Bieniemy update

[chuckb]

I went to see Bieniemy's 2nd playoff game tonight. They won by 2 when he hit a contested layup with 2.5 seconds left when he should've been called for a charge. For most of the game, he had no problem getting to the rim, taking his man off the dribble. He is so smooth with the ball and a great finisher at the rim. He's not a great shooter at all -- was 1 for 4 or 5 from 3 -- but hit a brilliant step-back 3 to finish the first half. He probably finished with 18 points.

I've got to say that every time I've seen him I've thought he's dominant on the offensive end, almost always the best player on the court easily, but he just doesn't act like defense is all that important. Like most incoming freshmen, there'll be a big learning curve. Just an example: they were down 2 with about 3 1/2 minutes left and a bad shotmgave the other team a run out. He could've tried to contest the layup at the rim, maybe by blocking it or by fouling the kid and making him earn the points from the free throw line. He did neither. He backed off and let the opponent score, putting his team down 4. This would be been understandable if he had 4 fouls but he only had 2. In a key situation like that, yes just got to contest that shot.

Ultimately, he's too good and his team has too much talent that they pulled it out.

 

[cvangild]

Does he look like he could run the point any?

I would assume his handles are decent to be able to penetrate so well. Did he make any nice passes??

I hope Kam stays. I would like our guards/wings with the guys returning plus JB.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I hope Kam stays. I would like our guards/wings with the guys returning plus JB.

Is there talk of him leaving

 

[chuckb]

Does he look like he could run the point any?

I would assume his handles are decent to be able to penetrate so well. Did he make any nice passes??

I hope Kam stays. I would like our guards/wings with the guys returning plus JB.

He can definitely pass the ball. He does a great job driving into the lane and then dishing off to someone else either underneath or on the wing. I don't see him running the point really, at least for a while. His handles aren't good enough. He dribbles the ball far too high to take it at a Big 12 point guard and he's not nearly strong enough to fight off whoever West Virginia will run at the team's PG next year. He definitely needs a lot of time in the gym and 20 lbs of muscle.

I could see him maybe doing a PG thing a la Cousins as a junior or senior but definitely not as a freshman.

 

[Max Power]

I went to see Bieniemy's 2nd playoff game tonight. They won by 2 when he hit a contested layup with 2.5 seconds left when he should've been called for a charge. For most of the game, he had no problem getting to the rim, taking his man off the dribble. He is so smooth with the ball and a great finisher at the rim. He's not a great shooter at all -- was 1 for 4 or 5 from 3 -- but hit a brilliant step-back 3 to finish the first half. He probably finished with 18 points.

I've got to say that every time I've seen him I've thought he's dominant on the offensive end, almost always the best player on the court easily, but he just doesn't act like defense is all that important. Like most incoming freshmen, there'll be a big learning curve. Just an example: they were down 2 with about 3 1/2 minutes left and a bad shotmgave the other team a run out. He could've tried to contest the layup at the rim, maybe by blocking it or by fouling the kid and making him earn the points from the free throw line. He did neither. He backed off and let the opponent score, putting his team down 4. This would be been understandable if he had 4 fouls but he only had 2. In a key situation like that, yes just got to contest that shot.

Ultimately, he's too good and his team has too much talent that they pulled it out.

So he will fit right in here

 

[chuckb]

So he will fit right in here

I said this prior to this season. It's always true everywhere. Freshmen are often ready and able to contribute offensively but rarely have these kids been called upon to really play solid defense by their high school teams or AAU teams. They just don't know how to do it. It's ok to be frustrated by the defense played by some of the guys on the team but I think it's also understandable that young players just don't play good defense. I'll tell you I've seen Bieniemy's high school team play several times and they're not good defensively -- especially considering all the talent that team has. IMO, they're just not expected to be good defensively and God knows that AAU coaches don't teach or preach it.

People point to Duke and say they're awful defensively. Yep. People ask why DeAndre Ayton, with all his physical tools, is so bad defensively. And Trae and Manek aren't good defensively. What's the common denominator?

 

[chuckb]

Yesterday Bieniemy's Katy Tompkins team punched a ticket to the state final 4 in San Antonio. They won 2 games over the weekend and weren't really challenged in either. Bieniemy did his thing but they were quite a bit better than the teams they played so they didnt need him to be Superman.

They might this Friday as they play South Garland whom is led by nation's #2 point guard Tyrese Maxey and 2019 SG Chris Harris, Jr. It should be a great basketball game. The other semifinal puts Austin Westlake against Allen High, who beat Devion Harmon's #1 ranked Denton Guyer yesterday. Westlake has a bunch of guys including Brock Cunningham, who's committed to UT and considered the Sooners for a while.

If you're in the San Antonio area I would highly recommend making it out to the Alamodome. The tournament is always great fun and there should be great basketball.