Is Ben Bentil Out Playing Kris Dunn in The Big East?
Joe Calabro, GoLocalProv Sports Team
Is Ben Bentil Out Playing Kris Dunn in The Big East?
"He [Ben Bentil] is playing at an extremely high level right now and he got there very fast," said Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson III after the Friars beat the Hoyas on Saturday night.
Slam Magazine has ranked Bentil as the 12th best NBA prospect in the country saying "One of the most dominant players in college basketball, and he’s just scratching the surface."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFor comparison, the magazine ranks Kris Dunn second.
However, a GoLocal review of the 10 Big East games so far shows that Ben Bentil is out playing Kris Dunn.
See a Break Down of the Games in the Slideshow Below
Ben Bentil
In the Big East, Bentil has scored at least 20 points in 7 of the 10 games to this point in the season, including 31 in a road win against Villanova.
In three of PC's last four games, Bentil has put up 31, 25 and 26 points respectively, leading Providence to a 2-1 mark in those games. Bentil was injured in the game against DePaul.
Bentil has also been clutch at the free throw line for Providence, hitting 9 of 10 against Georgetown, 8 of 10 against Villanova and 8 of 10 against Butler.
Bentil averages 82% from the charity stripe on the season.
On the season, Bentil is responsible for 27% of PC's offense and averages 20 points per game, which leads the Big East.
Bentil is also responsible for 24% of the Friars rebounding and has at least 8 rebounds in 6 of 9 Big East games, including a season high 13 against Villanova.
Kris Dunn
Dunn has reached double figures in 9 of 10 Big East games and has had at least 20 points in five of those games.
"He may be - and I don’t want to insult anyone because my memory fails me - but he may be the best guard that has come through this league in a long time. And I’m talking about what he does offensively, what he can get for himself, he’s one of the best passers I’ve seen this year and he’s an elite, elite defender. He can impact the game in so many different facets at a level that not many players can do," said Thompson III.
An issue that Dunn has had going back to last season is turnovers.
This season, Dunn averages 3.6 turnovers per game, down from 4.2 last season, and has 41 turnovers in Big East play compared to 65 assists.
While Dunn has turned the ball over, he also creates turnovers recording 66 steals on the season with 4 steals, 7 steals and 4 steals in PC's last three games
Dunn is second in the country in steals.
PC's Upcoming Games
Led by Kris Dunn and Ben Bentil, PC returns to action on Saturday, February 6 when they host #3 Villanova.
Tip off for that game is set for 2:30 p.m.
For more on Kris Dunn vs. Ben Bentil, See the Game by Game Breakdown in the Slideshow Below
Dunn vs. Bentil in the Big East
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
