By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Pitino was asked about Ben Bentil’s performance (season-high nine points in 16:15) in Panathinaikos’ home loss to Barcelona before getting into details about the overall condition of the “Greens'” frontline. “I like Ben as a basketball player,” the Hall of Fame coach answered. “He’s probably the only guy on our team that is physical and shows physicality. He doesn’t have a great low post game but he’s physical. He’ll bang. I like that he shows physicality. A good basketball player. I like him.”
“Obviously, DeShaun Thomas is our offensive player that is more our frontcourt go-to-guy. But I like Ben. He’s one of the guys that stick out. I think P.G. [George Papagiannis], Ben. Ian [Vougioukas] is now getting into shape,” Pitino added and then began talking about the work on physical shape.
“I try never to knock anybody,” Pitino said. I don’t believe in knocking a player of mine, ever. I may do it behind closed doors. One major thing is different in the States, compared to us. In the States, you take the whole summer to get in the greatest shape of your life. We take the season to get into shape. And that’s probably one of our downfalls.”
“One of the major changes I would make If I was here is that summers aren’t for Mykonos, Santorini and Crete. The summers are to get below 12 percent body fat. Get in the greatest shape in your life. That would be a major difference. We are spending a lot of time right now getting people into shape. This is the month of February. That would be a major change for me if I was to start over.”