Ben Gold

[Jay Bee]

Of the players that actually get real minutes, Royce leads in Offensive Rebounding Percentage, but he is dead last in Defensive Rebounding Percentage. Weird.

Nothing weird about it. I had this PEGGED before the season started. It was clear in his travel bball numbers - or% would be fine, dr% would not be - at least early on. Hopefully that can change over the next year or two, but hardly a given. Royce isn't a DR guy.

[Its DJOver]

It's been 3 games, the defenses have figured how to play him.  Can not get open on the perimeter, and has no center skills whatsoever. Do not know what you see?

I see a center that shooting 36 percent from 3 (higher in conference) and has held some of the better C's we've faced this year below their season averages. Not bad for a "wing".

What I haven't seen is you this season up to this point. Curious that your third post of the season comes in February as soon as Ben struggles.

[GoldenEagles03]

Nothing weird about it. I had this PEGGED before the season started. It was clear in his travel bball numbers - or% would be fine, dr% would not be - at least early on. Hopefully that can change over the next year or two, but hardly a given. Royce isn't a DR guy.

When he's in there, to me at least, it seems like he's the most willing of any of our front court players to throw his body around and go fight for a ball. All of our guards do it, but Joplin and Ben don't really play that game. Joplin is pretty good at positioning himself for rebounds and Ben is 6'11", but they don't play like typical front court players on the glass.

[MUBurrow]

He is a 6'11 Parham.  And a better rebounder.

I know the backup QB is always the most popular guy on the team, and there is an inclination to overvalue the bench guys who are reasonably productive in limited minutes.  But I think Parham is already a more capable scorer.  If Ben is a better defender, its due to matchups against traditional bigs and chasedown blocks due to his height. I'm not arguing Parham should be getting 20+ minutes against the Sorbers or Kalkenbrenners of the world. But I think they are sufficiently fungible that its worth investing more minutes in Parham's growth than what Ben gives in a lot of matchups. 

Going back to DePaul, Ben has had three games of 7+ rebounds and 3 games of 2 or fewer rebounds, including 0(!) in each of the last two games. With that kind of inconsistency, its hard to put much stock in Gold's rebounding abilities.

[Byrdman]

I'm as Blue and Gold as it gets. Class of 80, lived next door to the late Bernard Toone at Tower. I watched the game last night against St.John's and I had to chime in. Ben Gold might be one of the worst big men I ever seen. Stop with the continued talk about BG being the next coming of Bill Walton. Let's also stop the talk about him going to the next level. He's NOT!!!!! Slow,non-agressive,no post up move,bad/mediocre jumpshot, etc,etc. He is what he is. Let's hope that Clark,Hamilton give us more at the 5 next year than we're getting now. I have high hopes that the team will get it together beat Creighton and finish the conference schedule strong. After that.......fingers crossed.

P.S. Note to Joplin....STOP DRIBBLING!!!!!!!

[Uncle Rico]

I'm as Blue and Gold as it gets. Class of 80, lived next door to the late Bernard Toone at Tower. I watched the game last night against St.John's and I had to chime in. Ben Gold might be one of the worst big men I ever seen. Stop with the continued talk about BG being the next coming of Bill Walton. Let's also stop the talk about him going to the next level. He's NOT!!!!! Slow,non-agressive,no post up move,bad/mediocre jumpshot, etc,etc. He is what he is. Let's hope that Clark,Hamilton give us more at the 5 next year than we're getting now. I have high hopes that the team will get it together beat Creighton and finish the conference schedule strong. After that.......fingers crossed.

P.S. Note to Joplin....STOP DRIBBLING!!!!!!!

Thanks

[DoctorV]

I'm as Blue and Gold as it gets. Class of 80, lived next door to the late Bernard Toone at Tower. I watched the game last night against St.John's and I had to chime in. Ben Gold might be one of the worst big men I ever seen. Stop with the continued talk about BG being the next coming of Bill Walton. Let's also stop the talk about him going to the next level. He's NOT!!!!! Slow,non-agressive,no post up move,bad/mediocre jumpshot, etc,etc. He is what he is. Let's hope that Clark,Hamilton give us more at the 5 next year than we're getting now. I have high hopes that the team will get it together beat Creighton and finish the conference schedule strong. After that.......fingers crossed.

