Beverley would love to extend his stay
DENVER — Former Marshall High School standout Patrick Beverley would like nothing more than to remain a Bull beyond the last 16 regular-season games, but that’s out of his control.
“Thinking about staying in a place long term, stuff like that, that’s not really up to your control,’’ Beverley said Wednesday. ‘‘I’d like to think that I did all the right things when I was in Minnesota, and I was traded the next summer. So you can’t get caught up in what you can’t control.’’
If he could, he would’ve been a Bull long before this season.
He’d even settle for before a few weeks ago.
“I wish I was here from the beginning of the year,’’ Beverley said. “But those cards weren’t dealt, and these were. I’ve been around a ton of teams, a ton of players, and when you talk about three guys in [Nikola Vucevic], DeMar [DeRozan] and Zach [LaVine] that can put the ball in the hole . . . I mean, you see two a lot on a team, not three. I’m fortunate I’m here now, and we’re trying to make that playoff push.’’
On too many nights, however, it looks more like a nudge than a push.
That’s another reason why Beverley feels like he could’ve made a difference if he would’ve had more time with this group.
Coach Billy Donovan wasn’t about to dispute that.
“I have great respect for guys that have this, like, unwavering belief,’’ Donovan said. “He’s got that. There’s an edge to [Beverley], a competitiveness to him and a belief in how he feels he can impact the team, impact the group. I think he’s really good verbally; he’s got a lot of experience. Even when he’s out of the game, you see him talking to Ayo [Dosunmu] on who he’s guarding, what he needs to be ready for.’’
After the shootaround Wednesday, he also was showing Dosunmu how to get ready.
Considering where the Bulls find themselves in the standings, it’s a lesson more than Dosunmu can use.
“[Beverley] just internally loves to compete and loves the physicality and the competition,’’ Donovan said. “With where we’re at in the season, for him personally, he thrives in that, the adversity, the discomfort, the struggle because I think probably for most of his life he’s had to.
‘‘Considering where he’s gotten to in his career, it probably hasn’t always come easy when you look at a guy that had to go overseas for a few years, then get back, establish himself. It’s been an uphill struggle, so I think he sees the benefit of adversity.’’
Done at the ’Cuse
Donovan had his share of games against Syracuse’s Jim Boeheim back in his college days, and it rarely ended well. Actually, it never ended well for Donovan.
“Never beat Syracuse one time in college,’’ Donovan said.
But the two did become good friends, not only coaching together but also being part of the Team USA selection process.
With the news that Boeheim would not be back to coach the Orange after 47 years, Donovan reflected on the relationship.
“I have tremendous respect for him, obviously,’’ Donovan said. “What he built Syracuse into was really amazing.’’