DJ Bennett

I prefer cam at the 4 for offense, but for defensive purposes he has the ability to lock down people on the perimeter.
 
So you see it as a good sign if Cam is starting as a 4, with, say, Woodard/Cousins, Hornbeak, Spangler, and Hield?

No, I'm sorry to be confusing. It is my belief that Kruger wants and needs for Cam to play the 3 like he wants it done. If Cam fills a different role it won't be the end of the world. It would just be a less desirable option.
 
I prefer cam at the 4 for offense, but for defensive purposes he has the ability to lock down people on the perimeter.

I agree with that.

That is another reason I like him off the bench. It's easier to bring him in to give you what we need. A wing scoring at will on Hield? Give Cam a shot. A small 4 giving Spangler or Bennett fits? Give Cam a shot. Other team has a big, slow 4 on the floor? Put Cam in at the 4, and let him out run the guy on the break. Lots more options and flexibility off the bench.

That, and I don't want to see Hornbeak or Hield not start. We need those guys to start if they are anywhere close to the players that Cam is, and I believe they are.
 
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.

I don't know what to tell you. Ask Kruger if you ever get the chance. All I know is that I have seen Cam "coached" on that particular point time after time.
 
No, I'm sorry to be confusing. It is my belief that Kruger wants and needs for Cam to play the 3 like he wants it done. If Cam fills a different role it won't be the end of the world. It would just be a less desirable option.

That's ok, Gary. All that said, what would be your ideal group for us to start the season? (Sorry if you answered on the previous thread discussing lineups)

I agree with that.

That is another reason I like him off the bench. It's easier to bring him in to give you what we need. A wing scoring at will on Hield? Give Cam a shot. A small 4 giving Spangler or Bennett fits? Give Cam a shot. Other team has a big, slow 4 on the floor? Put Cam in at the 4, and let him out run the guy on the break. Lots more options and flexibility off the bench.

That, and I don't want to see Hornbeak or Hield not start. We need those guys to start if they are anywhere close to the players that Cam is, and I believe they are.

I agree with this. I see Cam as a more versatile version of Selvy. Maybe not quite as effective but similar in a couple of ways. We could use Cam like you suggest...fill a need or a gap in the match ups our starting unit runs into. Also, and I think this flows into some of what Gary is talking about, I think we can use Cam's versatility to our advantage in certain matchup to create offense. Cam posting up a smaller wing or Cam attacking a bigger slower post off the dribble. When Kelvin brought in Selvy, you knew one or both of a couple of things were happening. We had a matchup problem or a matchup to take advantage of.
 
And also, if LK is going to play almost two separate units again next year, he is going to want a) a second unit that is a complete team, and b) a little D1 experience on that second unit.

IF Hornbeak and Hield both start, Cousins and Cam are the only other two that will have played D1 ball (not counting Neal b/c I don't think he'll be in the 10 man rotation). I'd think LK would want at least Cam coming off the bench to give that second unit some experience.
 
hate to get this thread back on subject, but here's my prediction:

november: "looks decent. shows flashes, but very raw. makes some really bad mistakes though. coaches have a lot to work with."
december: "this guy sucks. can't believe lon wasted a scholly on him. what did he see? one more year, too. smh."
january: "he's starting to 'get it.' has a long way to go. good player, but probably nothing more than a good rotational player."
february: "great energy, good defense, and can knock down some shots. i like this kid. glad he redshirted, gonna be special next year. great find, lon!"
 
That's ok, Gary. All that said, what would be your ideal group for us to start the season? (Sorry if you answered on the previous thread discussing lineups)



I agree with this. I see Cam as a more versatile version of Selvy. Maybe not quite as effective but similar in a couple of ways. We could use Cam like you suggest...fill a need or a gap in the match ups our starting unit runs into. Also, and I think this flows into some of what Gary is talking about, I think we can use Cam's versatility to our advantage in certain matchup to create offense. Cam posting up a smaller wing or Cam attacking a bigger slower post off the dribble. When Kelvin brought in Selvy, you knew one or both of a couple of things were happening. We had a matchup problem or a matchup to take advantage of.

