen Carey was going to make the sophomore leap that many of our players seem to have. He participated on this same tournament, and I made a bunch of posts about how useful it would be for him to hone his lead guard skills, get some extra games under his belt after a wasted freshman season, etc. Many of the same things that are being said about Benny in the present tense.

Then, the games started and Carey wasn't especially good. Don't worry -- I posted, he's trying to run the offense more than score, he's trying to get his teammates involved, etc. Might have had one nice game or two out of the entire tour, but otherwise -- poor performance.

And because of that, the buzz started about the likelihood that Carey WOULDN'T take that next step and be the player we need him to be. Don't worry -- I posted, this was a good developmental experience, and everything will be all right when he gets back on campus into a familiar system...

Now, Benny's story is still being written, far too early to write him off, but I'm seeing parallels. Sophomore that the team is counting on to make substantial improvement, but very little evidence that he has.

Here's hoping his trajectory is different than Carey's. But sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

Yep. Carey is the story Benny eerily resembles. I really hope that changes.

 

[pearl31]

I just hope if his offense isn't there he can excel on defense, rebounding, etc - not let it affect him adversely so that he gets all in his head and pouty - hope he can stay fully engaged throughout those games where his offense isn't there.

 

[AlaskaSU]

My mistake. I was thinking of another player, Wendell Alexis, that was a surprise draft pick.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Benny got the start today.

 

[rrlbees]

Made a 15 footer

 

[rrlbees]

Missed a fast break layup but had to euro around a guy then pretty much air balled a 3. Has 2 rebs and a steal. Almost half.

 

[rrlbees]

Anyone else lose the feed?

 

[rrlbees]

It’s back. Benny just hit a 17 footer after a couple moves. Then had a rebound, tried to go the length of the court but was fouled and made both FTs.

 

[rrlbees]

Nice. Made a rebound layup then another guy missed a jumper and he went in and dunked the rebound with one hand.

 

[rrlbees]

Think he has 10 points but I also missed a few mins.

 

[pearl31]

This sounds much better today.

 

[dasher]

Fwiw, I would be thrilled if Ben grades out to Ryan Blackwell. We didn't really get to see Ryan as a true frosh, since he came by way of Illinois. But, i remember Blackwell being an efficient player; one that maximized his talents.

I was in Hawaii to watch the Orange play Illinois. Blackwell looked very good to me as a frosh.

 

[Orangezoo]

Think he has 10 points but I also missed a few mins.

Lost track of time doing yard work. Bummed I am missing the better performance. Really glad to hear he bounced back and is getting after it.

 

[kcsu]

The kids an athlete. If we push the ball this year he will do fine. He needs to run. Not a half court player

 

[Orangezoo]

The kids an athlete. If we push the ball this year he will do fine. He needs to run. Not a half court player

Having Jesse as a big will make the halfcourt game still an option using a 3 man system with Judah Joe and Jesse. That said yeah we need to push it and we should have the horses.

 

[ottodaorange]

"But sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

Yes, but sometimes it is an Arturo Fuente .

 

[rrlbees]

Game over. I missed a few mins when he was in so my stats could be a bit low. But I had him with 10 pts 5 rebs and 2 steals.

 

[DoctorBombay]

Game over. I missed a few mins when he was in so my stats could be a bit low. But I had him with 10 pts 5 rebs and 2 steals.

I didn’t watch it. What’s your overall assessment, yesterday to today? Personally I’m looking for a sense of presence on the floor, an Alpha ‘tude like “Im the baddest mf’er on the floor”.
Benny seems to lack self confidence. Don’t know if he had it taken away from him after last year, or he never had in the first place.

 

[Sbucketball]

I watched most of the first half and honestly everyone looked terrible. Made me think we shouldn’t read too much into these games. Sounds like Benny turned it on after I had to shut it off, which is great.

 

[Orangezoo]

I didn’t watch it. What’s your overall assessment, yesterday to today? Personally I’m looking for a sense of presence on the floor, an Alpha ‘tude like “Im the baddest mf’er on the floor”.
Benny seems to lack self confidence. Don’t know if he had taken away from him after last year, or he never had in the first place.

If you go to the FB page at least some of it is on there. I ran through his segments and he was more comfortable in this one. I don't see an Alpha mentality but he was active and seemed to have more purpose. Missed a bunny he needs to dunk but was better than yesterday. I will say seemed todays team was a good bit weaker than yesterday's from what I saw. He definitely is better as a perimeter or help defender than he is going 1on1 in the post vs a big. Sounds like after he came back from the live feed cut he had some really nice posessions.

 

[sutomcat]

Game over. I missed a few mins when he was in so my stats could be a bit low. But I had him with 10 pts 5 rebs and 2 steals.

Thanks for the info Bees. Appreciate it.

It is a shame the PS and the rest of the local media appears to be ignoring coverage of these games.

Even a few quotes from phone interviews or text messages from the coach and Benny would be great. And official box scores, if they exist.

 

[rrlbees]

I didn’t watch it. What’s your overall assessment, yesterday to today? Personally I’m looking for a sense of presence on the floor, an Alpha ‘tude like “Im the baddest mf’er on the floor”.
Benny seems to lack self confidence. Don’t know if he had it taken away from him after last year, or he never had in the first place.

Both days his 1st qtrs were bad. Seemed disinterested and wasn’t aggressive, just floating around. Little better yesterday after that first qtr but today he turned it up a notch. 2nd half he was more aggressive and decided a couple times he was gonna get his. Twice he got defensive rebounds and just took off dribbling the length of the court. First time he got fouled and made both FTs. Second time he got all the way to the basket, was challenged on the layup and missed but hung with it and made the putback. Then there was the offensive one handed rebound that he dunked all in one motion.

 

[Orangezoo]

Both days his 1st qtrs were bad. Seemed disinterested and wasn’t aggressive, just floating around. Little better yesterday after that first qtr but today he turned it up a notch. 2nd half he was more aggressive and decided a couple times he was gonna get his. Twice he got defensive rebounds and just took off dribbling the length of the court. First time he got fouled and made both FTs. Second time he got all the way to the basket, was challenged on the layup and missed but hung with it and made the putback. Then there was the offensive one handed rebounded that he dunked all in onpossessions.

Sucks there is no replay of when he really picked things up. That is who he needs to be though.

 

[jgeorge322]

Roberson or Blackwell would be fantastic if he improved that much… you guys have some short memories. Sure, Roberson was limited but he also pulled down 21 boards at Duke while getting the kicked out of him and hanmering down a top 10 cuse dunk of all time. Robey had limitations but he was a pretty decent college player.