Should we bench Kenny at the end of games?

[BengermanV]

Originally Posted by Jonas

I agree with this. Erv did the same thing. I love them both, but they would make bad decisions in the final possession in almost all of our close losses. They are trying to play hero. It really does feel like they are ignoring Billy there. I honestly agree that we should try benching him. I love KB, but like you said, he just throws it all out the window in those situations.

Yeah, I always had the same issue with Erv (even though he at least made FT's in the clutch). I think the idea is that KB is the leader, and he wants the ball at the end of the game. I'm absolutely fine with that, it's good to have a player who wants the ball. The upsetting part is that he forces it.

You could be the most clutch shooter in the history of basketball, but your hand in the face look still won't be nearly as good as a wide open look for someone who is less willing to take that final shot. Look at that win against South Carolina a few years ago (I think it was them?): Erv dribbled the ball up court, forced a defender to crash on him, and gave the ball to a wide open Parsons. Parsons, a player who was always criticized for having his fair share of psychological issues (I'm fairly sure he even admitted it at some point, when he was really struggling from the free throw line), nailed the jumper and won us the game. Why? Because he was wide open.

[BLING]

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

I'm totally convinced that these are the shots BD wants at the end of the game. No other explanation for Parsons, Calathes, Warner, Walker, Boynton, Beal, Taurean, Roberson, Matt Walsh, Dupay, Brett Nelson etc., etc., etc... all taking last second jumpshots and nobody ever driving to the hole or passing down low to a big.

Same unimaginative play calling to end halves/ games for a decade. It is very difficult for me to remember (my memory is poor) us battling back to win close games? We either blow teams out or get big leads and lose down the stretch. Unreal really.

To be fair, taking 3's *IS* a big part of Billy D's system - always has been and always will. I have no problem with that, but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD we need to get better at getting the ball down low, or driving to the lane, especially at crunch time - and especially when you are only down ONE POINT. Get in the lane, draw the fouls, maybe get the basket +1. Just jacking up a 3 and it ends up being nothing but a game of chance. In that situation I bet Boynton is not even a 25% shooter, so basically we have a 1 in 4 chance of winning if he can knock down a contested 3, otherwise we lose.

The thing is, it seems like at the end of the half, and the end of the games, it's like the team just stops running their normal offense. They don't take a 3 "in the offense" like they normally do. It's a one-on-one 3, usually contested. Hopefully there is some emphasis going forward of closing out halves properly, running some post offense, etc. This team has got too used to just blowing teams out, they didn't know what to do in a close game...

[mac4lyfe]

I don't see us getting better at this because we don't try. It's always been jacking a jumpshot to end these games. Like you said, it's like a 1 in 4 chance but that's the play. I keep getting my hopes up that we will actually draw up a play in those situations but it's always the same result dating back since BD got here.

Originally Posted by BLING

To be fair, taking 3's *IS* a big part of Billy D's system - always has been and always will. I have no problem with that, but FOR THE LOVE OF GOD we need to get better at getting the ball down low, or driving to the lane, especially at crunch time - and especially when you are only down ONE POINT. Get in the lane, draw the fouls, maybe get the basket +1. Just jacking up a 3 and it ends up being nothing but a game of chance. In that situation I bet Boynton is not even a 25% shooter, so basically we have a 1 in 4 chance of winning if he can knock down a contested 3, otherwise we lose.

The thing is, it seems like at the end of the half, and the end of the games, it's like the team just stops running their normal offense. They don't take a 3 "in the offense" like they normally do. It's a one-on-one 3, usually contested. Hopefully there is some emphasis going forward of closing out halves properly, running some post offense, etc. This team has got too used to just blowing teams out, they didn't know what to do in a close game...

[108]

In the post game Donovan said it wasn't the shot he wanted, he wanted to go inside

and Boynton: "I thought it was a good look, I gave him a shimmy move and had some space."

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by mac4lyfe

I'm totally convinced that these are the shots BD wants at the end of the game. No other explanation for Parsons, Calathes, Warner, Walker, Boynton, Beal, Taurean, Roberson, Matt Walsh, Dupay, Brett Nelson etc., etc., etc... all taking last second jumpshots and nobody ever driving to the hole or passing down low to a big.

Same unimaginative play calling to end halves/ games for a decade. It is very difficult for me to remember (my memory is poor) us battling back to win close games? We either blow teams out or get big leads and lose down the stretch. Unreal really.

I don't know. I remember the game against NC State at home in 2009. Calathes drove and got a lay up to win. I don't think his strategy is just dribble behind the arc, then set a screen and shoot a 3 with a second to go. It makes sense to me to do that at the end of the first half or during a tie game, because you don't want to risk a turnover, but makes no sense when you are down. I really doubt that's what Billy draws up.

The three is a big part of Billy's game, but so is getting open looks. He doesn't want his guards to force the three. He finds ways to get his shooter open looks. If they start consistently hitting them, it draws the defense away from the paint. He then wants our guards to pass it inside, and score there. Take what the defense gives us. He is great at getting spacing for his players. But it definitely has gone out the window in final possessions recently. We definitely don't take what the defense gives us then.

