Playing off the bench doesn’t mean that four players on the University of Denver’s basketball team necessarily are taking a back seat.
Seniors Travis Hallam and Justin Coughlin, sophomore Blake Foeman and freshman Royce O’Neale have given their best impersonation of starters anytime coach Joe Scott has put in a call. In the first 17 games of the season, DU’s bench outscored the opposing substitutes 10 times. O’Neale underlined the importance of a good bench when he moved into the starting lineup for two games in the 10 days he replaced the injured Rob Lewis.
O’Neale returned to the bench Thursday night in 72-71 overtime loss at Louisiana-Lafayette, but he still looked like a starter. He led the Pioneers in scoring with 21 points and recorded a double-double with 13 rebounds. The 6-foot-5 Texan has responded to Scott’s call with a 9.7-point scoring average overall and 12.5 in Sun Belt Conference play.
He ranks third on the team in scoring but fifth in minutes played.
“It just goes to show that player rotations and chemistry are very important to a team’s success,” Scott said. “When players come through off the bench, it’s an addition to what the starters are doing. It’s a big factor, but I gauge their success by the contributions they make more than if they outscored the other team’s bench.”
Scott is in total agreement that with six games to go in the regular season, it’s going to take supreme effort by starters and substitutes to hold the promise of a 16-7 start overall and a 6-4 mark in conference.
The task begins today when the Pioneers and Middle Tennessee hook up at 2 p.m. at Magness Arena. The Blue Raiders are 21-3 and 10-0 in conference.
O’Neale is sure that Scott has confidence going to his bench players.
“My role is to hit the open shot, grab a rebound when I come in,” O’Neale said. “We just try to do what’s best for the team.”
Hallam and Coughlin have been starters during their careers.
“When we score some points, we’re giving something positive to the team,” Hallam said. “You get an idea what the team needs when you’re watching. It’s more of a challenge coming off the bench. You know you probably have two or three minutes to make a play.”
Coughlin is a change of pace from starter Chris Udofia at center.
“It doesn’t make much difference to me whether I start or come off the bench,” Coughlin said. “It’s huge for me if I can make a shot when I come in the game.”
Foeman, at 6-foot-7, has rebounding on his mind when he enters the game. He fills in at three different positions.
Irv Moss: 303-954-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com
