DJ Bennett

[BigTime]

What are you guys hoping and expecting from the man with the long wingspan next season?

Hoping: 7 and 7 with some good shot blocking ability and the ability to defend in the halfcourt against Big 12 centers.

Expecting: 4 and 4 with some good shot blocking ability and decent ability to defend in the halfcourt against Big 12 bigs (I'm a little concerned about his slight build and hope he puts on some good weight this offseason).

 

[bgrch1350]

What are you guys hoping and expecting from the man with the long wingspan next season?

Hoping: 7 and 7 with some good shot blocking ability and the ability to defend in the halfcourt against Big 12 centers.

Expecting: 4 and 4 with some good shot blocking ability and decent ability to defend in the halfcourt against Big 12 bigs (I'm a little concerned about his slight build and hope he puts on some good weight this offseason).

I expect nothing from a juco player who redshirts. So anything he does is just gravy.

 

[colston15]

Just some shot blocking ability and a good attitude on the glass.

I don't care if he scores much at all, although I don't him to be like Jurick at OSU. They played 4 on 5 on offense when Jurick was in.

Of course I could raise or lower my expectations depending on how Avila and Hamilton contribute.

 

[KBaden145]

I am hoping (and kind of expecting) something along the lines of what Cobbins did for OState and Young did for KU. A good complementary big to what Spangler will bring.

 

[garyeb2]

Just some shot blocking ability and a good attitude on the glass.

I don't care if he scores much at all, although I don't him to be like Jurick at OSU. They played 4 on 5 on offense when Jurick was in.

Of course I could raise or lower my expectations depending on how Avila and Hamilton contribute.

I don't think so. Jurick is a stiff. Bennett can play a little.

 

[WTSooner]

Hard to say. Didn't he say during an interview earlier this year that he was being molded to kind of take Osby's spot, especially offensively? If he can hit that 15 foot jumper with any kind of regularity, he'll be giving us what we need on offense.

Best case for me is he starts at the 4, plays solid defense and rebounds, hits a few jumpers, and gets junk baskets around the hoop on the break and on rebounds. Averages something like 8.5/7.

Hopefully worse case is that he is the first big off the bench (Avila or Cam starting ahead of him), his offense never develops, and he is Johnny Gilbert, averaging something like 3/4 off the bench.

 

[bgrch1350]

I don't think so. Jurick is a stiff. Bennett can play a little.

He redshirted...are you kidding me. Jurick would play over him in a heart beat.

 

[garyeb2]

He redshirted...are you kidding me. Jurick would play over him in a heart beat.

OK, I'll try again and start over. Jurick is a stiff. Bennett probably would not have beaten out Fitz for the 1st big off the bench role.

Fitz was an established and experienced senior and Bennett was coming from Jr. College. Bennett's offensive development was behind the other parts of his game. Fitz had a little offense but nothing else. If Bennett had played last year, he would have spent most of his time sitting on the bench beside Fitz watching Osby and M'Baye play.

The year of extra development will help Bennett reach a much higher ceiling than Fitz ever had and certainly higher than a stiff like Jurick. You see, Bennett has a little athletic ability about him. Fitz and Jurick, not so much.

 

[garyeb2]

Hard to say. Didn't he say during an interview earlier this year that he was being molded to kind of take Osby's spot, especially offensively? If he can hit that 15 foot jumper with any kind of regularity, he'll be giving us what we need on offense.

Best case for me is he starts at the 4, plays solid defense and rebounds, hits a few jumpers, and gets junk baskets around the hoop on the break and on rebounds. Averages something like 8.5/7.

Hopefully worse case is that he is the first big off the bench (Avila or Cam starting ahead of him), his offense never develops, and he is Johnny Gilbert, averaging something like 3/4 off the bench.

I think you have it backwards. I think a Kruger offense would be just as likely to contain two stretch 4's as it would a 4 and a 5. But, if it could be defined next season as a 4 and a 5 and Spangler and Bennett were the players filling those roles. Spangler is the one more like a 4 and Bennett more like a 5.

On some practice days and in some ways, Bennett is better than Spangler. But, Spangler is easily the superior player and athlete. If either one of them are consistent Osby like 15 ft. shot makers, it will be Spangler.

