Photo Courtesy: @A10MBB on X
BY: CARSON HAYEK, SPORTS EDITOR
Following the 76-59 loss to VCU, it was very clear the Bonnies were undermanned.
Entering the Atlantic 10 Championships, the Bonnies had eight healthy scholarship players. Following a win over Duquesne, that number fell to seven with Duane Thompson freshly hurt. Junior guard Dasonte Bowen, freshman center Xander Wedlow and junior guard Jaxon Edwards also highlighted the team’s long injury list.
In a tournament that sees teams play day after day, fresh players and a strong rotation are key. With only two scholarship players left to sub in, the Bonnies bench was outscored 30-5 by VCU.
VCU head coach Ryan Odom was quick to point out the Bonnies’ short bench following his team’s victory.
“[Duane] Thompson didn’t play so it shortened their bench even more,” said Odom. “They did a nice job of trying to keep them as fresh as they could with subbing in, but it’s hard in tournament play when multiple days start stacking up on you.”
Although the Bonnies lacked options off the bench, Bonaventure head coach Mark Schmidt didn’t see the outcome changing even if the team was fully healthy.
“Injuries are a part of the game and you can’t make excuses,” said Schmidt. “It’s next guy up and we had eight healthy bodies. All the credit goes to VCU and I’m not sure if we had a whole team we would’ve won today.”
Schmidt also said that injuries are an easy excuse.
“18-23 year old kids never get tired,” Schmidt said. “You have four timeouts every half. [To say it was a nightmare matchup because of the bench] is overblowing. If I am a player, I want to play all forty minutes. Watch Melvin [Council Jr.]. He had as much energy at the end of the game as he did at the beginning of the game.”
Even though Schmidt viewed injuries as an excuse, he did see complications when it came to having no backup center.
“[Injuries only] hurt us because we had no backup five-man,” Schmidt said. “We had Duane who isn’t a five [play as a center] yesterday, but when we lost Xander that really hurt us.”
Although the Bonnies trotted out a starting five that recorded an 11-8 record when starting, injuries and lack of depth options certainly led to Bonaventure being shorthanded when they needed it most.