[ufgator4ever]

There are still a few tough games left on road at Tenn and Kentucky, and who knows maybe arky or bama. I really want the team to win the SEC, but more, I'd like to see them win a couple close games. Maybe find out if wilbekin, rosario or frazier can make some clutch shots. Boynton, like walker, has proven he's not the guy. We need a couple guys with ice water or just willing to take it to the hoop.
And yes, we need to hit fts.

[mac4lyfe]

Thanks for jogging my memory. That's one game in like 12 years that I can recall. There surely must be more? I just seem to remember the losses more cause they hurt more. BYU in double overtime was another where we jacked up bad shots to end the periods.

Originally Posted by Jonas

I don't know. I remember the game against NC State at home in 2009. Calathes drove and got a lay up to win. I don't think his strategy is just dribble behind the arc, then set a screen and shoot a 3 with a second to go. It makes sense to me to do that at the end of the first half or during a tie game, because you don't want to risk a turnover, but makes no sense when you are down. I really doubt that's what Billy draws up. .

[sec1]

i do not like blaming a specific player and i will not do that , we had a lead as a team and lost as a team , no one is clutch on this team ... it will prevent us from winning it all this year .. book it !!

[Jonas]

Originally Posted by 108

In the post game Donovan said it wasn't the shot he wanted, he wanted to go inside

and Boynton: "I thought it was a good look, I gave him a shimmy move and had some space."

Yeah, not surprised. This is why I feel benching is the only way to get him to realize that that look wasn't good enough.

[tommyuf21]

I never thought that this team was a championship team. I even doubted the final four prediction too. I have been pretty consistent that this is an Elite 8 team, that if it catches a break in matchups, could make it to the FF. I don't think we win it though. Our low post depth will be exploited by someone in the tourney. I just hope its later in the tourney, than sooner.

There is one caveat though. In this tourney, anything can happen and the field is weak. So, if we avoid the few teams that we match up poorly with and are guards our hot, we could steal a trophy this year. UCONN's last title proved that it could be done.

I would much rather get to the FF this year, than last year. UK would have embarrassed us last year and I'm glad someone else got to watch them cut the nets from courtside beside us.

[sec1]

i think good match ups are crucial in the tourney .... i just think we need too much help to win it all , i still think elite 8 is our exit .... that being said it is still great for this team ...

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by sec1

i think good match ups are crucial in the tourney .... i just think we need too much help to win it all , i still think elite 8 is our exit .... that being said it is still great for this team ...

If I was a betting person, I wouldn't bet on us going further than that. However, with the tourney as it is, one can never tell.

Last season, I thought that Missouri would knock us out in round 2. Funny thing, they never got past Norfolk State......

[gatormann]

After the game, Donovan was critical of Boynton's shot. The play called for Wilbekin to drive. He was cut off and passed it to Boynton who took the ill advised heave.

No, Boynton should not be benched in late game situations. You gotta dance with the one who brought you. I know the hour is getting late in Boynton's career but similar situations will arrive again. His decision making has improved greatly this past season and played a smart game, overall. Hopefully, he will make that next step and make the right choice next time we are in the situation again. Tonght that meant trying to take the ball into the paint and/or dishing off the ball.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by gatorr4life

Yes, let's bench one of our best player in the final minutes of a big game. Genius, absolute genius....

When he takes stupid shots it makes sense.

[gatorr4life]

Originally Posted by bakaduin

Whose saying minutes? I'm talking final possession.

Would we have had a better shot at winning the game if our last possession was Wilbekin, Frazier, Rosario, Murphy, and Young?

Learn to read with comprehension. "Final minutes of the game". Boynton is a very good player, he's more than capable of making that shot, IMO. (Why did I bump this thread?) fail...

[GATORAZ]

no

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by gatorr4life

Another genius! Congrats!

And one could say the opposite about you. What's your point? He takes stupid shots at the end of the game. I don't see where that can be argued. I'm not saying he's a bad player he just takes questionable shots and doesn't seem to make the right play at the end of the game. Since you are a self appointed genius please educate me on why you see it differently.

[Tebowism0823]

Originally Posted by gatorr4life

Learn to read with comprehension. "Final minutes of the game". Boynton is a very good player, he's more than capable of making that shot, IMO. (Why did I bump this thread?) fail...

It seems you are the one with the comprehension problem. The OP stated final play of the game, not final minutes.

[NorthCaptivaGator]

Other than Tuesday night, when was the last time KB took a "stupid shot" at the end of a game? Tuesday was the first last second miss I remember Boynton having in a long time. Certainly not worth a benching.

[gatorich]

The three made by Scottie, with about 1.5 minutes left, was a much worse shot than KB's but he made it so nobodies second guessing it. If KB's shot goes in, every thread on here would be about how clutch he is. NO WAY IN HECK do you bench one of your best players at the end of the game. Some of you are unreal!