Coach Search 2017 IU Candidate: Tony Bennett (University of Virginia)

[716e11th 107]

Bennett has been more consistent in the ACC and getting to the Tourney vs CTC.
I just don't think you can win an actual NCAA championship with his offense. You need great guards who can score at will. My guess is he'd consistently get us there then exit early - much like he's done at UVA.

[Brass Cannon 24,713]

The knocks on Bennett remind me of the knocks on Jay Wright you know before he won it all

[JSHoosier 20,169]

9 hours ago, Brass Cannon said:

Yep with certain people checking airports and flight data sometimes you need intermediaries to keep things secret. 

It could be multi-purpose as well.  I don't know how many people search firms typically use for this, but with enough they could formalize an agreement with Billy the Kid and vet/interview potential backups and if there's already verbal agreement on certain details in place with Donovan then the first part becomes easier I would think.

[Hovadipo 55,982]

Pack Line (the defensive approach Tony Bennett uses) gets a lot of talk and it's been hugely effective for him and his team. Simply put, what the Pack Line does is "pack" defenders into help position off the ball, while the man guarding the ball is providing strong defensive pressure. I think it unfairly gets labeled as "sagging" defense, which it's really not most of the time. They want to encourage you to drive into help (don't get beat baseline and funnel drivers into the middle of the lane) and they also want to contest post entries HARD. They'll live with a lot of perimeter jumpers because they think that's a lower percentage shot (they're right) and they also believe their defenders can react to provide a strong contest even if the shooter appears to be theoretically open.
On the other end, Bennett will remind you of plenty of teams we've seen over the years in the Big Ten. He doesn't run the Swing stuff we've seen from Wisconsin or the kind of read/react stuff Beilein busts out, but in a very generalized sense they will look familiar in that they run their stuff with poise and just don't make many mistakes. Bennett's offense gets a lot less talk than his Pack Line defense but it's also interesting. He inherited the "mover blocker" offense from his dad and UVa runs it very well. Simply put, some guys are movers (shot makers) and some are blockers who are there to set picks and free up the movers. It's done with basic motion principles but the emphasis is always on getting a good shot as the primary objective and thus UVa is known to run a fair amout of clock in pursuit of those good shots.
His career has proven that to be a legitimate strategy over time. You can argue that you need more free flowing offense or 95th percentile athletes to break through and win the whole thing but his tenure at UVA has been very successful...easily the best since peak Terry Holland.
I think he, and his success, is a major reason why the college game reduced the shot clock from 35 seconds to 30. 

I like the Bennett style. I like that it exists as a change-up. It's just something different to watch and evaluate. I like the variety. I wouldn't want college basketball to become homogenized the way the NFL and NBA are, with everyone doing the same thing. But the 30-second clock, down from :45 and down from :35, has provided steps in that direction.

I thought it was hilarious when Bennett used to beat Duke and North Carolina and win the ACC with inferior talent. I think that's good for basketball.

Great, informative post.

[Alford Bailey 12,373]

2 hours ago, 716e11th said:

Bennett has been more consistent in the ACC and getting to the Tourney vs CTC.
I just don't think you can win an actual NCAA championship with his offense. You need great guards who can score at will. My guess is he'd consistently get us there then exit early - much like he's done at UVA.

Id back him 100% as our coach but I kinda feel the same.

[VeevlandBrowns 134]

3 minutes ago, Hovadipo said:

 

Great, informative post.

 

Thanks, man. Appreciate it.

[GloryDays 5,920]

https://www.google.com/amp/www.sbnation.com/platform/amp/college-basketball/2015/12/22/10631954/virginia-basketball-offense-defense-malcolm-brogdon-anthony-gill

[bnkepner 1,509]

If Bennett would take the job now, I'd pull the trigger. 

[Yogi's Picnic Basket 5,004]

The knocks on Bennett remind me of the knocks on Jay Wright you know before he won it all

Now this I agree with ya on. I think it was the other way around though. Great offense decent defense. Then he evolved and had both. If I had to have a coach learn how to do either better I am going with offense. Defense will put you in any game regardless. If his offense evolved then he would be a definite home run hire. Maybe getting more elite players at a rapid rate here would make the difference even.