P.S. Note to Joplin....STOP DRIBBLING!!!!!!!

Haha welcome to the board.

Sometimes it's good to hear new points of view

[wadesworld]

Haha welcome to the board.

Sometimes it's good to hear new points of view

And other times, not so good to hear.

[Markusquette]

MU has historically lacked physicality in the front court. This is nothing we are not used to watching but it becomes increasingly more frustrating as a top team to lack that one vital component.

[Jay Bee]

MU has historically lacked physicality in the front court. This is nothing we are not used to watching but it becomes increasingly more frustrating as a top team to lack that one vital component.

It's Shaka's way. But don't judge for another 14 months.

[Its DJOver]

MU has historically lacked physicality in the front court. This is nothing we are not used to watching but it becomes increasingly more frustrating as a top team to lack that one vital component.

It's an area that can be improved.  I'm not sure I would label it as the "one vital component" that we're missing. There are quite a few of other areas I would prioritize improving ahead of physicality in the front court.

[GoldenEagles03]

It's Shaka's way. But don't judge for another 14 months.

Theo John was arguably as physical a front court player as you can find in CBB and it didn't result in any Tournament Wins.

Shaka clearly has the NBA philosophy of bigs that can stretch the floor or athletic centers like Kur and Oso, but he's at least expanded by adding Hamilton and Clark. It'll take some time to see the benefits of that, but I think they will prove to be valuable. For now, just accept what we have. We can beat good teams, it'll just be our way. Live with it.

[tower912]

I think Royce is our most willing rebounder, but the way MU defends it just makes it very difficult for our bigs to rebound.

Of the players that actually get real minutes, Royce leads in Offensive Rebounding Percentage, but he is dead last in Defensive Rebounding Percentage. Weird.

Zaide leads in Defensive Rebounding Percentage which is very obvious when he's playing.

You didn't read JB's post about rebounding.

[Markusquette]

Theo John was arguably as physical a front court player as you can find in CBB and it didn't result in any Tournament Wins.

Shaka clearly has the NBA philosophy of bigs that can stretch the floor or athletic centers like Kur and Oso, but he's at least expanded by adding Hamilton and Clark. It'll take some time to see the benefits of that, but I think they will prove to be valuable. For now, just accept what we have. We can beat good teams, it'll just be our way. Live with it.

Poor rebounder for his size and stature. I felt like Theo was going to be so much more than he was for MU (not so much Duke) and it never really worked out.

[tower912]

Switching 1-5 doesn't work for every big.  And, having your tallest player contesting jumpers can negatively affect rebounding. 

[#UnleashSean]

Ben having zero rebounds in 2 straight game hurts. It really hurts when the rebound total was 50 to 28.

Got yo find a way to be competitive on the boards as a whole team.

[Newsdreams]

I think Royce is our most willing rebounder, but the way MU defends it just makes it very difficult for our bigs to rebound.

Of the players that actually get real minutes, Royce leads in Offensive Rebounding Percentage, but he is dead last in Defensive Rebounding Percentage. Weird.

Zaide leads in Defensive Rebounding Percentage which is very obvious when he's playing.

Raw %????

[Newsdreams]

When he's in there, to me at least, it seems like he's the most willing of any of our front court players to throw his body around and go fight for a ball. All of our guards do it, but Joplin and Ben don't really play that game. Joplin is pretty good at positioning himself for rebounds and Ben is 6'11", but they don't play like typical front court players on the glass.

They aren't or are used as typical front court players

[GoldenEagles03]

I was just looking at whatever Torvik provides Newsdreams.

[Newsdreams]

I was just looking at whatever Torvik provides Newsdreams.

Was saying they're not used as typical front court players. Shaka doesn't use those roles, all players switch on D, I still have nightmares of Sean guarding 6'-11" + players, fronting them by the basket.

[GoldenEagles03]

Was saying they're not used as typical front court players. Shaka doesn't use those roles, all players switch on D, I still have nightmares of Sean guarding 6'-11" + players, fronting them by the basket.

I was responding to your question of Raw %???

Wasn't quite sure what you meant by that.

[Newsdreams]

I was responding to your question of Raw %???

Wasn't quite sure what you meant by that.

I was responding to your question of Raw %???

Wasn't quite sure what you meant by that.

Ok