Does anyone leave?

[tcp]

I'm ambivalent about Benny. I can see both cases for him reasonably well, but everything really hinges on how much our roster improves overall, not whether he can play a a backup in the B1G in absolute terms.

 

I generally don't surrender on freshmen who have shown anything at all, and Parker has shown tiny glimpses into his ability during the season. That's how I felt about Brandon U. 4 years ago when the majority of this board couldn't see anything in him. If it's the case that Benny's struggles this year were due to the game being just too fast for him right now, that's pretty normal for a lot of mediocre high school-ers coming up.

 

I agree his point skills are too undeveloped to probably ever be a starter in upper Div 1 at that position. However, he's extremely quick, he can get around bigger players to the hoop and has the ability to finish when there, has a decent short jumper at the 12 foot range with a high arc to get over a bigger D, and can play very good defense, especially with his hands--something he needs to work on if he's going to stick around since that's probably the point of highest value for him.

 

I can see him developing into a potential backup with a combo guard who handles the ball--unless Benny really bears down and shows something we haven't really seen. I can also just as easily see him finding himself at the end of the bench, too.

 

Let's give the guy an offseason to see what happens and make these judgments next year if he does indeed return.

[cipsucks]

I'm ambivalent about Benny. I can see both cases for him reasonably well, but everything really hinges on how much our roster improves overall, not whether he can play a a backup in the B1G in absolute terms.

 

I generally don't surrender on freshmen who have shown anything at all, and Parker has shown tiny glimpses into his ability during the season. That's how I felt about Brandon U. 4 years ago when the majority of this board couldn't see anything in him. If it's the case that Benny's struggles this year were due to the game being just too fast for him right now, that's pretty normal for a lot of mediocre high school-ers coming up.

 

I agree his point skills are too undeveloped to probably ever be a starter in upper Div 1 at that position. However, he's extremely quick, he can get around bigger players to the hoop and has the ability to finish when there, has a decent short jumper at the 12 foot range with a high arc to get over a bigger D, and can play very good defense, especially with his hands--something he needs to work on if he's going to stick around since that's probably the point of highest value for him.

 

I can see him developing into a potential backup with a combo guard who handles the ball--unless Benny really bears down and shows something we haven't really seen. I can also just as easily see him finding himself at the end of the bench, too.

 

Let's give the guy an offseason to see what happens and make these judgments next year if he does indeed return.

A voice of reason has no place on a message board....

[Dean Smith]

 

I'm still stunned at how many fans really like Benny Parker, feel he's a legitimate B1G player and believe he'll play over guys like Webster and Hawkins. I don't see any chance that Benny Parker plays much next year and can't fathom that he'll still be on the team in 2014-2015.

 

The guy has poor handles, can't shoot, has no confidence, plays intimidated, is an average passer, can't drive to the basket, and is 3 inches shorter than the next-shortest player in the B1G.

 

For those who really like him, what do you believe he does well? The only thing I've seen is that he plays pretty good defense. He's short but very quick and moves well on defense. As an offensive player, he's a disaster.

I don't think he'll necessarily play over those guys, but having a guy like Benny coming off your bench, even for only 5 minutes a game can go a long way over the course of the season.  The game will slow down for him as he matures.  Just because he doesn't start doesn't mean he can't be an important player on the team.  I don't know whether he'll be here TWO years from now, I do think he'll be here next year.

 

In giving him those 5 minutes, you just took 5 minutes of playing time away from Nate Hawkins, Tai Webster or someone else. Assuming the newcomers pan out (not guaranteed, I know), we'll have very good depth at the guard spots next year without Benny Parker. With Biggs, Gallegos, Webster and Hawkins, I don't see where 5 minutes per game should be going to Parker. Just my opinion.

I don't know if he will play or not next year or ever. I'm just saying these conversations really remind me of the ones people were having about Ubel four years ago.

[FredsSlacks]

Ubel added a lot of muscle after his first 2 years. Parker is not going to be able to improve much physically.

[nebrasketball10]

Other than "pretty good defender", no one has said what Benny does well. Many have said he can develop into a role player... What role?

[uneblinstu]

 

I'm still stunned at how many fans really like Benny Parker, feel he's a legitimate B1G player and believe he'll play over guys like Webster and Hawkins. I don't see any chance that Benny Parker plays much next year and can't fathom that he'll still be on the team in 2014-2015.

