Don't buy the Pardon being ahead of Benson thing.
Hearn basically didn't play for 2 years, but was an impact player his 3rd yr (but having to split time w/ Cobb, among others).
Lindsey also didn't break-out until his JR season.
Coble and Shurna were basically similar type players (altho Shurna was the better defender and had more of an inside game), but the plan (waysided by Coble's Lisfranc injury) was to play them both in the front-court as they were the 2 best players (along w/ Juice).
No doubt, a lead guard would have made a diff., but still want to see the off-guard being a good enough ball handler to be able to bring the ball up under pressure/against the press.
Having such a 2nd adept ball handler takes pressure off the lead guard (there were times when BMac struggled against the press) and allows for the O to continue to run smoothly when the lead guard is on the bench (rest, foul trouble) or when the injury bug arises.
If BB had been more productive, CC would have gone more w/ the 2-big front-court, forcing other teams to match-up w/ what the 'Cats were throwing out.
Imagine if there had been a Pardon clone on the team - you don't think CC would have been playing both (instead of the throwing out the various 4's the staff did, trying to find an answer?).