 

[KBaden145]

I think you have it backwards. I think a Kruger offense would be just as likely to contain two stretch 4's as it would a 4 and a 5. But, if it could be defined next season as a 4 and a 5 and Spangler and Bennett were the players filling those roles. Spangler is the one more like a 4 and Bennett more like a 5.

On some practice days and in some ways, Bennett is better than Spangler. But, Spangler is easily the superior player and athlete. If either one of them are consistent Osby like 15 ft. shot makers, it will be Spangler.

That's been my observation. I saw more of Spangler with the walk-ons than I actually saw of Bennett but Bennett looked like a more skilled Johnnie Gilbert at times. I'm very excited to see what the year will bring out of those 2 guys. Should make a nice combo, a little more traditional bigs than last season.

 

[WTSooner]

I think you have it backwards. I think a Kruger offense would be just as likely to contain two stretch 4's as it would a 4 and a 5. But, if it could be defined next season as a 4 and a 5 and Spangler and Bennett were the players filling those roles. Spangler is the one more like a 4 and Bennett more like a 5.

On some practice days and in some ways, Bennett is better than Spangler. But, Spangler is easily the superior player and athlete. If either one of them are consistent Osby like 15 ft. shot makers, it will be Spangler.

IF that is true, I might prefer Cam to start at the 4 next year. I hope if Bennett isn't up for the challenge, that Avila is though. I prefer to see Cam doing next year, exactly what he did this year. I really think that, and pg between Woodard/Cousins is the only spot open in the starting lineup. I think Hornbeak/Hield/Spangler have spots about as locked up as you can without it being a given. I prefer a truer big man to start inside, but if Bennett and Avila aren't "ready", start Cam.

 

[KBaden145]

IF that is true, I might prefer Cam to start at the 4 next year. I hope if Bennett isn't up for the challenge, that Avila is though. I prefer to see Cam doing next year, exactly what he did this year. I really think that, and pg between Woodard/Cousins is the only spot open in the starting lineup. I think Hornbeak/Hield/Spangler have spots about as locked up as you can without it being a given. I prefer a truer big man to start inside, but if Bennett and Avila aren't "ready", start Cam.

Everybody is going smaller. I worry starting Cam will throw our bench and overall rotation off kilter. I still like him playing starters min but coming off the bench. Hopefully it won't be an issue either way.

 

[garyeb2]

Everybody is going smaller. I worry starting Cam will throw our bench and overall rotation off kilter. I still like him playing starters min but coming off the bench. Hopefully it won't be an issue either way.

I think that too much is made of the going small argument. A lot of coaches have gone that route. The knee jerk assumption is that must be the superior strategy. Well, the reality is that it is just easier to find a 6'2"-6'4" guy with reasonable skills and abilities than it is to find a 6'6"-6'8" guy with those same skills and abilities. There is just more of the smaller ones.

 

[KBaden145]

I think that too much is made of the going small argument. A lot of coaches have gone that route. The knee jerk assumption is that must be the superior strategy. Well, the reality is that it is just easier to find a 6'2"-6'4" guy with reasonable skills and abilities than it is to find a 6'6"-6'8" guy with those same skills and abilities. There is just more of the smaller ones.

I understand the reasons why but, I'm not saying it is a superior strategy, but I've seen a lot of teams choose to go small. Going small got Carolina into the tournament. I do agree about the numbers game, though. While I don't think Kruger would choose to go small, I do think we will more often then not be a 3 guard 2 true bigs lineup.

 

[Tundrasooner]

He redshirted...are you kidding me. Jurick would play over him in a heart beat.

He redshirted because he wanted to.

 

[garyeb2]

I understand the reasons why but, I'm not saying it is a superior strategy, but I've seen a lot of teams choose to go small. Going small got Carolina into the tournament. I do agree about the numbers game, though. While I don't think Kruger would choose to go small, I do think we will more often then not be a 3 guard 2 true bigs lineup.

I don't think he would chose to play 4 guards either. I'm trying to make a point about Cam.

