Cretin

[We R Final Four]

Actually, perfect logic.  Allows him to do his drop coverage and clog the middle, which is what he does best.  If Stevie was say 5-9 from 3, it would have killed that strategy.   As it was it allowed kalkbrenner to muck up the lane, block shots, and neutralize Thievies offensive rebounding EGBs.

Kalk had 0 blocks.

[Jay Bee]

It was nice to see Ashworth take a break from his job playing Jamie in Progressive ads to go 1/13 from 3 against us.

[MU82]

Twice, Gold decided to drive into the lane. And twice, he committed turnovers.

I know some folks have said they want to see him do more than shoot 3s, and I think there are opportunities to cut to the hoop to receive passes, but I'm not a big fan of him putting his head down and trying to drive around or through traffic too often.

[Scoop Snoop]

Twice, Gold decided to drive into the lane. And twice, he committed turnovers.

I know some folks have said they want to see him do more than shoot 3s, and I think there are opportunities to cut to the hoop to receive passes, but I'm not a big fan of him putting his head down and trying to drive around or through traffic too often.

Even when Ben is not driving to the basket, he seems to be a somewhat easy target for opponents getting a turnover. I think sometimes he focuses too much on looking for an open teammate and then is an easy target. I like Ben, but like just about any player, he has vulnerabilities. 

[tower912]

Yes, he does.  And progress isn't always linear.   Clearly, the coaches want him to handle the ball, move the defense, and get to the next action, either a drive to the basket or a dish to an open teammate after the defender moves.   Right now, we are watching the sausage get made in regards to that.  Some ugly TO's.  But the only way to get better is to do it.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Even when Ben is not driving to the basket, he seems to be a somewhat easy target for opponents getting a turnover. I think sometimes he focuses too much on looking for an open teammate and then is an easy target. I like Ben, but like just about any player, he has vulnerabilities. 

Bens TO% is 14.1. 4th best on the team after Kam, Stevie, and Royce (who shoots the ball within 1 second of catching it). Bens had more games with 0 turnovers than games with multiple TOs. He had a bad two minutes against Creighton, otherwise being an easy target for TOs is not an accurate statement about Ben.

[Uncle Rico]

Bens TO% is 14.1. 4th best on the team after Kam, Stevie, and Royce (who shoots the ball within 1 second of catching it). Bens had more games with 0 turnovers than games with multiple TOs. He had a bad two minutes against Creighton, otherwise being an easy target for TOs is not an accurate statement about Ben.

Counterpoint:

Willie said Gold is becoming the golden turnover machine

[Lennys Tap]

Bens TO% is 14.1. 4th best on the team after Kam, Stevie, and Royce (who shoots the ball within 1 second of catching it). Bens had more games with 0 turnovers than games with multiple TOs. He had a bad two minutes against Creighton, otherwise being an easy target for TOs is not an accurate statement about Ben.

Facts have no chance vs the eye test and recency bias.

[Scoop Snoop]

Bens TO% is 14.1. 4th best on the team after Kam, Stevie, and Royce (who shoots the ball within 1 second of catching it). Bens had more games with 0 turnovers than games with multiple TOs. He had a bad two minutes against Creighton, otherwise being an easy target for TOs is not an accurate statement about Ben.

Thanks. I focused too much on his Creighton TO's without checking the stats.

[MU82]

Bens TO% is 14.1. 4th best on the team after Kam, Stevie, and Royce (who shoots the ball within 1 second of catching it). Bens had more games with 0 turnovers than games with multiple TOs. He had a bad two minutes against Creighton, otherwise being an easy target for TOs is not an accurate statement about Ben.

Question about TO pct: It doesn't take into account the amount of time a player  actually has the basketball in his hands, does it?

I ask because Ben doesn't have the ball a lot, and when he does, it's usually to catch and shoot a 3. It would seem he doesn't have all that many opportunities to commit turnovers ... except the rare occasions when he puts his head down and drives into traffic.

FWIW, I am not one who says Gold has become "an easy target for TOs." I'm just not a fan of him dribbling into an area occupied by multiple defenders who appreciate it when a high-dribbling 6-11 guy enters their space.

But maybe Shaka wants him to do exactly that. As tower said: "The only way to get better is to do it."

[tower912]

It is the next step in his progression in his growth pillar.

Multiple things can be true.  He doesn't turn the ball over much and he had a couple of ugly ones Friday night are both true.

[DoctorV]

It is the next step in his progression in his growth pillar.

Multiple things can be true.  He doesn't turn the ball over much and he had a couple of ugly ones Friday night are both true.

One thing that appears to be true is that he doesn't quite seem super comfortable with the ball in his hands and dribbling the basketball, especially into the lane and into traffic. At least not yet...

