Ben Gold Post Game 12/30

[tower912]

Agreed. This kind of debate and criticism has been a scoop staple in good seasons.  It is nothing new.  The team is bad this season.  Everything negative is magnified. 

[Jay Bee]

It's truly fascinating to watch a bunch of adults get their undies in a bundle about who "starts" on this team instead of who plays.

I disagree. Having 18 start with Ben on the bench (or RP) is F8CKING NUTS and criminal. Enough of this bullsh1t.

[Zog from Margo]

Ben Gold doesn't have a post game.  He has a euro-big 3 and drive game.

That's obvious. What isn't obvious to me is why, after 4 years of D-1 coaching, he doesn't have a single post move.

[GoldenEagles03]

I disagree. Having 18 start with Ben on the bench (or RP) is F8CKING NUTS and criminal. Enough of this bullsh1t.

It's not that Ben isn't starting. He'd be fine in his role if we had a good front court.

Royce is 50/50 whether he will show up or not, and the Under 8 timeout free throw participants are better than Caedin.

[Pakuni]

It's truly fascinating to watch a bunch of adults get their undies in a bundle about who "starts" on this team instead of who plays.

Basically every other team in the world at all levels starts games with their best five (by position). Does Shaka know something that everyone else doesn't? Is there some advantage to be gained by opening games with your worst player on the court?
This isn't like a debate between starting two similarly skilled players, or starting a guy who excels in one facet of the game versus a guy who excels in another. It's about starting an incompetent player over one who's competent. It just makes no sense.

[tower912]

That's obvious. What isn't obvious to me is why, after 4 years of D-1 coaching, he doesn't have a single post move.

Hamilton has really good footwork in the post.  Isn't making anything, but has the post moves.  Nobody in the NBA runs low post offense.  The international game even less.  Low post offense is Sears.

[Markusquette]

If Shaka strolled 5 Hamiltons on to the court at tip-off, I am sure tower would be there to cheer them all on

[NickelDimer]

It's truly fascinating to watch a bunch of adults get their undies in a bundle about who "starts" on this team instead of who plays.

I mean I get that on one hand, but on the other hand there's something to be said about what message this sends to the team.

[Jay Bee]

If Shaka strolled 5 Hamiltons on to the court at tip-off, I am sure tower would be there to cheer them all on

jfk I think you're right. Insanity.

[tower912]

If Shaka strolled 5 Hamiltons on to the court at tip-off, I am sure tower would be there to cheer them all on

If the player is wearing a MU uniform, I cheer for them.  Why on earth would I not.  I want Hamilton to succeed.  He hasn't, but it is not in me to celebrate his failure.  What kind of useless POS celebrates MU's failure?

[jesmu84]

Agreed. This kind of debate and criticism has been a scoop staple in good seasons.  It is nothing new.  The team is bad this season.  Everything negative is magnified. 

Like tweets?

[Jay Bee]

Like tweets?

Those don't count!

[Pakuni]

Hamilton has really good footwork in the post.  Isn't making anything, but has the post moves.  Nobody in the NBA runs low post offense.  The international game even less.  Low post offense is Sears.

*Cough cough*

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47243702/nba-2025-2026-season-postups-trends-kristaps-porzingis-victor-wembanyama

[Zog from Margo]

Hamilton has really good footwork in the post.  Isn't making anything, but has the post moves.  Nobody in the NBA runs low post offense.  The international game even less.  Low post offense is Sears.

So it's best to have a team of players incapable of taking advantage of mismatches. Making Gold incapable of exploiting a size advantage doesn't seem like smart basketball to me. Glad you like it.

[MUDPT]

By my very rudimentary calculations, Marquette is 8-6 in winning the tip this year giving them a very small increase chance in winning.

https://kenpom.com/blog/the-value-of-ben-gillery/

[WhiteTrash]

It's truly fascinating to watch a bunch of adults get their undies in a bundle about who "starts" on this team instead of who plays.

Agreed. The only thing less important is being a "captain". Not even an official role.

Anyways, Hamilton should be playing walk on minutes.

[MarquetteMike1977]

Ben helped us win for years! Ben played well internationally. Ben Should be starting over Hamilton.

[Jay Bee]

Ben helped us win for years! Ben played well internationally. Ben Should be starting over Hamilton.

Ben is infinitely better than CH. The choices of Shaka are beyond bizarre.

[tower912]

So it's best to have a team of players incapable of taking advantage of mismatches. Making Gold incapable of exploiting a size advantage doesn't seem like smart basketball to me. Glad you like it.

Gold taking it to the basket 8 times last night is what I have been waiting for.  Probably too much to hope for, but that is the exploiting of mismatches we need to see. 

[Viper]

Hamilton has really good footwork in the post.  Isn't making anything, but has the post moves.  Nobody in the NBA runs low post offense.  The international game even less.  Low post offense is Sears.

Good grief! Hamilton has great footwork? Ok. BUT, He's overmatched in high major college basketball. D-II more his level, which is still full ride sports. His 'good footwork' might work for him there. We cheer for all of them...but we aren't blind. Hamilton is overmatched.

[tower912]

Point out to me where I claimed he was succeeding.   He is miles ahead of where he was a season ago.  He has miles to go.

[wadesworld]

Thanks to foul trouble. I suspect it wasn't Shaka's intention to start him and then play him all of four minutes for the entire game.
No matter how you slice it, continuing to start Caedin is indefensible at this point. He hasn't earned it, and he's actively hurting the team when he's out there.

But he had 3 fouls at the half and didn't play a second in the second half. Seriously, saying you feel bad for Ben Gold (even though plenty of people, probably the OP, were saying play Chase, the freshman, and pull the redshirts and play them just a couple weeks ago) because he got "benched" for Caedin Hamilton (despite Caedin not being the guy that replaced Ben in the starting lineup) on a night he played 36 minutes to Caedin's 4 is crazy. Caedin wasn't in the game when SHU closed the game on a 13-0 run.

What happened to Zaide was a benching. Playing 36 minutes in a game is not being "benched."

[wadesworld]

If the player is wearing a MU uniform, I cheer for them.  Why on earth would I not.  I want Hamilton to succeed.  He hasn't, but it is not in me to celebrate his failure.  What kind of useless POS celebrates MU's failure?

There are plenty here.

[Zog from Margo]

Gold taking it to the basket 8 times last night is what I have been waiting for.  Probably too much to hope for, but that is the exploiting of mismatches we need to see.

Never said that was bad. That's taking advantage of a slow or missed switch providing a driving lane, not a size mismatch. It is certainly better than Ben solely launching 3s. When a smaller player switches to Ben and cuts off the driving lane, MU does not and cannot take advantage. I understand emphasizing plays at the hope and 3s, but having a roster of guys who don't have the skill to post up or hit a pull-up is taking it a bit far IMO.

[Jay Bee]

But he had 3 fouls at the half and didn't play a second in the second half. Seriously, saying you feel bad for Ben Gold (even though plenty of people, probably the OP, were saying play Chase, the freshman, and pull the redshirts and play them just a couple weeks ago) because he got "benched" for Caedin Hamilton (despite Caedin not being the guy that replaced Ben in the starting lineup) on a night he played 36 minutes to Caedin's 4 is crazy. Caedin wasn't in the game when SHU closed the game on a 13-0 run.

What happened to Zaide was a benching. Playing 36 minutes in a game is not being "benched."

^^^ Graduate of the Quality Learing Center