(Tribune News Service) — Every college basketball coach wants to develop a reliable bench.

It's easier said than done.

Within most programs, a significant talent disparity exists between starters and backups. Many teams only go seven or eight players deep and therefore must rely heavily on the starters.

Navy men's basketball is blessed with quality depth this season and coach Ed DeChellis has exploited that advantage to great effect so far. Consistent contributions from a talented group of reserves is a major reason why the Midshipmen own an 11-4 overall record, including a 4-0 start in Patriot League play.

"This is the deepest team we've ever had, and I thought that going into the season," said DeChellis, in his 11th season in Annapolis. "We're working to get 10 or 11 guys ready for each game now, whereas in past seasons it might have been eight or nine.

"It's a real luxury to have that many good players that can contribute."

Navy goes into Thursday night's home game against Colgate knowing it can bring five players off the bench who can be nearly as effective as the five starters. The Midshipmen have been able to wear down opponents with their depth.

Navy's reserves outscored their Lafayette counterparts 21-7 Monday night, and DeChellis cited that differential as crucial to a big road win. It was a similar story the game before as the host Midshipmen got 41 bench points in a 73-55 rout of Bucknell.

"I think the reason we've been successful is because of that second wave," DeChellis said. "We have a very strong nucleus of bench players who bring a lot of value. I've got total confidence in all those guys."

Navy's bench has outscored its counterparts in 12 of 15 games this season, and the reserves are averaging almost 20 points per game — seven more than the opposition.

Those numbers have swelled during Patriot League play with Navy outpacing its four opponents to date 115-49 in bench points.

"We come into the game with the mentality of outperforming the other team's bench and building the lead," said Jaylen Walker, one of Navy's top backups.

Navy's depth has masked the absence of numerous key players over the course of the season. Junior forward Patrick Dorsey sat out 12 games before making his season debut Friday. Sophomore point guard Austin Inge missed four games and played sparingly in several others due to a nagging toe injury. Starting point guard Greg Summers has been sidelined for three straight contests with a hamstring issue.

Inge has started in place of Summers the last three games and junior P.J. Roach has provided valuable minutes as a backup point guard during that stretch. When Summers returns, either Inge or someone else will go back to the bench.

Meanwhile, DeChellis likes the fact the Midshipmen have a ready-made replacement at every position. Junior Daniel Deaver backs up senior Richard Njoku at center, while Walker spells classmate Tyler Nelson at forward.

Dorsey and fellow junior Christian Silva flow seamlessly into the lineup at the wing guard positions whenever leading scorer John Carter Jr. and Sean Yoder come out. Inge and Roach provided point guard depth behind Summers when he's healthy.

Njoku and Deaver are averaging 18.5 and 17.1 minutes, respectively, and their scoring and rebounding numbers are similar. Walker and Nelson are both playing 22 minutes per game and are also remarkably even in terms of overall production.

Dorsey has displayed a propensity to fill up the box score, while Silva has been every bit as reliable a contributor as Yoder.

"It's really nice to have multiple players at each position and a lot of these guys are interchangeable," DeChellis said. "We have so many players that are so close in terms of talent that it gives us plenty of options. You start to look at combinations and figure out who plays well together. It's a puzzle you're trying to put together."

Having quality depth also gives Navy the ability to overcome foul trouble or withstand an off game from a starter. If Njoku gets into early foul trouble, DeChellis can quickly turn to Deaver. If Yoder is not focused defensively to begin the game, he'll get pulled in a hurry and replaced by Dorsey or Silva.

"You can build accountability because if someone isn't playing well, you can put someone else in. If you don't like an individual matchup, you can tweak the lineup to create something different," DeChellis said. "At certain times of games, you need certain things. We have the flexibility to rotate players until we find a unit that works."

Having a team that goes 11 deep also impacts the intensity and effort level. DeChellis demands high energy out of every player, and the price for not bringing it at all times is a trip to the bench.

Navy practices this season have been intense because the backups give the starters all they can handle. DeChellis said an observer unfamiliar with the Midshipmen might not be able to figure out which unit is which.

"There's a lot of competitive spirit in practice. Our second group takes a lot of pride in pushing the first string. We want to make those guys better," Walker said.

"Some days the starters beat down on the reserves, and some days it's the exact opposite," Silva added.

Walker noted that all five members of the current "second wave" are juniors or seniors.

"We know what the coaching staff expects and how to play Navy basketball," he said. "We have great chemistry within that second unit. We've played together a lot in practice, so we know how each other plays. Everything just clicks."

Ultimately, what has given Navy a distinct advantage throughout this season is that DeChellis can go to the bench without any worries about a performance drop-off.

"Coach says going into every game that the bench has to be incredible because that's what gives us an edge. There's no gaps or weak spots in our family," Silva said.

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