Oso, Royce, and even Caedin (even though he doesn't play much) seem more comfortable in that role/scenario

[MuMark]

Interesting that we started the same guys last March against Creighton and though we played tough, it felt like we were handicapped. This year we handled them. Lots of growth in that time period.

Much different Creighton team though

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Question about TO pct: It doesn't take into account the amount of time a player  actually has the basketball in his hands, does it?

I ask because Ben doesn't have the ball a lot, and when he does, it's usually to catch and shoot a 3. It would seem he doesn't have all that many opportunities to commit turnovers ... except the rare occasions when he puts his head down and drives into traffic.

FWIW, I am not one who says Gold has become "an easy target for TOs." I'm just not a fan of him dribbling into an area occupied by multiple defenders who appreciate it when a high-dribbling 6-11 guy enters their space.

But maybe Shaka wants him to do exactly that. As tower said: "The only way to get better is to do it."

It doesn't take a literal second by second account, but it takes into account a players usage so it accounts for Ben being a low usage player.

[bradforster]

[/quote]

Bens TO% is 14.1. 4th best on the team after Kam, Stevie, and Royce (who shoots the ball within 1 second of catching it). Bens had more games with 0 turnovers than games with multiple TOs. He had a bad two minutes against Creighton, otherwise being an easy target for TOs is not an accurate statement about Ben.

Ben turned it over three times at Dayton, including a stretch late with back to back giveaways.  Other than that game and Creighton on Friday, he's been reliable with the basketball.

[CountryRoads]

Much different Creighton team though

Yeah, it was a bit of a stretch to bring that one full circle.

[tower912]

MU/CU game, coaches didn't do the Lou sweaters.

[We R Final Four]

Twice, Gold decided to drive into the lane. And twice, he committed turnovers.

I know some folks have said they want to see him do more than shoot 3s, and I think there are opportunities to cut to the hoop to receive passes, but I'm not a big fan of him putting his head down and trying to drive around or through traffic too often.

Two different turnovers. The first, a high dribble in the lane seemingly going nowhere.
The second is more concerning because he has done this several times this year and gotten away with it.
When Ben gets stuck at the FT line he often turns and throws it out to a guard 30' from the basket. Several times this year, the ball has been tipped by the opponent, but our guard recovers.
Since this bad pass is only tipped and not stolen, it is not considered a TO and of course doesn't impact his TO rate.
However, in the CU game, his bad pass did result in a TO.

[brewcity77]

MU/CU game, coaches didn't do the Lou sweaters.

I was disappointed by this. It was a cool tribute from the league. No idea why it didn't happen but I'd have liked it to.

[Viper]

Kalkbrenner missed like 6 bunnies and Ashworth was 1/13 from 3.

Neal and McAndrew played well.

It seemed apparent that McDermott coached his team to give Stevie and Zaide the open 3, and for the most part it worked for them.

Shaka sat Stevie for far too long in a game where he was awesome, and Creighton made him pay and it became a bit close for comfort.

Joplin with some massive defensive plays. Him and Benny played solid defense for the most part

agreed, except I feel Gold was not good on D. He's beat, often. Fortunately Kalk and Ashworth were off. Maybe our guys had something to do with that. Regardless, a solid W in the bank.

[MUfan12]

agreed, except I feel Gold was not good on D. He's beat, often. Fortunately Kalk and Ashworth were off. Maybe our guys had something to do with that. Regardless, a solid W in the bank.

Ben got beat twice on switches but did an awesome job battling with Kalkbrenner and denying easy post catches.

[tower912]

Ben got beat twice on switches but did an awesome job battling with Kalkbrenner and denying easy post catches.

Yes, Other than last layup on the inbound, Ben did a really good job on Kalkbrenner.  Switches led to mismatcheds, as they are designed to, and Kalkbrenner did most of his damage on those. 

[MU82]

It doesn't take a literal second by second account, but it takes into account a players usage so it accounts for Ben being a low usage player.

Thanks for the response, TAMU.

[Viper]

Ben got beat twice on switches but did an awesome job battling with Kalkbrenner and denying easy post catches.

I guess I missed Ben's defense you alude to. I'll pay more attention to Gold's work on D next game. I did see Kalkbrenner miss what, 5 or 6 pt blank gimmies after receiving a low past entry pass.

[tower912]

I guess I missed Ben's defense you alude to. I'll pay more attention to Gold's work on D next game. I did see Kalkbrenner miss what, 5 or 6 pt blank gimmies after receiving a low past entry pass.

A lot of those came off switches.  The better argument might be whether MU switched too much, leaving Ben on the perimeter and Chase on Kalkbrenner.