We’ve gotta stop meeting like this. Once again, I’m a day late here, as we’re less than two weeks from Purdue’s season opener against Evansville, but let’s celebrate a Jack Benter away anyways. Jack Benter,
a 6-6 redshirt freshman wing from Brownstown Central, is one of Purdue’s biggest unknowns of the season. Benter’s mystery starts with one of his biggest strengths – his versatility. Benter’s high school career saw him transition from off-guard, primary scorer to do everything point guard that took the brunt of every defenses’ attention his junior and senior year. Even in high school, Benter’s elite shooting was a mask for the subtle art of his game. During Benter’s trips to Indiana All-Star games, playing alongside the states elite talent, Benter’s potential fit at Purdue was previewed as he moved away from the ball. Benter’s size makes him a threat at all three levels. He has surprising bounce at the rim, good burst on his foot step, and he’s well-built and tall for a guard. He could bully little guards or wings. Still his shooting on the perimeter was his calling card. During all-star games, Benter would contend himself with pulling defenders away from the basket, moving the ball on the perimeter, and rebounding well for his size. During these games, he wasn’t the center of everything like on his high school team. Instead, he hovered around the perimeter, waiting, and then he would go. It would usually start with one three-pointer, then another, and all of a sudden, Benter would have 12 points in the matter of minutes. That same instant heatability showed itself in the third session of the intra-squad scrimmages last week for Purdue. With his team trailing 17-10, Benter used his quickness advantage on TKR to get two threes away, catch and shoot snipes that cut the lead to one. He then hit a third, that would have tied the game, except TKR was called for a foul on the floor, barely able to catch up to Benter before the catch of the ball from three.
Between the scoring outbursts, Benter flashed the small stuff that will likely make him a surprising big man back up option at the four for Painter despite being one of Painter’s smallest options at the four.
It started a bit out of necessity. With most the big men gone over the summer for one reason or another, Benter was left to be the matchup for Trey Kaufman-Renn. That’s a nightmare for a freshman giving up considerable weight and inches to one of the best post scorers in the country.
But Benter’s body is sturdy and he’s a battler. In two different summer practices, Benter went down hard defending TKR in the post while media was present. Both times, Benter was all over TKR, providing annoying resistance and TKR, seemingly frustrated from it, bowled over Benter in one way or another. Benter never backed down despite the size mismatch.
In two plays during the final scrimmage, TKR got the ball in the post on Benter. Both times, TKR knew he had the advantage. Both times TKR tried to use his physicality, and both times, Benter drew the whistle, drawing charges on both plays. He’ll need that resolve to battle bigs in the Big Ten.
Benter is a connector on offense. He sees and feels the floor like a point guard. He has a faster than expected first step. He’s an elite shooter, off the dribble, on the move, and in spot up positions. The offense will whirl with him on the perimeter, allowing Purdue to play four out with threats at all five positions.
But it’s Benter’s tenacity on defense, his willingness to bang and give up his body even when undersized, that has helped Benter step into the back up four spots as the season starts.
Benter’s ability to survive on the floor defensively against Kentucky will be one of the most pressing questions for Purdue heading into the season.
Purdue is a better team if Benter can carve a role for himself this season.