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[Tom White 1,435]

On 3/19/2017 at 8:47 AM, triple said:

Absolutely NOT!  His record is on par with Crean's.................an 8-16 record against his biggest foes (UNC, Duke combined).

Sounds better than Crean vs. Wisconsin. How is Crean's record vs. Northwestern or Purdue or.......

[Walking Boot of Doom 18,170]

Thanks, man. Appreciate it.

If you please, I think that kind of analysis would be appreciated for a few of the other coaches! Good read!


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[triple 410]

1 hour ago, Tom White said:

Sounds better than Crean vs. Wisconsin. How is Crean's record vs. Northwestern or Purdue or.......

Better in this case is relative.  Bennett has 11 years of power conference coaching.  One elite eight.  Two sweet 16s.  Two conference championships.  His style is every bit as lopsided as Crean.  He focuses on defense instead of offense, but like with Crean his teams crumble when the opponent succeeds in setting the pace because they lack balance...they can't adjust on the opposite side of the ball.  It's ugly to watch and I cringe at the thought of the blowouts we'll face in postseasons going forward if we make this hire. 

[ctown2grhoosier 380]

Absolutely NOT!  His record is on par with Crean's.  Eleven years of power conference play.  Two conference championships.  One tourney run to the Elite Eight.  an 8-16 record against his biggest foes (UNC, Duke combined).  This is not a home run hire.  Patience will serve us better here.  We need to get it absolutely right this time around.

 

 

 

Sounds better than Crean vs. Wisconsin. How is Crean's record vs. Northwestern or Purdue or.......

He took an afterthought University and turned them into an ACC power. He won 2 conference ships at Virginia! Also, 8-16 is not a bad record against Duke and UNC. What coaches in the ACC have winning records against those teams? Now if he had a losing record against Boston College and Georgia Tech that would be a problem. That's like having a combined losing record against Nebraska and Northwestern! Give Bennett the resources and IU name he'd be elite imo.

 

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[JSHoosier 20,169]

On 3/19/2017 at 7:47 AM, triple said:

Absolutely NOT!  His record is on par with Crean's.  Eleven years of power conference play.  Two conference championships.  One tourney run to the Elite Eight.  an 8-16 record against his biggest foes (UNC, Duke combined).  This is not a home run hire.  Patience will serve us better here.  We need to get it absolutely right this time around.

The only home run is Donovan.  There is a risk with literally every other candidate mentioned, and I'd feel more comfortable with Bennett than most of the coaches named.

[Brass Cannon 24,713]

28 minutes ago, triple said:

Better in this case is relative.  Bennett has 11 years of power conference coaching.  One elite eight.  Two sweet 16s.  Two conference championships.  His style is every bit as lopsided as Crean.  He focuses on defense instead of offense, but like with Crean his teams crumble when the opponent succeeds in setting the pace because they lack balance...they can't adjust on the opposite side of the ball.  It's ugly to watch and I cringe at the thought of the blowouts we'll face in postseasons going forward if we make this hire. 

He focuses on defense if you ignore his good offensive teams. 

[Yogi'sBicep 1,048]

 

[JSHoosier 20,169]

1 minute ago, Yogi'sBicep said:

 

Okay, that was pretty funny.  Although the D will be back in Indiana, after going missing for 9 years.

[IU Hoosier41 14,465]

Surprised there haven't been more Bennett rumors. Although I think that might be a good thing if you want him hired.


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[WayneFleekHoosier 48,306]

Surprised there haven't been more Bennett rumors. Although I think that might be a good thing if you want him hired.


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Today's the first day I've considered it with the transfers listed and such.

Also thought with him being out of tournament we'd have motion already if he was the target.

He's my tier 2 favorite.


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[JSHoosier 20,169]

15 minutes ago, WayneFleekHoosier said:

He's my tier 2 favorite.


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Mine as well.  Figuring tier one are pipe dreams, I'd be thrilled with Bennett.  I don't care that his offenses don't run, I actually prefer the slower pace to Crean's run and gun and look another turnover.  I love watching Wisconsin's offense.