DRC: UNT leaning on starters heavily while bench struggles

Brett Vito · January 28, 2016

DRC: UNT hoping return of Brice, Ward will bolster bench that has been outscored 112-15 in last three games

http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20160127-mens-basketball-unt-starters-carrying-load-as-bench-struggles-to-produce.ece

greenminer · January 28, 2016

112-15!!!

MCMLXXX · January 28, 2016

We really need Brice to be healthy.

Andrew · January 28, 2016

Just now, Ryan Munthe said:

Does it matter?

Yes.... Players still need to develop. Brice and the other freshman need as much time on the floor as possible. I enjoy watching players develope.

UNT90 · January 28, 2016

23 minutes ago, Ryan Munthe said:

Does it matter?

No

Keith7 · January 29, 2016

35-36 minutes is OK for the starters but once you get to 39 minutes in a 40 minute game, you're really pushing them...

-- Tony Benford

Andrew · January 29, 2016

9 hours ago, Keith7 said:

35-36 minutes is OK for the starters but once you get to 39 minutes in a 40 minute game, you're really pushing them...

-- Tony Benford

White, Thompson, and Odufua use to play 38 minutes a lot. Honestly if Combs is able to give it everything and play 40 minutes then he might need to stay out there.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Andrew

UNTFan23 · January 29, 2016

Bench depth makes a difference when you have only a day's rest between games and especially during a tournament (CUSA, NCAA, or other).

Edited January 29, 2016 by UNTFan23

TheTastyGreek · January 29, 2016

1 hour ago, Andrew said:

White, Thompson, and Odufua us to play 38 minutes a lot. Honestly if Combs is able to give it everything and play 40 minutes then he might need to stay out there.

I have no idea who "Odufua" is/was.

BUT!

Who wants to play a fun trivia game I call: How Many Times Did George Odufuwa Play 38 Minutes (or more) In A Game?

Three hints that may help out...

1) Odufuwa was at UNT for a total of 98 games.
2) During that time, UNT had five single OT games, one double OT game, and a triple OT game.
3) It only happened a total of five times in his UNT career.

The third one is kind of a giveaway... But, can anyone guess the right answer?

Andrew · January 29, 2016

7 hours ago, TheTastyGreek said:

I have no idea who "Odufua" is/was.

BUT!

Who wants to play a fun trivia game I call: How Many Times Did George Odufuwa Play 38 Minutes (or more) In A Game?

Three hints that may help out...

1) Odufuwa was at UNT for a total of 98 games.
2) During that time, UNT had five single OT games, one double OT game, and a triple OT game.
3) It only happened a total of five times in his UNT career.

The third one is kind of a giveaway... But, can anyone guess the right answer?

My point was that JJ relied on his starters to play heavy minutes. Throw Shorter and Tramiel in there as well. He didn't have a deep bench, but he did have a productive bench. Keep ignoring the point to be a cynical jerk. Without google and memes I'm not sure what you would do.

The simple response would be: Yea JJ relied heavily on his starters and didn't utalize a deep bench during some of his big runs. Not always, but true sometimes.

Edited January 29, 2016 by Andrew

MeanGreenTexan · January 29, 2016

9 hours ago, Andrew said:

White, Thompson, and Odufua use to play 38 minutes a lot. Honestly if Combs is able to give it everything and play 40 minutes then he might need to stay out there.

Odufu-WHO??

EDIT: TTG is a brilliant man

Edited January 29, 2016 by MeanGreenTexan
Tasty beat me to the point

MeanGreenHoops · January 29, 2016

It seems this long nightmare may be coming to an end soon.

UNT90 · January 29, 2016

15 minutes ago, MeanGreenHoops said:

It seems this long nightmare may be coming to an end soon.

Andrew? Or Benford?

Mean_Green09 · January 29, 2016

33 minutes ago, UNT90 said:

Andrew? Or Benford?

Both?

UNT90 · January 29, 2016

8 minutes ago, Mean_Green09 said:

Both?

Ominous prediction...

greenminer · January 29, 2016

5 hours ago, Andrew said:

My point was that JJ relied on his starters to play heavy minutes. Throw Shorter and Tramiel in there as well. He didn't have a deep bench, but he did have a productive bench. Keep ignoring the point to be a cynical jerk. Without google and memes I'm not sure what you would do.

The simple response would be: Yea JJ relied heavily on his starters and didn't utalize a deep bench during some of his big runs. Not always, but true sometimes.

If you keep posting erroneous assumptions, you're going to get cynical answers. I don't know anyone who appreciations misinformation. Maybe you do. What I do see is a poster that gets called out (a lot) on misinformation, and then tries to steer things away with "what I meant was" or, "My point was"

With winning basketball, TTG was blogging and doing a regular podcast dedicated to UNT. It was really good and enjoyable.

Green Dozer · January 29, 2016

3 hours ago, UNT90 said:

4 hours ago, MeanGreenHoops said:

It seems this long nightmare may be coming to an end soon.

Just speculation on your part or solid info that Benford will be gone?

Censored by Laurie · January 29, 2016

2 hours ago, greenminer said:

It was really good and enjoyable.

I was with you until you typed this.

Green P1 · January 29, 2016

15 hours ago, UNTFan23 said:

Bench depth makes a difference when you have only a day's rest between games and especially during a tournament (CUSA, NCAA, or other).

I think the year long rest we'll undoubtably get between tournament games will be quite sufficient for our tired starters.

MCMLXXX · January 30, 2016

On January 29, 2016 at 0:38 AM, TheTastyGreek said:

I have no idea who "Odufua" is/was.

BUT!

Who wants to play a fun trivia game I call: How Many Times Did George Odufuwa Play 38 Minutes (or more) In A Game?

Three hints that may help out...

1) Odufuwa was at UNT for a total of 98 games.
2) During that time, UNT had five single OT games, one double OT game, and a triple OT game.
3) It only happened a total of five times in his UNT career.

The third one is kind of a giveaway... But, can anyone guess the right answer?

Every board needs a Donald Trump. I guess that makes you Megan Kelly.

GrandGreen · January 30, 2016

A lot of teams with short benches are very successful. The best teams I have ever seen at NT: Spika coached Hamilton, Winfield, Whittier, and Blakeley coached Mitchell, Johnson, Davis, Williams were neither deep. They did have a strong first five and a couple of capable backups, but they were much faster paced teams than NT's current team. In fact the Spika teams were also usually a full court press team. Also the number of time outs now is much greater.

The truth is that a tired starter is usually better than a fresh bench player, and that is especially true with the NT team. Having said that though, there is a value to playing the freshmen for evaluation and development.