Fwiw

[BigTime]

I got word from someone close to the program that JUCO big man DJ Bennett has been working hard in the gym and with workouts since the day he arrived on campus. Still has a ways to go according to the person I spoke to but there is no question that the guy wants to be good.

Nothing groundbreaking but I thought I would share.

We really need Bennett to be our solid 4th big ahead of Arent if we want to be dancing imo...

 

[WTSooner]

Is Cole a threat to take minutes from either Bennett or Arent?

 

[playmakr]

You're either good or you're not by age 20.

 

[BigTime]

You're either good or you're not by age 20.

Maybe from an offensive skills prospective. We don't need the guy to score outside of dunks and tip-ins. We need a guy that will defend, rebound and block shots - at a Big 12 level.

Casey Arent couldn't last year. I'm hoping Bennett can.

 

[tdsooner]

great to see and thx for this report. sure would be a plus if he could give us a few minutes here and there for defense and rebounding and maybe shot altering/blocking.
With that attitude and desire, just maybe he can give us some help in the blocks.
Let's go dancing!!

 

[MNsooner]

You're either good or you're not by age 20.

This is absurdly wrong.

 

[garyeb2]

Maybe from an offensive skills prospective. We don't need the guy to score outside of dunks and tip-ins. We need a guy that will defend, rebound and block shots - at a Big 12 level.

Casey Arent couldn't last year. I'm hoping Bennett can.

Well, actually, it wasn't just Arent that didn't rebound,defend, and block shots at a Big 12 level. That club also included Fitz, Washington, and Honere.

If Bennet shows up and can actually contribute in such a manner, that would be a huge benifit and he will get big minutes.

 

[AdaSooner]

You're either good or you're not by age 20.

Dennis Rodman was going on 22 when he arrived at Southeastern. A guy who couldn't play dead when he was 20, went on to have a very productive career in the NBA.

I agree that as a rule players develop at an earlier age. But your theory doesn't apply to everyone. Bernard James is another example. This year's #33 pick in the NBA draft, didn't even pick up a basketball until he was 17.

As for Bennett, it's good to know that he is working hard to improve his game this summer. He could really give us a nice assist with our post depth if he is good enough to compete for playing time.

 

[playmakr]

This is absurdly wrong.

Not just wrong, but absurdly? You're going to, presumably, at some point, give more than the few examples out of 1000 throughout history of below average Division 1 players, or in this case a run of the mill Juco player, dramatically improving?

And Ada of course there are exceptions. The only hard fast rules are death, taxes, and politicians lying.

 

[BigTime]

Well, actually, it wasn't just Arent that didn't rebound,defend, and block shots at a Big 12 level. That club also included Fitz, Washington, and Honere.

If Bennet shows up and can actually contribute in such a manner, that would be a huge benifit and he will get big minutes.

True.

The key for DJ will be how he does against the Big 12 - Orlando Allen was a guy who was ballyhooed by several on here (myself included) for his shot blocking and rebounding potential. His biggest problem was his hands and that he wasn't quick enough. Same could be said for Arent.

WT,

No idea on Cole. Seems undersized to me. Maybe Sam or Will will chime in on his ability to get minutes next year...

 

[Sam]

Is Cole a threat to take minutes from either Bennett or Arent?

Very likely a redshirt candidate.

 

[DenverSooner]

Not just wrong, but absurdly? You're going to, presumably, at some point, give more than the few examples out of 1000 throughout history of below average Division 1 players, or in this case a run of the mill Juco player, dramatically improving?

And Ada of course there are exceptions. The only hard fast rules are death, taxes, and politicians lying.

I would also like to see a few exceptions to the 20 year old rule. I just don't think many exist. Bryant Reeves comes to mind as a late bloomer but he turned into a really good player at 18.

 

[WTSooner]

Rebounds per minute played last year, with average rebounds per 40 minutes in parenthesis:

Osby - 0.24 (9.6)
Fitz - 0.18 (7.2)
Cam - 0.17 (6.8)
Arent - 0.29 (11.6)
Washington - 0.30 (12.0)

You could argue that Arent proably padded his stats in blowouts, or against inferior competition. Minute for minute though, Washington was the best rebounder by far on our team last year.

 

[garyeb2]

I would also like to see a few exceptions to the 20 year old rule. I just don't think many exist. Bryant Reeves comes to mind as a late bloomer but he turned into a really good player at 18.

Generally speaking, the exceptions would be, bigs tend to develope slower than guards.

 

[MNsooner]

Not just wrong, but absurdly? You're going to, presumably, at some point, give more than the few examples out of 1000 throughout history of below average Division 1 players, or in this case a run of the mill Juco player, dramatically improving?

And Ada of course there are exceptions. The only hard fast rules are death, taxes, and politicians lying.

How about just some examples from last season?

Henry Sims became a star for Georgetown after barely cracking their rotation for three years. Jae Crowder was the Big East player of the year after initially going the JUCO route. Our own Romero Osby put up 4 points a game for 2 years at Miss St, but has shown himself to be a good player here. The list could go on and on. A lot of guys are late bloomers. I am not saying to hold your breath for every guy who isn't good by 20, but I am saying it isn't the rarest thing in the world that a player figures things after they've had some time to mature and develop.

 

[playmakr]

How about just some examples from last season?

That would be good, as there are about 5000 D1 men's basketball players.

Henry Sims became a star for Georgetown after barely cracking their rotation for three years. Jae Crowder was the Big East player of the year after initially going the JUCO route. Our own Romero Osby put up 4 points a game for 2 years at Miss St, but has shown himself to be a good player here. The list could go on and on. A lot of guys are late bloomers. I am not saying to hold your breath for every guy who isn't good by 20, but I am saying it isn't the rarest thing in the world that a player figures things after they've had some time to mature and develop.

Osby was good before he got here and was a highly rated player.

I am saying it isn't the rarest thing in the world that a player figures things after they've had some time to mature and develop

I'm sure there are a few things rarer. If a talented player matures, he doesn't fit with this discussion. Maybe saying you are either talented or not talented by 20 goes down better?

 

[coolm]

You're either good or you're not by age 20.

LOL whatever

 

[Riseandfire10]

Good to hear about a player working hard, I know last year Lon mentioned several times that the effort wasn't always there from some of the players.

 

[BoulderSooner]

Rebounds per minute played last year, with average rebounds per 40 minutes in parenthesis:

Osby - 0.24 (9.6)
Fitz - 0.18 (7.2)
Cam - 0.17 (6.8)
Arent - 0.29 (11.6)
Washington - 0.30 (12.0)

You could argue that Arent proably padded his stats in blowouts, or against inferior competition. Minute for minute though, Washington was the best rebounder by far on our team last year.

you can say what you want about Washington ..... but he was very very good on the glass ..

 

[CzechM8]

You're either good or you're not by age 20.

Ah, nothing like being young and dumb... living in a black and white world...