Spark Plug Players

Bench Players and Spot Starters

(St. Louis, MO) – Every season the Missouri Valley Conference names a ‘Sixth Man of the Year’ award and an ‘All-Bench’ team. Players that contribute ‘bench points’ and productive minutes are huge assets for any college basketball coach.

During the long basketball season, injuries occur, starters have off nights and foul trouble force players into important roles. However, in the perfect situation those players that come off the bench play a key role in a contending team’s success.

Outstanding reserves are sometimes viewed as ‘starters’ by their coaches, they just don’t start. Some players just play better when coming off the bench. While coaches want to have a set rotation there are players that evolve or devolve and yesterday’s reserve becomes a part of today’s ‘starting five’.

Spark Plug Players

After starting six early season games for Loyola, Marquise Kennedy has found a home coming off the bench. His 20-point game against Missouri State was highlighted by an athletic dunk, but the combination of Ketih Clemons taking the starting role and Kennedy providing energy off the bench has sparked a bolt of success in Chicago.

Kennedy is averaging 9.3 points per game and is making nearly 51% of his shots. Coach Porter Moser utilizes his guard depth well. Jalon Pipkins are playing well enough for Clemons and Lucas Williamson to get plenty of rest.

Drake’s dynamic duo of bench players, Noah Thomas and Garrett Sturtz are substitutes that play ‘high intensity’ minutes for coach Darian DeVries. Thomas is a former starter who has accepted his move to ‘relief pitcher’ well and the sophomore Sturtz seems to understand the ‘do whatever it takes’ mantra to get on the floor.

Both average just under six points per game while playing around 20 minutes per contest. While Thomas is faster and shoots more threes, Sturtz has become one of the best 6’3 rebounders in the country. The Newton, Iowa native is leading the Bulldogs by gathering 6.3 rebounds per game. His willingness to scrap for boards is huge for DU.

Different Players With Different Roles

Valparaiso’s John Kiser is the epitomy of hard work, doing the little things and adjusting to what his team needs. The 6’5 senior is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship by hard work and smart play. When injuries occur, Kiser has filled the bill. He started 11 games last season and has started three this year.

He does just enough of everything to be a true spark plug. He’s fifth (among active players) on the team in scoring, third in rebounding and his .387 three-point percentage places him third. Ironically, the Noblesville, Indiana native is third in minutes played. Coach Matt Lottich trusts his senior spark plug.

Northern Iowa (14-2, 3-1) has a deep and veteran squad. Two primary bench contributors are senior Justin Dahl and freshman Noah Carter. Dahl plays valuable minutes on both ends of the floor and allows coach Ben Jacobson to rest starting center Austin Phyfe without a large drop off.

Carter can score. Coming off Ben Jacobson’s bench the 6’6 forward is averaging a point every 2.1 minutes of game time! He’s making .553 of his shots, including .393 from deep. Last year’s ‘Co-Sixth Man’ Spencer Haldeman is just returning from injury and came off the bench in UNI’s last game.

Jacobson says they really noticed the return of his senior guard and that his freshman forward is an offensive threat.

 

 

Current Starters That Were ‘Relievers’

Rising star and former Bradley sixth man, Ja’Shon Henry starts in place of the injured Elijah Childs and is making the most of his opportunity. Bradley is down to eight players and Henry has truly been a spark plug in every role. But starting seems to agree with him. His elevated play has helped keep the Braves (12-5, 3-1) in a first place hunt.

While the team is so short-handed, Coach Brian Wardle says his team has to be careful how they practice and must be diligent about managing game time minutes.

 

 

Jonah Jackson has started Drake’s last four games and six overall. His offensive capabilities made him so valuable that he needs to start. With the season-ending injury to Tremell Murphy, Jackson’s role has expanded and Drake coach Darian DeVries says Jackson and key reserve Noah Thomas are important spark plugs in the Bulldog lineup.

 

 

Players that Flash That Igniting Capability

Illinois State’s Dedric Boyd has struggled. Boyd sat out last season after a very successful freshman season at Eastern Kentucky. After averaging over 13 points for the Colonels, Boyd transferred to Normal. Six games into the season, the 6’4 guard was averaging over 13 points for the Redbirds but has not reached double digits since 11/25. Boyd has had four games where he failed to score.

Coach Dan Muller says Boyd seems to have lost some confidence and his playing time has been reduced because his production has dwindled. Shooting slumps are hard to overcome.

Muller says he believes Boyd can rebound and be a key contributor. Meanwhile, he’s encouraged by the play of freshmen guards D.J. Horne and Antonio Reeves. Both rookies have played all 16 games and at times are in the starting lineup.

 

 

Christian Williams and Bronson Kessinger are two veteran guys that, because of injuries have had limited personal success. The Indiana State seniors give what their bodies will allow and provide leadership and are truly spark plug players.

Head coach Greg Lansing says they are both game changers when they’re bodies will cooperate. Kessinger at 6’7 gives ISU a savvy vet in the post and Williams, at 6’5 is a taller and talented guard. During his limited minutes, he’s connected on six of 11 shots from deep and ten of 12 from the line. Lansing says those two are trusted and valuable teammates.

 

 

We could talk about ALL THREE Bradley bench players and Evansville’s moving Shamar Givance into the starting lineup and how Missouri State is still figuring out who starts and who comes off the bench. Due to his injuries, the Bears’ Gaige Prim is coming off the bench and thrives in that role.

Managing young, talented players and their unique personalities is a key ingredient for these coaches. How they manage their teams and utilize their spark plugs will be an important factor during the Missouri Valley Conference race.

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