At the end of his news conference following his team’s win over Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech coach Buzz Williams raved about Georgia Tech center Ben Lammers. He had reason – Lammers tied a Georgia Tech record for an ACC game with eight blocks, tying Alvin Jones’ record. He also scored 12 points on 6-for-11 shooting, had six rebounds and two assists in 38 minutes of play.
Williams: “He leads the league in blocked shots and he averages 1.75 fouls per game (actually 2.6) in ACC play. That is a crazy stat. You lead the league in blocks, you’re second in the league in free-throw percentage, you’re third in rebounding and you average 1.2 (2.6) fouls and you average 36 minutes a game. I’ve known Ben since he was young. I know his high school coach really well. I know his family. … He shows zero emotion, but he has an incredibly blue-collar work ethic, and his skillset, you kind of want something to be flashy. It’s not flashy, but it’s very productive. There’s a lot of pros in our league. He will be a longtime pro because of all the things I just rattled off. He’s doing it in the best league in the country and he’s very effective.”
Williams is only the latest to rhapsodize about Lammers. Clemson coach Brad Brownell called him “an elite-level player in this league.” Duke interim coach Jeff Capel said that Lammers has improved as much as any player in the ACC because of how he has expanded his game from last season.
“You give the kid a lot of credit because he’s worked and the new coaching staff, Josh (Pastner) and his staff have put him in a position where he can be successful and help develop and utilize those skills to where he’s become a really good player in this league,” Capel said.
Louisville coach Rick Pitino called him “one of the most improved players, not only in the conference but the country. He has an outstanding mid-range shot, he’s a terrific shot blocker, has a good low-post game, gets off his feet, he’s athletic. He does it all that you’d want from a big man.”
The least impressed person in Cassell Coliseum Wednesday night?
Pastner.
“We need him to be better for us offensively,” Pastner said. “He wasn’t assertive enough. We need him to be more assertive. And he’s got to be even better defensively. He needs to engage a little more, but he did have eight blocks and you’ve got to give him credit on that, and he has continued to improve.”
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