Benson Questions

[Deeringfish]

I was thinking that Benson has been doing a pretty good job and that there isn't much of a drop off when he comes in for Pardon. I read in a couple of other threads some comments that didn't really agree with that. I'm not too good at seeing the difference. So two questions.
1) what does Benson bring and not bring to the floor when he is in the game.
2) would we ever see Benson and Pardon on the floor at the same time?

Not that I don't love Pardon's play I just would like to see more of Benson. Probably just that bing shaggy head of his.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Pardon is exceptional. Yet, yesterday Benson gave us good minutes. I need 10 to 15 minutes for a backup center to help Pardon.

 

[nu greek]

Pardon is a very good player. His game needs work, especially his FT shooting. He gives 110% all the time and brings huge energy to the team. He is strong, but just a bit undersized. He has strong hands to go along with his tenacity on the boards. Benson has energy and can bring an element of toughness, but he lacks overall strength and is not a great defender. He needs a lot of work in my opinion. Neither one is a good mid-range shooter. It would be nice to see them hit a 10-12 foot shots. All that being said, as we left the Arena yesterday, most Penn State fans were talking about Pardon as the game changer.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Got to hit those eight foot jumpers! For sure

 

[freewillie07]

Pardon is a very good player. His game needs work, especially his FT shooting. He gives 110% all the time and brings huge energy to the team. He is strong, but just a bit undersized. He has strong hands to go along with his tenacity on the boards. Benson has energy and can bring an element of toughness, but he lacks overall strength and is not a great defender. He needs a lot of work in my opinion. Neither one is a good mid-range shooter. It would be nice to see them hit a 10-12 foot shots. All that being said, as we left the Arena yesterday, most Penn State fans were talking about Pardon as the game changer.

Agree with this assessment. The way I think of Benson is: he’d be near the bottom of the Big Ten right now as a starting center, but he’s near the top of the Big Ten as a backup center.

I know he got leaner from when he was a HS senior, but I think it would really benefit him to put on a bit of “good weight.” The difference between him and Pardon is noticeable.

 

[Deeringfish]

Good answers, guys thanks.

 

[TheC]

Agree with this assessment. The way I think of Benson is: he’d be near the bottom of the Big Ten right now as a starting center, but he’s near the top of the Big Ten as a backup center.

I know he got leaner from when he was a HS senior, but I think it would really benefit him to put on a bit of “good weight.” The difference between him and Pardon is noticeable.

I would think the other big difference is that Pardon is much quicker. He's quicker on his feet. He's quicker to jump. Benson seems a bit ploddy and slow to me on both ends.

 

[hdhntr1]

I was thinking that Benson has been doing a pretty good job and that there isn't much of a drop off when he comes in for Pardon. I read in a couple of other threads some comments that didn't really agree with that. I'm not too good at seeing the difference. So two questions.
1) what does Benson bring and not bring to the floor when he is in the game.
2) would we ever see Benson and Pardon on the floor at the same time?

Not that I don't love Pardon's play I just would like to see more of Benson. Probably just that bing shaggy head of his.

He still brings a bunch of fouls that keep him from being in long. I would guess that seeing both of them at the same time would be limited as their skill sets are similar and it would likely bog down the offense

 

[ricko654321]

I would think the other big difference is that Pardon is much quicker. He's quicker on his feet. He's quicker to jump. Benson seems a bit ploddy and slow to me on both ends.

Yeah. Benson has some strengths, but his biggest weakness is lack of quickness. Especially in the modern GSW-influenced spread pick and roll game, it's tough to hide someone like that on D unless the opponent has a similarly slow big man (e.g. Purdue - not sure offhand, but think he might have gotten some more minutes in that one). Think he also may see a bit more time against Happ and Wisconsin, we may need his fouls too on D.

I think he has some promising moves on offense, but unless he can find more quickness on defense it's tough to give him more than ~10 minutes a game. So as a result he hasn't really had enough playing time to fully develop and realize his offensive potential.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

I think he has some promising moves on offense, but unless he can find more quickness on defense it's tough to give him more than ~10 minutes a game. So as a result he hasn't really had enough playing time to fully develop and realize his offensive potential.

