Ensminger he’s doing great overall, becoming a stat sheet stuffer and glue guy who does a bit of everything.
But…1) be careful to draw any conclusions from a game vs. Pacific who is a effectively a D2 caliber team; 2) reminder that he had a couple of turnovers over the later part of the USF game including the crucial backcourt turnover with less than a min left.
As I’ve said all along, I don’t think Ensminger is a legit, full time D1 pt guard. A playmaker? Yes. An occasional pt guard or leading the fast break after a defensive turnover? Sure. But not a full time PG. And note, Hammond was the ball handler more often when he was on the floor. If we try to use him Ensminger as a Pt Guard, then good and smart opposing coaches will game plan accordingly. I’d put a more athletic wing type on him, someone like Tyree Bryan with superior quickness and enough size/strength who can pressure him full court. That will likely neutralize him, hurt/delay the initiation of offense and maybe result in some turnovers. I think what we saw vs. Pacific is best where Ensminger is effectively sharing the duties and responsibilities with someone else (Hammond in this case).
Pt guard was clearly a area of weakness early season. The coaches are surely well aware of Ensminger’s background playing pt guard and I have to believe they’ve tried using him in that way in practice over the past 2 seasons. If they thought it would be a good fit for him and the team we would have seen him in that role already.
Ensminger’s upswing in play has coincided with him playing more at the 3 (and 2/1 last night). Using him as a play making wing and occasional lead ball handler would be my preference.
Just my opinion and I’m probably in the minority around here.
Maybe Ensminger will prove me wrong, if he does, great, that much better for the team.