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Benson Potential

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charcat

Redshirt
Apr 11, 2006
547
39
17
Can Benson be the dominant presence in the middle we have rarely had, or is he one of 3 or 4 guys rotating in that play some under the basket and some nearby. I guess this will be the year to tell, seeing how he should have gained some strength and experience from last year.

What do you guys hear from practice and rumors?
 
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VBCat97

Redshirt
Dec 7, 2006
576
7
0
charcat said:
What do you guys hear from practice and rumors?
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We are going to be good ...

 
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catstime16

Redshirt
May 27, 2015
98
2
0
Really interested in Barrett's progress as well. He seemed to improve as season progressed
and CC indicated BB has successfully put work in to develop body/skills over last 6 months.
While I don't currently see Barrett as a NBA type "above the rim" player my hope/guess would
be that he and staff will grow his game yr. to yr. eventually becoming a very important contributor on some very good NU teams.
 
mickbula

mickbula

Junior
Jul 1, 2011
2,923
249
63
As our football team seems to flounder so far this season, I am getting psyched beyond control to see our basketball team play at Allstate arena this winter. I am hoping we can eek out at least a winning football season and win a bowl against someone like CFU or SDSU. Then, basketball will be in its prime again- hopefully even better than last season.
 
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Hungry Jack

All-Conference
Nov 17, 2008
37,207
2,694
67
His afro is All B1G.

Seriously, I think he will provide a dimension not seen since the days of Evan E.
 
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Medill90

Junior
Jan 30, 2011
6,910
321
0
I loved everything I saw from Benson last year. Absolutely everything.

He's doing the work to bulk up so he can be more of a force on D. But his shot has been there since day 1. The kid shot sixty percent from the field last year. Now, it's the NU board so some douche will say, "those were two footers and dunks..." Stuff it. The kid has sweet mechanics out to the free throw line and maybe beyond. And he seems to have a heart for the ball. Good for him picking NU where coach James will do his thing and Benson will be getting national attention by his senior year.
 
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FitzFan

Redshirt
Nov 22, 2008
762
26
28
Medill90 said:
I loved everything I saw from Benson last year. Absolutely everything.

He's doing the work to bulk up so he can be more of a force on D. But his shot has been there since day 1. The kid shot sixty percent from the field last year. Now, it's the NU board so some douche will say, "those were two footers and dunks..." Stuff it. The kid has sweet mechanics out to the free throw line and maybe beyond. And he seems to have a heart for the ball. Good for him picking NU where coach James will do his thing and Benson will be getting national attention by his senior year.
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Hell, if Benson gets to take all 2 footers and dunks it means we're doing something right! He showed really good touch on his hook shot last season. I hope he continues to work on that. I've never understood why big men don't go to that shot more often. It's essentially unstoppable if you have decent touch. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what Benson can do this year!
 
SmellyCat

SmellyCat

Junior
May 29, 2001
7,290
340
83
He's also just a fun guy to root for too.

He got some good experience early on that he might not have gotten due to the Pardon injury, so I think we've all seen enough of him to know he's definitely not a question mark. I still have no idea what Rap can be, but I can extrapolate Benson out nicely over the next three years - he's going to be a good one.
 
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willycat

Junior
Jan 11, 2005
21,448
318
0
FitzFan said:
Hell, if Benson gets to take all 2 footers and dunks it means we're doing something right! He showed really good touch on his hook shot last season. I hope he continues to work on that. I've never understood why big men don't go to that shot more often. It's essentially unstoppable if you have decent touch. Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing what Benson can do this year!
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Maybe they can get Joe Ruklick to give him a few tips. he is the best hook shot guy NU has ever had. Just ask Wilt Chamberlain.
 
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hdhntr1

All-Conference
Sep 5, 2006
37,319
1,114
113
catstime16 said:
Really interested in Barrett's progress as well. He seemed to improve as season progressed
and CC indicated BB has successfully put work in to develop body/skills over last 6 months.
While I don't currently see Barrett as a NBA type "above the rim" player my hope/guess would
be that he and staff will grow his game yr. to yr. eventually becoming a very important contributor on some very good NU teams.
Click to expand...
He already has been.
 
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Figrating

Redshirt
Dec 19, 2007
3,568
30
0
One of many exciting players on this NU team.

The team is so balanced he'll probably not have the opportunity to become a dominant presence.

It's an odd feeling to be so psyched about NU men's hoops, not so long ago the gulag of college basketball.

NU has already paid some injury dues last year, so here's hoping they can ALL stay healthy this season.
 
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NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,329
1,503
113
Figrating said:
It's an odd feeling to be so psyched about NU men's hoops, not so long ago the gulag of college basketball.

NU has already paid some injury dues last year, so here's hoping they can ALL stay healthy this season.
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Agree about being psyched. It is a new era!

And while I hope NU can remain injury free, very few teams do but NU showed last year it has the depth to withstand a couple of set-backs.
 
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spartcat

Redshirt
May 29, 2001
3,856
31
0
In answer to the question, Benson should progress on D and in the paint with the extra strength and foot work. He may not be developed enough to neutralize the best post players in the league for another year or two, if ever, but he will have a valuable role to play. Extending the range on his shot would help too, and that is also likely.
 
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NJCat

All-Conference
Mar 7, 2016
21,329
1,503
113
spartcat said:
In answer to the question, Benson should progress on D and in the paint with the extra strength and foot work. He may not be developed enough to neutralize the best post players in the league for another year or two, if ever, but he will have a valuable role to play. Extending the range on his shot would help too, and that is also likely.
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There are very few true "post players" in the B1G now. Haas at PU and Happ at Wisky are the best. Morgan at IU is more of a 4, as is Cook at Iowa. Cekovsky at MD is noting special, Wagner at UM a 4, Ward at MSU is good not great, no one else really is notable.
 
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freewillie07

Sophomore
Aug 22, 2017
5,240
100
48
spartcat said:
In answer to the question, Benson should progress on D and in the paint with the extra strength and foot work. He may not be developed enough to neutralize the best post players in the league for another year or two, if ever, but he will have a valuable role to play. Extending the range on his shot would help too, and that is also likely.
Click to expand...

By next year I wouldn't be surprised for Benson to have a somewhat reliable 3-point shot in his toolkit. Even having that threat, like Skelly had last year, makes a big difference.
 
CatManTrue

CatManTrue

All-American
Oct 4, 2008
16,054
5,339
97
NJCat said:
Esch had that Taphorn cow lick going....


Now he's got nothin.....

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Eschmeyer is crushing everything else. Who cares what’s on top of his head when what’s in it is even better than what we saw on the court?
 
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