 

The guy has poor handles, can't shoot, has no confidence, plays intimidated, is an average passer, can't drive to the basket, and is 3 inches shorter than the next-shortest player in the B1G.

 

For those who really like him, what do you believe he does well? The only thing I've seen is that he plays pretty good defense. He's short but very quick and moves well on defense. As an offensive player, he's a disaster.

I don't think he'll necessarily play over those guys, but having a guy like Benny coming off your bench, even for only 5 minutes a game can go a long way over the course of the season.  The game will slow down for him as he matures.  Just because he doesn't start doesn't mean he can't be an important player on the team.  I don't know whether he'll be here TWO years from now, I do think he'll be here next year.

 

In giving him those 5 minutes, you just took 5 minutes of playing time away from Nate Hawkins, Tai Webster or someone else. Assuming the newcomers pan out (not guaranteed, I know), we'll have very good depth at the guard spots next year without Benny Parker. With Biggs, Gallegos, Webster and Hawkins, I don't see where 5 minutes per game should be going to Parker. Just my opinion.

If we play the style Ben Johnson described in the post game yesterday, having an extra body, especially one with a year's experience, is going to be a valuable commodity.  There are so many variables that will go into who gets to play that you can't count any chickens yet.  Injuries, slow development, of just plain not being as good as thought, foul trouble all will play a factor. 

[uneblinstu]

Like I said, Benny is likely around a 70% chance of staying. Even if he was considering transferring to a small school, he would likely wait until after next season. -new arena, new players, new playing style. He will want to see how he fits in and see how much he can improve.

 

In my opinion though, I don't see Parker improving much. My biggest problem with him is that he is not a true point guard. He can't penetrate and struggles to dribble with his left hand. Purdue was literally not guarding Parker when we played them. That is never a good sign. I would feel a lot better about his chances of improving if he was 6'2.

 

Could he be a nice bench player by the time he is a junior? Possibly. If he wants to be starter though, I think he has to transfer to a smaller school at some point.

 

Hopefully he proves us all wrong, but I don't see it.

What 19 year old has reached their max potential at anything.  Not many.  If he puts the work in, there's absolutely he can't continue to develop every year here.  

[uneblinstu]

Other than "pretty good defender", no one has said what Benny does well. Many have said he can develop into a role player... What role?

He runs the break pretty well.  He has shown the ability to get to the rim on occasion.  If he can get more consistent at that, that would be good.  As he gets more comfortable in the offense he'll make better decisions in it.  

 

If he can develop into the role of dependable back-up PG or even 6th or 7th man, that's a pretty dang valuable role.  As I said above, if he puts the work in, he's got a decent foundation of skills that there's no reason he has to be a finished product.

[uneblinstu]

I said this in another thread but Benny, Petteway, and Shields have all gotten an apartmen together for next year. I believe he wants to stay, unlss the coaches talk to him about leaving.

Personally, I like that he's willing to stay and compete.  

[Silverbacked1]

I think some things will need to fall into place in the off season so players can find out how things are going to be played next year.

 

If we must go small and run then Benny becomes more of a plus, and Vooch maybe not.

 

However if we get the one or two bigs, then Vooch is a plus and Benny kind of looses his minutes.

 

I personal saw two things with Benny that make me say he will and needs to stay.

 

1) He did look his best when we ran, he might not always made the shot but he did help the others get up the court and did make some nice dishes for buckets.

 

2) He might not be the best ball handler but does seem to be an above average passer.  I remember seeing him make some very nice and difficult passes this year.

 

Now if we go to what everybody things we will where we drive and kick to the open shooter, Benny remains valuable because I think with another year of maturity he will be good at this.

 

Will he ever be a starter, most likely not.  But I can't think that Miles went down to Kansas City to talk him to staying with us, just to say "see ya" at the end of the season.

 

Also agree that it shows what kind of kid he might be if he stays and says everybody else beat me out.

 

I also don't see Miles having so many players "wanting to play closer to home" like Doc seemed to.

 

Just my thoughts on the subject.

[nebrasketball10]

I agree he ran the break well. He was an inconsistent passer. A 5' 6" guy that can "get to the rim" isn't that useful on the big 10. I think we're in trouble I'd he's in our top 7 because I don't see how he becomes an offensive threat.

