Stanford's Jared Bynum has cryptic social media post after Jerod Haase didn't play him again
The Stanford basketball program is watching their season and possibly the Jerod Haase tenure unravel right in front of them.
On Saturday, the Cardinal (12-15) got blown out at home against Oregon State (12-16) who is the worst team in the Pac-12. The loss was their fourth in a row, the sixth of the month, and also gave Oregon State their first road victory. Following the game, there were questions from all over the basketball world as to how Stanford could justify keeping Haase at the helm.
Barring a Pac-12 Tournament run that would see them winning the whole thing, which would require them stringing together four wins in a row, this is looking like it'll be eight straight years without an NCAA Tournament appearance under Haase. To make matters worse, based on a social media post by Providence transfer Jared Bynum, there seems to be some tension in the locker room.
Stanford guard Jared Bynum
Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
Following the loss, Bynum who was named the Big East Sixth Man of the Year last season and transferred to Stanford this season, took to social media to voice his frustrations. After beginning the year in the starting lineup for the first 14 games, Bynum missed the next four due to an injury. With freshman Kanaan Carlyle having exploded over the past couple of weeks he had earned a starting role, sending Bynum to the bench.
While likely not the preferred role for Bynum, it was one that he was familiar with due to his time with Providence. However, after Stanford's loss to Cal on January 26 which saw him play 16 minutes, his minutes plummeted the next three games as he played just nine in the win over Arizona State, eight in the loss to Arizona, and four in the loss to UCLA. That loss at the hands of the Bruins on February 7 also marks the last time he has played, as he hasn't appeared in the last five games for Stanford. With speculations about why he hasn't been playing, Bynum provided fans with an update after the Oregon State loss.
Bynum made sure to let fans know he wasn't hurt, which implies this is a coaching decision to keep him out of the rotation. On the year, Bynum is averaging nearly seven points per game, two rebounds, and five assists. His shooting splits aren't the best at 35% from the field and 32% from three, but considering he is a career 39% shooter from the field it wasn't his shooting that Stanford brought him in for. They brought him to lead the offense, distribute the ball effectively for a team that has struggled with guard play, and create for himself at times. Benny Gealer, who primarily comes in off the bench leads the team in assists outside of Bynum with two a game.
The Cardinal have just three games remaining in the regular season, and however many they can muster in the Pac-12 Tournament. Whether Bynum is a part of the rotation is to be seen, but things only continue to get more controversial at what many assume is the final stretch of Haase's coaching tenure.