I know it probably wasn't feasible with the injury related depth issues, but Benson is someone who could have used a redshirt. I'm not taking anything away from Barret's level of play as he definitely contributed to last year's squad, but an extra year of development and spacing out the eligibility between the two centers could have paid big dividends down the road.

 

[hdhntr1]

Pardon is a very good player. His game needs work, especially his FT shooting. He gives 110% all the time and brings huge energy to the team. He is strong, but just a bit undersized. He has strong hands to go along with his tenacity on the boards. Benson has energy and can bring an element of toughness, but he lacks overall strength and is not a great defender. He needs a lot of work in my opinion. Neither one is a good mid-range shooter. It would be nice to see them hit a 10-12 foot shots. All that being said, as we left the Arena yesterday, most Penn State fans were talking about Pardon as the game changer.

Back to Back to Back dunks might have something to do with that impression

 

[hdhntr1]

I know it probably wasn't feasible with the injury related depth issues, but Benson is someone who could have used a redshirt. I'm not taking anything away from Barret's level of play as he definitely contributed to last year's squad, but an extra year of development and spacing out the eligibility between the two centers could have paid big dividends down the road.

But we have another Big coming next year as well.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

But we have another Big coming next year as well.

This is true. I'm not sure what your point is though, unless you feel Ryan Young will be ready to contribute starting minutes as an underclassmen.

I was commenting on the lost year of development for Benson and an additional year as the primary option down low (a Pardon/Benson starting combo in '18-'19 isn't feasible).

 

[willycat]

But we have another Big coming next year as well.

That young man is, to put it gently, considered a project, right? Think NU needs to get a top rated big in the next class., along with another LG.

 

[ColumbusCatFan1]

That young man is, to put it gently, considered a project, right? Think NU needs to get a top rated big in the next class...

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too, Willy.

I'd be fine with another undersized, athletic type like Pardon manning the middle, but it's tough to project if said player would be able to contribute early on in his career.

I know it's "a pie in sky" thought, but a top 40 big man prospect in the mold of Lauri Markkanen would be a great fit and potential take NU to the next level. One can dream...

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Got some good frosh coming in! Very excited about next year. I saw how well we moved the ball against PsU

 

[freewillie07]

That young man is, to put it gently, considered a project, right? Think NU needs to get a top rated big in the next class., along with another LG.

Not sure he’s any more of a “project” than Skelly was. Everyone just assumes Young will redshirt for the same reason Pardon was going to redshirt: there are a couple of veteran Bigs ahead of him.

NU offered some top-rated Bigs early for 2019. But I get the feeling that this squad will need to finish very strong this year for Collins to have a shot at them.

 

[EagerFan]

Benson seems like a good kid, but as others have already said he doesn't have the quickness he needs to be a star center. I don't think he's reached near his potential, but he'll need to polish his defense a lot (fewer fouls please) if he wants to get the in-game experience he needs to really develop.

 

[Sec.112]

I agree Benson has some nice moves on offense, but he's one of those guys who brings the ball down too much.

On defense, he's improving. I like how he's working at the little things. But, there's still too many fouls.

For CC's pre-season talk that a Pardon and Benson lineup was a possibility, it sure has been non-existent. Considering the struggles this season, there sure had been plenty of opportunities.

 

[NJCat]

I agree Benson has some nice moves on offense, but he's one of those guys who brings the ball down too much.

Benson's offense, to be kind, needs work.

 

[willycat]

Yeah that's what I'm thinking too, Willy.

I'd be fine with another undersized, athletic type like Pardon manning the middle, but it's tough to project if said player would be able to contribute early on in his career.

I know it's "a pie in sky" thought, but a top 40 big man prospect in the mold of Lauri Markkanen would be a great fit and potential take NU to the next level. One can dream...

Maybe it's time the coaches take a trip to Finland, Germany, Croatia or Italy or...