Ben Gold Improvement

[rgoode57]

After an off-season in the weight room and getting more pure practice time, I have a feeling Ben Gold will be a damned good player next year. I am enjoying watching his progress.

[JakeBarnes]

Earlier this year Shaka brought Novak in to spend some time with Ben. Here's hoping last night was like the DePaul game in Steve's freshman year, when he made some shots and really got cooking over the last month of the season.

His shot looks REALLY good. I'm impressed with how he's turned it on and got the jitters out.

[BCHoopster]

I don’t think Ben will ever be a rebounding center as he is not a quick jumper but he can become a Steve Novak type, just have to recruit a rebounding big which would help Ben immensely. Ben is a tough guard for a center which he showed last night, I see big improvement from year 1 to year 2. Big difference in living here then New Z.
Has lots of potential.

[MU82]

As I watched the game last night, I found myself asking multiple times… “if Ben is the only one making a shot… why are they not passing to him when he is wide open… instead we run in at 700 foot tall clingan?”

Multiple times Ben was open at the 3 line, hands up… and no one even looked at him. Ugh.

I blame Markus.

Seriously, I was encouraged by Ben's play and disappointed the number of times the ball stopped moving -- and wasn't able to find Gold.

I don’t think Ben will ever be a rebounding center as he is not a quick jumper but he can become a Steve Novak type, just have to recruit a rebounding big which would help Ben immensely. Ben is a tough guard for a center which he showed last night, I see big improvement from year 1 to year 2. Big difference in living here then New Z.
Has lots of potential.

I'm not trying to present Gold as the next KD, but he's a better athlete than Novak was.

Agree that getting more acclimated with the U.S., Milwaukee and Marquette can only help him.

[Goose]

82

One of my favorite things about Novak, aside from being the greatest shooter in MU history, was his ability to catch the ball and pull the trigger without a dribble and not miss a beat. If Ben is anywhere near the shooter Novak was, he will make a lot of money. But, I agree he is a better athlete and has other skills. I think Ben will make a difference in a big game before the year is out.

[MU82]

82

One of my favorite things about Novak, aside from being the greatest shooter in MU history, was his ability to catch the ball and pull the trigger without a dribble and not miss a beat. If Ben is anywhere near the shooter Novak was, he will make a lot of money. But, I agree he is a better athlete and has other skills. I think Ben will make a difference in a big game before the year is out.

Oh, Novak is one of the 3 best shooters I've ever seen. His ability to do just what you said kept him getting NBA paychecks for a decade.

I'd love to see Gold earn the opportunity to be a difference-maker in a game this season. Then again, I'd love that for any of our guys.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

Maybe this is not realistic but I'm hoping Ben and Oso can be on the floor more together next season if there are matchups that can be exploited. 

[Scoop Snoop]

His shot looks REALLY good. I'm impressed with how he's turned it on and got the jitters out.

Agree. Just one thing more please from Ben. Stop bobbling the ball! He's got great upside but continues to have butterfingers.

I'm all in on Ben. Just nitpicking maybe, but it will cost us turnovers. 

[BCHoopster]

Maybe this is not realistic but I'm hoping Ben and Oso can be on the floor more together next season if there are matchups that can be exploited.

.

Agreed, need to play bigger or when Omax does not show up, which is more often then you think!

[Goose]

82

Who is the third? I would have Dale Ellis very high on my list.

[BLWarrior91]

Steph Curry?

[Stretchdeltsig]

I don’t think Ben will ever be a rebounding center as he is not a quick jumper but he can become a Steve Novak type, just have to recruit a rebounding big which would help Ben immensely. Ben is a tough guard for a center which he showed last night, I see big improvement from year 1 to year 2. Big difference in living here then New Z.
Has lots of potential.

I agree with most of what you said. I think Ben is a good athlete who will prove to be a big contributor.

[Goose]

BL

Curry is best I have ever seen.

[real chili 83]

Joey Hauser

[MU82]

82

Who is the third? I would have Dale Ellis very high on my list.

Greg Elliott, of course!

Pure shooters, I'd go with Steph, Novak and Kerr. But if my life depended on someone making a 3, I'd go with Steph, Bird and Miller.

So many great choices, though. Even beyond Greg Elliott!

[Scoop Snoop]

Agree. Just one thing more please from Ben. Stop bobbling the ball! He's got great upside but continues to have butterfingers.

I'm all in on Ben. Just nitpicking maybe, but it will cost us turnovers. 

Update- After reading about how the wrong size ball caused problems for Duke's Women's team (they had a NCAA men's bball for the first half of a game), I thought it would be interesting to see what size ball Ben played with in international play. I figured that he would have long since adjusted to the NCAA ball if there was, in fact, a difference from the international one. Maybe he still is adjusting, but my comments about his bobbling the ball need to be taken in context. Interesting read.

https://sportsaspire.com/official-basketball-size

[wadesworld]

Steph, Klay, Reggie, Korver, Ray, Larry, KD, Reddick. The list goes on.

[NCMUFan]

Great game for Ben.
Playing that good against a top team like UCONN has to increase his swagger.

[milwaukee ex-pat]

Best 3 point shooter I ever saw: Markus H #1 - Wowsey Rowsey #2 - he cold shoot left handed 3s after drawing a foul better than most other shooters could with their strong arm.

[BLWarrior91]

MU82

Famous quote by Pat Riley (paraphrased):  “If it was a shot to win a game, I’d take Michael Jordan.  If it was a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird.”

[MU82]

MU82

Famous quote by Pat Riley (paraphrased):  “If it was a shot to win a game, I’d take Michael Jordan.  If it was a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird.”

I like that one.

[muwarrior69]

Is a smaller size ball easier to get into the basket? I don't play. Intuitively the answer is yes, just asking. Also is the circumference of the basket uniform? Why is the size not standard.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Is a smaller size ball easier to get into the basket? I don't play. Intuitively the answer is yes, just asking. Also is the circumference of the basket uniform? Why is the size not standard.

A women’s ball is lighter and smaller. I think it made a ton of difference in the women’s game when it was introduced.

I don’t know if it’s easier to shoot which is more repetition and feel.

[tower912]

The women's basketball is used by boys until 7th grade around here.  It is easier for small hands.

[brewcity77]

MU82

Famous quote by Pat Riley (paraphrased):  “If it was a shot to win a game, I’d take Michael Jordan.  If it was a shot to save my life, I’d take Larry Bird.”

Makes sense, because Jordan made a habit out of killing Pat Riley in the playoffs