I don't have a dog in the fight. I don't have a preferred lineup. I'm just trying to relate what my observations have led me to think Kruger wants to do.

Kruger had a whole series of instructional and strategy videos on line. They were entitled Krugerology. He was using UNLV players.( I asked him awhile back if he would redo or continue with it now that he was at OU. He just smiled and said that he was probably a recruiting class or two away from being able to pull that off.) But anyway, Kruger's typical offense doesn't get started unless the wings can take their defender off the dribble. If he doesn't have wings that can do that, then he has to try to run a mish mash offense trying to win with undersized bigs or catch and shoot guards.

He seems to think that Cam can do it like he wants. Cam has not been consistent in doing it. We have seen Buddy get by defenders and I'm not so sure that is going to be Hornbeaks game. He needs Cam and Cam needs to step up. That's all.
 
I was actually stunned when Bennett was redshirted last year. He played really well in the open scrimmage before the Notre Dame football game last fall. He had a real nice touch around the basket. He will be much better next fall.
 
Count me in the group that thinks Bennett will be a big surprise to some people by seasons end. He may not be a prolific scorer but with his wingspan and hops he will make things happen around the rim and alter some shots. I'm excited to see him play.
 
He redshirted b/c he wasn't going to play

For as much respect as you seem to have had for Fitz, I don't see how you can string that as a negative. Bennett can be a very solid player for us next season, but not have been as good as Osby/M'Baye/Fitz this season. Where is the shame in that?
 
For as much respect as you seem to have had for Fitz, I don't see how you can string that as a negative. Bennett can be a very solid player for us next season, but not have been as good as Osby/M'Baye/Fitz this season. Where is the shame in that?

Bennett can be a lot of things. Hopefully I am wrong. But his stats from Juco were terrible. Now he has sat out an entire year. To expect him to be good is something I can not do, but hopefully he will be.
 
Bennett can be a lot of things. Hopefully I am wrong. But his stats from Juco were terrible. Now he has sat out an entire year. To expect him to be good is something I can not do, but hopefully he will be.

You put too much emphasis on stats and player rankings. Some players have great high school stats and end up stars in college but some amount to nothing more than a role player in college -- Fitz, Bird, Cam (at this point).

If Bennett were a top 10 juco guy like that big stiff Capel had committed who ended up averaging 5 points at Marshall (as a reserve) then you would be clamoring for him as an impact player next year.
 
Bennnet improved a lot in his red shirt year. he is better now cause of it..i dont think he starts but i think he gets plenty of blocks rebounds and provides D [which i love]
 
You put too much emphasis on stats and player rankings. Some players have great high school stats and end up stars in college but some amount to nothing more than a role player in college -- Fitz, Bird, Cam (at this point).

If Bennett were a top 10 juco guy like that big stiff Capel had committed who ended up averaging 5 points at Marshall (as a reserve) then you would be clamoring for him as an impact player next year.

Excellent points! Osby is a good example. He comes off of the bench at MSU to average a little over 4 points and 2.5 rebounds per game for the first two seasons of his college career, only to become a first team All-Big 12 selection at OU after sitting out a transfer season.

Bennett may be a total bust, which I doubt, as a D-1 player. He could also be a solid role player just like Fitz and Cam, or he could contribute in a major way like Romero.

It's way too early to predict that he will be Osby good, and it's definitely too early to write him off. Having met the young man last fall, I do know that he passes the eye test as a long, athletic big who appears to have the physical tools to be pretty darned good. Does he have the determination and the skills to go with it? We'll know soon enough.
 
For as much respect as you seem to have had for Fitz, I don't see how you can string that as a negative. Bennett can be a very solid player for us next season, but not have been as good as Osby/M'Baye/Fitz this season. Where is the shame in that?

he just likes to b!tch.. if only Capel were still here Bgrich would be thrilled about our future studs like chris early kyle cannon and that thompson ginger kid
 
He redshirted b/c he wasn't going to play

That was not what I heard.

It had to be good for him to go against Osby, M'Baye and Spangler everyday in practice. I'm excited to see what he can bring.
 
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