Oklahoma Basketball: The Emergence of Jamal Bienemy

The 14-5 Oklahoma basketball Sooners hosted the 9-9 Vanderbilt Commodores Saturday afternoon as part of the Big 12 vs. SEC Challenge, running away to a 86-55 victory.

They made life extremely difficult for the visitors, forcing 22 turnovers thanks to high intensity, pressure defense. The home team took a 41-23 lead into the break.

They continued to pour it on by shooting 69 percent in the second half, expanding their lead to 69-43 by the under 8:00 timeout. After giving up 31 bench points and surrendering a 52-30 split in points in the paint, Vanderbilt didn’t have anything left in the tank.

Much of the offensive efficiency and defensive discomfort caused by the Sooners was due to the recent emergence of freshman guard, Jamal Bienemy. Bienemy has averaged 20.4 MPG during the 18-19 season, but has seen that increase to 33.3 over the past week. Recruited as a long, versatile combo guard from Katy, Texas, we are beginning to see the development hoped for. He was ranked #146 nationally in the 2018 class according to 247Sports.com, you can view his profile here.

One of the things to love most about his game is his basketball IQ/feel for the game. He is excellent at finding and settling into space, creating open looks and assist opportunities for his teammates.

He also does a great job of setting his feet early before the ball arrives. This allows him to step into his shot and get a quick release over the defender.

Bienemy also stands out defensively. His length and active hands make him difficult to handle the ball around.

Today he had 4 steals, one shy of his season high 5 which he registered against UTSA. He does a great job of anticipating the passing lanes, and times his jumps/reaches very well. His frame should allow him to add muscle as he continues to fill out, which would allow him to effectively defend the 1-3 positions.

Lastly, his vision is exceptional. Bienemy has shown the ability to see the entire floor and find the open man consistently. Basketball as a whole, especially at the NBA level, is becoming pick-and-roll (PnR) heavy. Guards who want to play at the next level must be able handle and make smart decisions as the PnR handler.

The result of a good decision is often an assist in the box score. According to ESPN+ NCAAM Stats, Bienemy is ranked third in the Big 12 in AST Ratio. A player’s AST Ratio is defined as “the percentage of a player’s possessions that ends in an assist. Assist Ratio = (Assists x 100) divided by [(FGA + (FTA x 0.44) + Assists + Turnovers]”.

Jamal Bienemy is developing into the player scouts and recruiters across the country believed he could be. He’s affecting the game in multiple ways even when he doesn’t light up the scoreboard with points. In the win vs. Vanderbilt he logged 5 REB, 7 AST, and 4 STL; without scoring a single point in 29 minutes his raw +/- was +20.

With his IQ/feel already at this level, combined with his athleticism and ability to defend multiple positions, don’t be surprised if his minutes and usage continue at this higher clip. Jamal Bienemy has the potential to be a real star for the Sooners.

All video made from InStat Sport Basketball Software.