Q&A with graduate center Barret Benson

SIU graduate transfer Barret Benson has been a huge part of the 2019-20 Salukis. Benson helped Northwestern to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2017. He graduated from Northwestern in only three years and transferred to SIU, where he has been a huge key to SIU's season. With the Salukis, Benson has become a team leader, and he has started all 27 games while averaging 10.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. Get to know Barret with this Q&A.

Background

I lived in the western suburbs of Chicago my while life. My mom is an airline pilot and captain at United Airlines. She has been there 30 years and has been a captain for a long time; I'm really proud of her for that. It's an amazing thing. My dad played in the NFL. Now he's a sales rep for an oncology company. My older brother, Brock, is my role model; I've followed in his footsteps my entire life. He played Division III basketball at Hope College and is now an engineer. He lives in Michigan with his wife and their dog—my nephew—Landry. My girlfriend Paige and I have been together for 7 years. I have a really great support system.

Graduating from Northwestern in three years is impressive. How important have academics been in your life?

My parents always made it a huge emphasis. Before I could go outside and play with my friends, my homework had to be done first. School always came first. I learned that if you're good at it and can get it done fast, you have more time to be outside. I tried to take advantage of that so I could spend more time outside with my friends.

You're a big team leader for this team. Is that something you've always had, or something you developed over time?

It's a mixture. Growing up, I was really shy with people I didn't know. But around family, I opened up and was energetic. I was a role player for my whole career at Northwestern. I didn't play very heavy minutes, so bringing energy was something I prided myself on. That was my way to make an impact, and that really helped me develop.

In your view, what is a winning culture?

It's something tough to quantify. You need the right ingredients, and you have great work ethic and leadership, top to bottom. The coaches set the standard, but they shouldn't have to enforce the little things like being on time. Having a player enforced team allows the coaches to do so much more and really focus on getting us better in terms of skill and game planning. Little things shouldn't be a problem and shouldn't affect winning. On the successful teams I've been a part of, that's been there. And I've also been a part of teams that haven't won many games, even going back into high school. So I've seen the difference between successful teams and unsuccessful teams. Seeing both sides of it has allowed me to become a better leader and to adjust to make sure we stay on the right path.

When you decided to grad transfer, what was that process like?

There was a lot of different interest, but it was difficult to gauge how serious some teams' interest was, and what their vision was for me. The biggest thing I was looking for was, 'Who is being real with what's being said?' This is my last shot. It's my last year. I needed to know that what I thought I was getting into was exactly what I got. Coach Mullins reached out right away. I was close with the family, and I knew that connection was genuine. That was the biggest thing. When I visited here, and I talked with AC (Aaron Cook) and Eric (McGill), and I saw how much basketball means to this community, it was a no-brainer. And it has lined up exactly with what was said during the recruiting process. I knew how much I was going to have to work to transition from 10 minutes a game to 30 minutes a game. The coaches have always been 100% honest with me and have always told me what I needed to do to improve. They have gotten on me and made sure I adjust, but I know they have my back at all times. It has been a great relationship, and the expectations have lined up with what we talked about.

What has the transition been like?

It's been challenging. Obviously, at Northwestern, my role was a lot different. I was ready for a bigger role, but it's a completely different challenge than anything I've had before. I have to be a leader, and I have to be consistent on a nightly basis. I need to be a rock for guys, even when my mind isn't right. It's a challenge when you are relied upon all the time, but it's a great challenge.

What have you seen about the fan support?

It's honestly amazing. Playing at Northwestern, we had some great crowds. But it's nothing compared to a night in the Banterra Center. The support is amazing, and it continues to grow. It makes a huge difference. It's not just the town; it's the entire region that comes together to support us. We love it.

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