Thursday, February 10, 2005
Where's the bench?
Following the catastrophe at Michigan (oh, that's right, Illinois won). Following the ugly win at Michigan, much of the focus has been on the collective disappearing act pulled by the Illini reserves. Jack Ingram was the only member of the Illinois squad who saw playing time in the second half as Coach Bruce Weber sat Roger Powell for six minutes and James Augustine for one.
The headline in the Chicago Tribune read Illini backups go backward at bad time. Jim O'Donnell wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times that the effectiveness of the Illinois bench is disappearing. In the Decatur Herald & Tribune, Mark Tupper wrote: Not once during the course of this unbeaten season has Weber so thoroughly turned his back on his bench, and it's a trend that probably should not continue. Lindsey Willhite wrote in the Daily Herald: As Illinois rallied to victory Tuesday night, two of its key reserves stayed glued to their seats.
Admittedly, the bench was not good. Ingram's 12 minutes was double what Rich McBride and Nick Smith played combined. Between the three of them, they only took five shots with Smith and Ingram each making one. The three of them also managed only one rebound, one assist and one steal. In his post-game comments, Weber admitted that the bench did not produce.
Before everyone writes off the bench, they would do well to keep in mind that one game doth not a season make. Were it not for Jack Ingram's eight points in both games, Illinois might not have come out on top against Wisconsin and Iowa. Rich McBride had two big three-point baskets in his only two attempts at Purdue and had maybe his best game of the season against Michigan State. Nick Smith had three important baskets against Iowa.
As for the starters logging too many minutes, Luther Head is averaging 32.5 minutes per contest, Dee Brown 32.1 and Deron Williams 33.4 while James Augustine and Roger Powell are averaging 25.7 and 25.5, respectively. Weber says he wants his starters averaging between 33 and 36 minutes per game; they're at just under 30. Weber also said about the bench: "They've been important in the streak and made big plays. Now, they have to pick it up again.''
The bench is clearly not a strength for the Illini. However, in their search for flaws in this perfect team, some have become perhaps a bit overzealous. posted by Illiniwonk at 6:24 PM
The headline in the Chicago Tribune read Illini backups go backward at bad time. Jim O'Donnell wrote in the Chicago Sun-Times that the effectiveness of the Illinois bench is disappearing. In the Decatur Herald & Tribune, Mark Tupper wrote: Not once during the course of this unbeaten season has Weber so thoroughly turned his back on his bench, and it's a trend that probably should not continue. Lindsey Willhite wrote in the Daily Herald: As Illinois rallied to victory Tuesday night, two of its key reserves stayed glued to their seats.
Admittedly, the bench was not good. Ingram's 12 minutes was double what Rich McBride and Nick Smith played combined. Between the three of them, they only took five shots with Smith and Ingram each making one. The three of them also managed only one rebound, one assist and one steal. In his post-game comments, Weber admitted that the bench did not produce.
Before everyone writes off the bench, they would do well to keep in mind that one game doth not a season make. Were it not for Jack Ingram's eight points in both games, Illinois might not have come out on top against Wisconsin and Iowa. Rich McBride had two big three-point baskets in his only two attempts at Purdue and had maybe his best game of the season against Michigan State. Nick Smith had three important baskets against Iowa.
As for the starters logging too many minutes, Luther Head is averaging 32.5 minutes per contest, Dee Brown 32.1 and Deron Williams 33.4 while James Augustine and Roger Powell are averaging 25.7 and 25.5, respectively. Weber says he wants his starters averaging between 33 and 36 minutes per game; they're at just under 30. Weber also said about the bench: "They've been important in the streak and made big plays. Now, they have to pick it up again.''
The bench is clearly not a strength for the Illini. However, in their search for flaws in this perfect team, some have become perhaps a bit overzealous. posted by Illiniwonk at 6:24 PM
Comments:
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I wasn't too worried about the lack of time for the bench players. IL was down and Weber elected to keep the starters out there for more of the game.
Their low production was due more to the small playing time they got than to them having an off day. These guys are not the starters so I don't think we can expect them to come off the bench take 2 shots in 2 min, make both buckets and grab a rebound on the other end of the court between their shots. If they had production like that they would be starters and lottery picks when the season is over.
Ingram
Vs WI 21 min 8 pts 2-4 shooting 6 boards 2 block 2 steals
Vs MI 12 min 2 pts 1-2 1 board
Smith
Vs NW 12 min 4-6 2 boards 3 assist 1 block
Vs MI 3 min 2 pts 1-2 1 steal
Mc B
Vs Pur 19 min 6 pt 2-2 2 boards 2 steal
Vs MI 3 min 0-1 1 assist
The bench players usually get more minutes when the starters are in foul trouble.
Also when they are in the game, they are not the 1st option for a shot. If they did come in and didn't work the ball to one of the starters and just put up a shot as soon as they got the ball, they would find themselves on the far end of the bench forever.
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Their low production was due more to the small playing time they got than to them having an off day. These guys are not the starters so I don't think we can expect them to come off the bench take 2 shots in 2 min, make both buckets and grab a rebound on the other end of the court between their shots. If they had production like that they would be starters and lottery picks when the season is over.
Ingram
Vs WI 21 min 8 pts 2-4 shooting 6 boards 2 block 2 steals
Vs MI 12 min 2 pts 1-2 1 board
Smith
Vs NW 12 min 4-6 2 boards 3 assist 1 block
Vs MI 3 min 2 pts 1-2 1 steal
Mc B
Vs Pur 19 min 6 pt 2-2 2 boards 2 steal
Vs MI 3 min 0-1 1 assist
The bench players usually get more minutes when the starters are in foul trouble.
Also when they are in the game, they are not the 1st option for a shot. If they did come in and didn't work the ball to one of the starters and just put up a shot as soon as they got the ball, they would find themselves on the far end of the bench forever.
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