It is my opinion that Cam lost his minutes for one over riding reason. Kruger believes that he can take smaller defenders off the dribble and Cam lacks the will, or aggression, or the confidence, or whatever to do it. It is a point of contention that I saw repeated time and again in practice for two years. Pledger couldn't do it. But, he eventually secured the major minutes because he could hit shots at a decent clip.

Kruger would certainly know what to do with a legit post player if he had one. But, it is also my opinion that he will want to have something that looks like a point guard, two long athletic wings and two stretch 4's going forward. The wings being the strength and scorers. For the last two seasons he has had some mismatched players that he didn't recruit and that didn't fit into the plan. What we saw on offense is what he could do with the players that he had. The look going forward will be different.

Dribble penetration from the wings and point guard will likely be the driver of the offense. Not an Iowa ST. 3 point sharp shooter look. The whole deal is up to Cam. His problem is between his ears. If Kruger can drag him over the hump and get him to play the position like he wants it played, the team will be much the better for it. If we look up and see Cam flopping back and forth between the 3 and 4 or coming off the bench, that will be an indicator that Kruger lost the battle of wills. It will also be and indicator that the team's ceiling isn't very high.

 

[KBaden145]

I don't think he would chose to play 4 guards either. I'm trying to make a point about Cam.

It is my opinion that Cam lost his minutes for one over riding reason. Kruger believes that he can take smaller defenders off the dribble and Cam lacks the will, or aggression, or the confidence, or whatever to do it. It is a point of contention that I saw repeated time and again in practice for two years. Pledger couldn't do it. But, he eventually secured the major minutes because he could hit shots at a decent clip.

Kruger would certainly know what to do with a legit post player if he had one. But, it is also my opinion that he will want to have something that looks like a point guard, two long athletic wings and two stretch 4's going forward. The wings being the strength and scorers. For the last two seasons he has had some mismatched players that he didn't recruit and that didn't fit into the plan. What we saw on offense is what he could do with the players that he had. The look going forward will be different.

Dribble penetration from the wings and point guard will likely be the driver of the offense. Not an Iowa ST. 3 point sharp shooter look. The whole deal is up to Cam. His problem is between his ears. If Kruger can drag him over the hump and get him to play the position like he wants it played, the team will be much the better for it. If we look up and see Cam flopping back and forth between the 3 and 4 or coming off the bench, that will be an indicator that Kruger lost the battle of wills. It will also be and indicator that the team's ceiling isn't very high.

So you see it as a good sign if Cam is starting as a 4, with, say, Woodard/Cousins, Hornbeak, Spangler, and Hield?

 

[Mr.B!!!]

So you see it as a good sign if Cam is starting as a 4, with, say, Woodard/Cousins, Hornbeak, Spangler, and Hield?

I think the opposite with a starting line up being:

[Post]
Spangler
Cam
[Guard]
[Guard]

If Cam can't show that he can take a role as a wing, then he comes off the bench as a utility four and we are a three guard, two post offense.

 

[WTSooner]

Everybody is going smaller. I worry starting Cam will throw our bench and overall rotation off kilter. I still like him playing starters min but coming off the bench. Hopefully it won't be an issue either way.

Oh, I agree. I'm certainly more in favor of going small, than big. I'm not one of those that sit around and complain about not having a true center, or whatever. I'd like one guy that is a bit more, uh......imposing, maybe, than Osby or whomever, but I'm perfectly content starting a guy like M'Baye or Osby at the 4. Even someone of Cam's size, but we need a better player than Cam.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't understand the Cam taking smaller guards off the dribble. Cam has terrible handles. And no real moves. Bigger players? Sure. That is why his play really took off when LK moved him to the four. He had bigger players trying to guard him, and he could get around them some. Cam has no business trying to "go around" any guard that is a true guard. He just doesn't have that skill set.

As for going small not being superior, maybe, maybe not. But I know this.....in the NBA, it's just about every teams' "go-to lineup". The Knicks go small (from the start) with Carmelo at the four. Lebron plays a ton of four. KD is the 4 during crunch time a lot of the time. I know those guys are stars, but I'm sure there are more examples. Boston went small at times with Green at the four.