By Paul Gotham
Four years ago Mark Schmidt’s lineup consisted of four players averaging more than 31 minutes per game. Andrew Nicholson, Ogo Adegboye, Michael Davenport and Demitrius Conger combined to score 53 of St. Bonaventure University’s 70 points a game.
The Bonnies bench was an afterthought. Something Schmidt used only if the situation dictated.
That was then.
Schmidt’s current Bonnies’ squad consists of seven players averaging 20 or more minutes and all scoring at least eight points a game. Thanks to the efforts like those of Dion Wright the SBU bench, once a weakness, now is a strength.
Despite logging the sixth most minutes, Wright’s 9.3 points rank third in the Bona lineup while his 5.3 rebounds, on a team which leads the Atlantic 10 in rebound percentage (54.6), are third only to teammates Youssou Ndoye (5.5) and Marquise Simmons (5.4).
“He’s given us energy off the bench,” Schmidt said during the weekly A-10 Coaches’ Tele-Conference. “He’s given us scoring off the bench. He’s given us rebounding off the bench. He’s really a tough guard.”
“He’s always slithering around,” Schmidt said of the nickname. “For whatever reason he’s got a good nose for the ball. He’s not the biggest guy. He’s not the strongest guy. He’s got a good feel. We’re lucky to have him. He’s done a really good job.”
After averaging just 6.4 minutes in 13 games a year ago, Wright has played in all 21 Bona contests this season logging 30 or more minutes on five different occasions.
“He didn’t play a lot last year,” Schmidt state. “He had a hard time picking up the system – typical freshman… He’s really learned the system [this year]. He’s really committed himself to the game.”
Wright has registered nine games in double figures this season including a career-high 22 in Bonaventure’s 102-89 win at Iona. He followed that two games later with the first double-double of his career a 14-point, 11-rebound performance against Niagara.
“We wouldn’t be 13 and 8 without Dion,” Schmidt. “He doesn’t necessarily always look good, but at the end of the game, he’s got good numbers.”
Limited by foul trouble, Wright scored all 12 of his points in the second half as St. Bonaventure knocked off then No.19/21 UMass 78-65. The California native scored six of eight Bonaventure points as the Bonnies endured a second-half run by the Minutemen.
“He just has a nose for the ball,” Schmidt continued. “It’s stuff that you can’t teach. You coach guys that when the ball goes up, somehow, someway a guy comes down with it. Dion is that type of guy.”
Wright along with Jordan Gathers and Denzel Gregg were part of a Bona bench which outscored their counterparts 26-21. It’s been a common theme for SBU in A-10 wins. They got the better of La Salle’s reserves (13-12) and Richmond’s (20-9). In all, the Bonnies bench has outscored their opponents in 16 of 21 games.
“Our bench has been a positive for us, and Dion has really been the big guy off the bench who’s given us that positive that you need.”
St. Bonaventure (13-8/3-4) travels to Richmond for a rematch with the Spiders (14-8/4-3). A 7 p.m. tip time is scheduled Wednesday night.
Stats courtesy of Basketball State.
Paul Gotham is the founder, owner, editor and lead writer at Pickin’ Splinters. Paul is the Communications and Media Director of the New York Collegiate Baseball League. He is a contributor at USA Today and member of the USBWA. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PickinSplinters.
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