As the SEC season approaches, Brian Beshara is clearly more comfortable at small forward
By Fred J. Demarest
Gameday Editor
In some cases smaller is definitely better. In Brian Beshara’s case anyway.
As the Southeastern Conference season finally begins, Beshara is much more comfortable than he was at this time a year ago primarily due to the fact that he is playing his natural position, small forward.
A year ago, the Dallas native opened the season at power forward, as Stromile Swift didn’t join the Tigers’ roster until early January. While Beshara scored in the early non-conference games last season, once the conference season began, he had difficulty with foul trouble, difficulty with bigger post players and difficulty playing out of position.
The addition of Swift moved Beshara to his natural small forward position and the Tigers have benefited greatly from the move. Beshara is clearly more comfortable facing the basket offensively than posting up. He can shoot three-pointers, he can put the ball on the floor and beat defenders off the dribble and he has become the perfect compliment to one of the best frontcourts in the nation.
“Brian’s role has changed from this time last year because he is in a different position and he has adjusted very well to that,” says head coach John Brady. “Offensively speaking, he has all the tools necessary to play that position and create some mismatches.”
Defensively, however, Beshara will have his work cut out for him. Constantly working to improve his defensive skills, his progress will be tested by a conference rich in high profile small forwards.
“The biggest thing that Brian will face is that in the SEC some of the best players in the league play the three spot,” says Brady. “He’s going to have a challenge every single night and while, offensively he can hold his own, his biggest challenge will come on the defensive end.”
Through the first 12 games of the season Beshara has been lighting it up from beyond the arc. He is hitting nearly 50 percent from three-point range and is third on the team in scoring at over 13 points per game.
“I’ve worked really hard on my three-point shooting,” says Beshara. “Last year I got most of my threes from the top of the key and I’ve been more comfortable putting the ball up from different spots on the court and I’ve had some success so far.”
SEC opponents will be able to scout out his ability to hit from outside and will tighten things up defensively on him on the perimeter. His ability to put the ball on the floor and drive to the basket and draw fouls will be essential in taking pressure off of Swift and Jabari Smith offensively.
“Our goal every game is to start by working the ball into Jabari and Stromile,” says Beshara. “We have to have people to compliment the two of them because they can’t do it every single night and they’re going to see a lot of double teams. It’s up to guys like me, Lamont (Roland), Torris (Bright) and Jermaine (Williams) to take some pressure off of them.”
Now more than ever Beshara needs to play the type of disciplined basketball he has demonstrated in the Tigers’ unbelievable 12-0 start. With key reserve Jermaine Williams likely out with a knee injury for the first two weeks of the conference season, it is imperative that Beshara stay out of foul trouble.
As conference play begins, the Tigers’ depth will be tested early.
Keep in mind that they used only seven players to beat then No. 11 Oklahoma State. They will need what Brady terms “predictable points.”
With all the defensive attention being given to Swift and Smith, Beshara can fill that role very nicely in his natural position.