Bentil’s Need to Improve His Defense May Bring Him Back to PC Say Experts

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team

 

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Ben Bentil

The Friars season has ended and now fans and the team wait on a decision from forward Ben Bentil. Will he return to school or will he take his talents to the NBA.  

Bentil was the leading scorer in the Big East this season and named the conference's Most Improved Player. However, it could be his defense that brings him back to Providence.

"One negative for him is his height, he is a tweener and at the next level he has to play small forward, he can't play power forward," said one Division I coach who has seen Bentil repeatedly.

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"So what I'm worried about is his defense on the perimeter having to guard guys like Kevin Durant. If you can't stay in front of these guys, they will score 50 on you and he has struggled with that this season and has gotten into foul trouble because of it," the coach said.

One NBA scout who spoke to GoLocal was even more blunt. If Bentil is in foul trouble all the time in college, how can he play in the NBA.

Bentil picked up at least 4 fouls in 11 games this season for Providence, fouling out of three of those games.

"I think the chances of him making an NBA roster next year are pretty slim. Ideally he goes back to school and works on his skills," the NBA scout told GoLocal.

"If he comes back another year he will improve and his stock will go way up," the coach said.

Rest of Bentil's Game

Bentil averaged 21 points and 7 rebounds per game this season for Providence, shooting 46% from the field, 33% from three-point land and 78% from the free throw line.

"He is a terrific college player, he can score from mid-range, he can drive the ball, shoot the three, but his defense has to improve," the coach added.

If Bentil does leave after this season, ESPN's Chad Ford projects he would go anywhere from pick 20-35 in the NBA Draft, so late first round, early 2nd.

DraftExpress has Bentil ranked 58th on their list of top 100 prospects while NBADraft.net has Bentil ranked 60th in their list of top 100 prospects. 

"If he does go to the NBA, he will probably end up in the D-League, which is not the end of the world, but he will be riding buses in El Paso, Texas or somewhere like that. Going back to school would be a much better experience I would think," the scout said.

NCAA Rule Change

It is important to note that the NBA and NCAA changed the rules allowing players to enter the draft multiple times and participate in the combine and one NBA team tryout per year.

The players will also be allowed up to 10 days after the combine to withdraw from the draft. The combine is set to take place from May 11-15 in Chicago with the early entry date set for May 25. 

The NBA Draft will be held on June 23 in Brooklyn.  

 

Related Slideshow: Dunn vs. Bentil in the Big East

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at Butler

Friars Win 81-73

Edge - Dunn

Kris Dunn 

Dunn had 20 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field while dishing out 9 assists and grabbing 7 rebounds. 

Of Dunn's 20  points, 16 of them came in the second half helping to lead the Friars back from a 36-25 half time deficit. 

Dunn had two turnovers in the game.

Ben Bentil 

Bentil had 19 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field while grabbing 5 rebounds in the game. 

Bentil also had 2 turnovers in the game.

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vs. St. John's

Friars Win 83-65

Edge - Dunn

Kris Dunn 

Dunn had 26 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field while also grabbing 9 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists. Dunn also recorded 3 steals in the game. Dunn also had 5 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn scored 9 straight points for Providence in the second half to seal the win after the Johnnies had got as close as 6 points, 56-50, with 9 minutes to go. 

Ben Bentil 

Bentil had 20 points on 6 of 12 shooting from the field and 8 of 9 from the free throw line. Bentil grabbed 9 rebounds in the game. 

Bentil had 5 turnovers in the game.

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vs. Marquette

Friars Lose 65-64 

Edge - Bentil

Bent Bentil 

Bentil led the Friars with 28 points on 9 of 17 shooting from the field, including 10 of 10 from the free throw line. Bentil also grabbed 9 rebounds. 

Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn 

Dunn had 20 points on 7 of 14 shooting from the field while also dishing out 7 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds. However, Dunn turned the ball over 7 times and the Friars failed to get a shot off at the end to try and win the game. 

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at Creighton

Friars Win 50-48 

Edge - Dunn

Kris Dunn 

Dunn netted 20 points on 6 of 17 shooting from the field while grabbing 8 rebounds and dishing out three assists. Dunn also had 5 turnovers in the game, one of which led to Creighton's game tying basket.

With time winding down, Dunn knocked down a jump shot from just outside the painted area to give PC the win. 

Ben Bentil 

Bentil had 13 points on 4 of 12 shooting from the field while also grabbing 8 rebounds in the game. 

Bentil had 3 turnovers in the game.

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vs. Seton Hall

Friars Lose 81-72

Edge - Bentil

Ben Bentil 

Bentil had 21 points on 4 of 15 shooting from the field and 12 of 13 from the free throw line. Bentil also grabbed 9 rebounds in the game. 

Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn 

Dun poured in 16 points on 5 of 11 shooting from the field while grabbing 5 rebounds and dishing out 2 assists. Dunn had 4 turnovers and fouled out late in the game. 

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vs. Butler

Friars Win 71-68

Edge - Bentil

Ben Bentil 

Bentil had 20 points on 6 of 14 shooting from the field to go along with 7 rebounds. Bentil went 8 of 10 from the free throw line and gave Providence the lead for good. 

Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn 

Dunn had 9 points on 3 of 8 shooting from the field to go with 7 assists and 5 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

With two minutes to play, Dunn drove to the basket and dished to Ben Bentil for a dunk that would give Providence a 68-66 lead. On the next possession, Dunn hit a three to increase PC's lead to 5 points. 

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at Villanova

Friars Win 82-76

Edge - Bentil

Ben Bentil 

Bentil poured in 31 points on 11 of 19 shooting from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line while also grabbing 13 rebounds for his 5th double double of the season. 

With 17 seconds left in the over time period, Ben Bentil took a pass from Kyron Cartwright and converted the layup to Providence a four point lead, 76-72, with time winding down. Bentil then converted 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to seal the win. 

Bentil had 3 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn

Kris Dunn netted 13 points on 5 of 10 shooting from the field while dishing out 14 assists, grabbing 5 rebounds and recorded 4 steals. However, Dunn also had 6 turnovers in the game. 

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vs. Xavier

Friars Lose 75-68 

Edge - Bentil

Ben Bentil 

Bentil poured in 25 points on 8 of 18 shooting from the field and 7 of 9 from the free throw line. Bentil also grabbed 6 rebounds. 

Bentil had 2 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn 

Dunn netted 16 points on 6 of 15 shooting from the field while grabbing 8 rebounds, dishing out 7 assists and recording 7 steals, while turning the ball over 4 times.

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at Georgetown

Friars Win 73-69 

Toss up

Ben Bentil 

Ben Bentil netted 26 points on 8 of 12 shooting from the field and 9 of 10 from the free throw line and had 9 rebounds. 

With 13:33 to go, the Hoyas cut PC's lead to one, 44-43, and on the next possession it was Bentil who hit the biggest shot of the game to give Providence a three point lead back. 

Bentil also hit six straight free throws in the final 27 seconds to seal the win.

Bentil had 4 turnovers in the game.

Kris Dunn 

Dunn poured in 26 points on 8 of 17 shooting from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line. Dunn also recorded four steals in the game. 

Dunn had 2 turnovers in the game.

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at DePaul

Friars Lose 77-70 

Incomplete

Kris Dunn

Dunn led PC with 14 points on 5 of 20 shooting from the field. Dunn also dished out 8 assists while only turning the ball over 2 times in the game.

Ben Bentil 

Bentil got injured int he first half after a DePaul player rolled on his ankle. Bentil tried to play through it but was ineffective and sat out the majority of the second half. 

Bentil had 1 turnover in the game before leaving.

 

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