That all may be true. I can't really say I've paid enough attention around the country to know. I just know Benny has been the worst player on our team so far this year and our team isn't good in the first place so that's saying a lot.
He hasn't rebounded as well as Jimmy, Cole, etc. either.
I don't know what to say. His skill set and the way he played to me were apparent, but obviously you feel differently. It's not like he played just because there was nobody else. He played because he was extremely talented. Benny isn't anywhere close to that talent level. Most players aren't as freshmen.
Do you think he would have got as many minutes that season had Chris McCullough not gone pro?
Malachi was so much more talented than Benny and at least 95% (probably 99%) of other freshmen that we've had. He could've come off the bench and done that. Dion did. Benny starting would not have made him significantly better than he is now.
How many of Benny's and Malachi's high school games did you watch?
Yeah, to be clear, I would like to see Benny get more minutes too. I've felt this was likely a lost season before it even started and it became apparent pretty quickly that those fears were for good reason. I don't really blame the coaching staff for trying to win every game; it's natural, especially with college athletics where you don't really know if these guys will be back next season anyways. But from a fan's perspective, I think we should all be hoping for more Benny minutes to give him more chances. We don't have anyone else to really look to in the future on this team.
I think Roberson and Lydon's minutes get cut the most. Malachi loses some minutes, but he still plays 30 a game. Maybe even starts. Roberson might've come off the bench. Not sure I get the point though. Either way Malachi was going to play. It's not like he all of a sudden improved because he started instead of coming off the bench.
Why does that matter? I watched both of them play in college. Malachi was a better ball handler, shooter, driver, and defender from the start than Benny is. Are you arguing that Benny has the ability to do what Malachi did, but because he's not playing a lot, he can't show it?
www.sports-reference.com
Would have been even dumber. Malachi was our 5th best player that year by most metrics. Roberson and Lydon were clearly better overall. I'm just tired of the rotations and lack of time for guys to play.
Fair enough. He had some good games. I won't deny that. He was also a large reason Hop was 4-5.He did some work in the Bahamas.
Malachi Richardson 2015-16 Game Log | College Basketball at Sports-Reference.com
2015-16 Game Log for Malachi Richardson
It matters because it shows you the difference between what Benny could do a year ago and how he is playing now. And, then you can understand what has changed from them to now. The college game is faster, but that doesn't make his shot flatter. It doesn't put a hitch in his shot. It doesn't make him lose the ball in inexplicable ways (Joe, Jimmy and Cole all have the same issue). Anyway, the bottom line is, Benny earned a 5 star ranking because he is extremely athletic, he could score at all levels. His turnaround was unguardable. He had three point range with a great stroke. He could handle the ball very well for a forward. He is extremely intelligent and coachable. The issue is how he has been handled. If he started from day one I am guessing we would be seeing much more of the player we all expected. But, he has been jerked around and it has messed with his head. You can tell that when he gets on the court, he is thinking his way through the game. Malachi is a talented player. Benny is even more talented. Their opportunity was different. Their personalities are different. I just hope Benny gets pissed off and starts acting like the alpha he should be.
Yah...SU is much better off playing an Ivy League wannabe and a guy that Villanova gladly let go.
That's mostly revisionist history based on what he did in the tourney. Malachi shot 37% from the field on 11 shots per game, that's not good and is actually pretty bad. Grabbed 4 boards and had a matching 2 assists/2 turnovers per game. If Benny received the same 34mpg, I'm willing to wager almost anything that he could match everything except the 35% from downtown.
Jimmy is in his 6th year. Joe 3rd Cole 3rd . The upside of those three players are limited. Benny should be playing a minimum of 12 a game. More like 15. Jimmy and Cole can each play 5-8 less and we have a better team.
I actually agree with you that he lacks confidence. He's tentative. I've said that. Watching back some early games, it was the same way. It's not like all of a sudden he's playing less and now lacks the confidence. The college game is completely different than high school. The transition from high school to college is harder for forwards and centers than it is for guards. A lot of times, an athletic forward will look amazing in high school. Sometimes it translates to college, other times it doesn't because there are other big, strong, athletic players. Defense is different. Shooting form shouldn't change because you'd think a guy who could shoot in high school can shoot in college, but ask Joe Girard how that has worked out. You just play against more physical, better defenders. Plenty of five-star players struggle as freshmen. Let's see what he does next year with some more development.
Add in a post season interview where JB says Jimmy was better than Benny on defense and cites his steals per game.
When a hitch develops or a shot flattens out when previously neither of those things existed, it is a clear indication that he is overthinking the shot. Any shooter knows this. Now, one could debate the cause of the issue. In my opinion, he has been mishandled. A coach's job is to get his players to reach their potential. Maybe JB is trying to toughen up Benny to prepare him for the future. But, how he has been handled doesn't make any sense to me. If JB is here next year, I hope Benny leaves, because he doesn't deserve to be handled the way he has this year.
As others have also pointed out, it's really not if you look at the stats from the beginning of the season, Battle for Atlantis, etc., and just watch the type of player he was. His talent was different than most.
Fair enough. We could debate reasons or his skill set all day long. I hope he stays and lets this staff develop him, but time will tell. I think more guys have worked out by staying and working with the staff than leaving. Interested to see how Guerrier's season finishes at Oregon when he was on his way to being an NBA pick here. In fact, Guerrier is averaging less minutes and points by a lot at Oregon than here. Something Benny should consider.