[uneblinstu]

I agree he ran the break well. He was an inconsistent passer. A 5' 6" guy that can "get to the rim" isn't that useful on the big 10. I think we're in trouble I'd he's in our top 7 because I don't see how he becomes an offensive threat.

Why isn't it useful if he can get to the rim?  That means he beat his guy off the dribble and there's a fairly decent chance he'll get to the free throw line.  That seems useful to me.  

 

Would you consider him an offensive threat if he runs the offense efficiently and gets his teammates the ball in position to score?

 

Also, let's remember he was reported to be battling through some injuries at least during the middle of the season.  If he gets healthy that will help too.

[nebrasketball10]

I agree he ran the break well. He was an inconsistent passer. A 5' 6" guy that can "get to the rim" isn't that useful on the big 10. I think we're in trouble I'd he's in our top 7 because I don't see how he becomes an offensive threat.

Why isn't it useful if he can get to the rim? That means he beat his guy off the dribble and there's a fairly decent chance he'll get to the free throw line. That seems useful to me.

Would you consider him an offensive threat if he runs the offense efficiently and gets his teammates the ball in position to score?

Also, let's remember he was reported to be battling through some injuries at least during the middle of the season. If he gets healthy that will help too.

I'm not saying I want him gone - I'm just not sure I see him being much if a contributor. It's not like he CONSISTENTLY gets to the him, and when he does he's much more likely to get blocked than fouled. Maybe he kind find an open man, but his vision will be limited by his size.

Running the offense efficiently and getting teammates shots would definitely be a good thing. And I thinks that looks to be his "ceiling." But I didn't see him do that this year. He really needs to develop a perimeter shot - he won't be able to effectively run the offense or beat his defender off the dribble when his defender sags 5 feet off of him.

[uneblinstu]

Why does that have to be his ceiling?  I agree that he needs to improve his shot, and I'm sure he'll work on it during the off season.

[nebrasketball10]

I just don't see him as someone that will be able to create. Do you? I would never claim to be an excellent talent evaluator.

[uneblinstu]

For himself?  Enough to keep guys honest, but I don't see him being a 12-15 point scorer.  But I don't think he needs to be.  If he can take care of the ball and create opportunities for Webster, Pitchford, Petteway and Fuller and get the team into the offense efficiently, that's what I'd call creating.  It just doesn't always show up directly in the box score.  Miles seems to be recruiting guys that can score, if he's got 4 other guys on the score effectively, having a guy that can set those guys up well is just as dangerous as a guy that did what Talley did.  It's just a matter of how you want to define "create".  I think there's a very real shot he can be effective creating for others, assuming Miles puts other capable scorers around him.

[nebrasketball10]

Well time will tell (maybe). But I don't see how he'll create for others when teams don't have to guard him at all.

[uneblinstu]

Just because a guy doesn't score doesn't mean teams don't have to guard him.  If he proves he can do what I described above, teams won't be ignoring him.

[Silverbacked1]

I think that the offense will look different next year, which might allow Benny to contribute more with him driving and dishing.

 

Different players different scheme,  different style of game.

 

Guess we could make this a 35 page with the three of us saying the same thing over and over but...

[TheKamdyMan]

I think the thing people are forgetting is that Mike Peltz is the better point guard of the two currently and Parker would have had even less minutes had they not had to shut him down.  Assuming Peltz comes back healthy I think it pushes Parker down even further if he doesnt make huge strides.

[uneblinstu]

Parker put up better numbers than Peltz, slightly.  There's not really much difference between the two.  They both hustled their tails off, couldn't score much and have better hair than me.

[hhcdave]

I don't think Mike Peltz has anywhere near the talent nor upside than Benny Parker does. But maybe I'm blind.

[uneblinstu]

I'd agree in terms of upside.  In terms of production, they were pretty similar this season.

[hhcdave]

True but Parker did his against the Big 10 as a true freshman, while Peltz did his against the likes of Kent State as a junior.

[huskas4real]

There's no doubt Benny can have a role on this team in years to come. Do some of you see him play defense??? He can create a spark off the bench. He can disrupt play especially with guys around him that are quicker and longer and better at pressuring on the wings than what we had this year. He can force turnovers and get out on the break and is not a bad finisher for his size. I'm not saying he will ever start, but I'm surprised when I see people questioning whether he has a role on this team or not and saying Peltz is a better player. Peltz may be smarter but not better.