What will we look like in 2018-2019?

[mlaconte459]

I still think KTM can develop into a Sean Carter by his Junior/Senior year. Have to give bigs more time than other positions. Remember Hines as a freshman? (Wasn’t pretty) Unique however I do see a drastic reduction in PT for the rest of his career. So will prob be between not playing much and being on a good A10 team, or transferring down/JUCO and then get some good PT his junior/senior years

[Roadtrip]

Interested in seeing why people don't think McLean can grow as a player. I see him now as being able to do things other guys can't, and see no reason why he can't get a lot better at the things he does not do well now.

[mlaconte459]

Not saying he won’t get better, just thinking even with getting better the other players being brought in will leap him. Uniques style very much fit a DK type team

[Roadtrip]

^I see Cobb, and Clergeot if he can play point being ahead of him on a depth chart. That still leaves him as the 5th guard ahead of Hayward, Wood, and Miller. Laurent, if he plays some at SF/wing will eat into the guard playing time, but still lots of minutes available, especially if McCall wants to press/run/4guard.
Things McLean did well on a per minute played basis.
Among Guards...
1st in rebounds, 1st in blocks, 2nd in steals
He needs to be a better ball handler, dribbles too high, improve on D, and learn to both drive and finish, and develop a 10-12 foot jumper. He can work on his 3 pointer for 19-20.

[Floyd]

Yeah, I see KTM staying and developing into a Ty Weeks type of kid. Big, strong, not afraid to bang, and aggressive on the glass. Can't really teach those things, you have it or you dont. The staff can develop his footwork, positioning, and his shot (somewhat) and I see him being a valuable piece going forward. I like him

That's why I wanted to see Brison back. He was a different type of big guy than we had with Holloway and Hines. He was more athletic, quick off his feet, long and mobile, and rebounded and went after shots with passion. I thought maybe CB would be more like that, but his injury hurt him. Brison would have been a factor in a game like the Mason game, he would have been a monster on the glass

[NilesGold]

^I see Cobb, and Clergeot if he can play point being ahead of him on a depth chart. That still leaves him as the 5th guard ahead of Hayward, Wood, and Miller. Laurent, if he plays some at SF/wing will eat into the guard playing time, but still lots of minutes available, especially if McCall wants to press/run/4guard.

Pipkins, Pierre, Clergeot, Cobb, Hayward and Wood are all likely going to get more time than McLean. And yes, Laurent and even Diallo might eat into his time as well. So no, there probably won't be a lot of minutes available to McLean.

[Roadtrip]

Niles, go back 2 posts to my edit. The kid is doing things well that others don't do. He is, after all, Unique!

[NilesGold]

KTM is much better than TB and he will have the ability to work with this staff and really improve as he has already shown a skill of going and getting the ball and that is very important. If we signed a 6’9 HS kid late do you really think we could get anyone who would be ready to help as much as KTM next year?
Rasheen had the scout of URI last year at VCU and Berry didn’t even make it onto his report...this year he was a starter and very valuable for them. The size you get in the A10, in most cases, takes time to develop and that is only if your staff can develop them. I believe that KTM will develop.

I could certainly be wrong, but I'm just not seeing it with KTM. He didn't have to spend a year away from organized basketball like Holloway & Hines, he didn't come out totally out of shape and need time to get in BBall shape like Holloway & Berry, and he didn't suffer a major season ending injury like Hines that derailed his freshman year. I'm sure KTM can get better, but I just can't see where he can make huge strides in his game. He doesn't have good hands, or good timing (for blocks), things that guys either seem to have, or don't. His feet are pretty slow and for a guy as big as he is, he really hasn't shown a great ability to rebound.

I don't know if they can get a kid late who'd be better than KTM, but I've been really unimpressed thus far and the fact that West was a better option than him just speaks volumes about where he's at.

[NilesGold]

^Things McLean did well on a per minute played basis.
Among Guards...
1st in rebounds, 1st in blocks, 2nd in steals
He needs to be a better ball handler, dribbles too high, improve on D, and learn to both drive and finish, and develop a 10-12 foot jumper. He can work on his 3 pointer for 19-20.

On a per 40 minute basis, his block numbers are inconsequential, and his steal numbers are only marginally better than any other guard. Yes, he rebounds well for a guard, but that's not enough to truly make him useful when he's sub-par in so many other areas, especially compared to what I'm expecting from all of the other scholarship guards & wings on the team next year.

[uz2b-len]

I like McLean's attitude. He's very attentive when McCall addresses the team. But his offensive skills are awful. He lacks even the basics of how to square up and shoot a layup. His jump shot form is atrocious. If he's our fifth guard well won't be any better than this year. Of course Laurent and Diallo will take minutes from him. We're not gonna have to play 4 guards with those guys.

[inthescoop]

With hard work anything is possible. We were saying that about CJ early in his career as well, that he was a poor scorer but by his senior year he became a legitimate A-10 scorer. Unique has to work on his shot nonstop over the offseason. I’m sure that sitting out a year, screwed up his repitition and muscle memory on his shot. Still have faith in Unique, because he is definitely an important defender and rebounder when he is on the court.

[Jackson96]

Everything is just so heavy with Unique...his shot, his ballhandling, his passing...he doesn’t really have a position (in some cases that can be a compliment for kids who can play multiple spots but not in this case). If he ever improved his shot, things could change, but man, it’s just so heavy.

I think he could help in short minutes as a run and jump athlete if McCall is really serious about unleashing the press — his flash plays can really help with momentum — but other than that, I think the other kids will move ahead of him.

With KTM, I’m not sure how much of an opinion you can have. Bigs typically take longer than guards/wings to develop, he didn’t play a ton, had a serious concussion, and when he was out there, out of necessity he played with a majority of guard heavy lineups where he was the only guy bigger than 6-5. Hard for me to form a real strong opinion either way.

[NilesGold]

I’m sure that sitting out a year, screwed up his repitition and muscle memory on his shot.

He practiced with the team last year. His shot looks exactly like it did in high school.

[inthescoop]

I’m sure that sitting out a year, screwed up his repitition and muscle memory on his shot.

He practiced with the team last year. His shot looks exactly like it did in high school.

Practicing and not playing competitively is a big difference. Furthermore, Then I’m sure that the coaching staff will try to fix his mechanics over the offseason. It can be fixed.

About KTM, I’m with Niles on that Bergantino comparison.

[NilesGold]

^ Not playing in games would have had zero negative impact on his shot.