Mac McClung

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2021 9:13:51 GMT -5 ColumbiaHeightsHoya said:

Playing for a top 25 team gets you on TV a lot. That is about the only change I see. Maybe Beard is better at hiding Mac's defensive deficiencies as he is a good D coach. I have a feeling we will be having this discussion until well into next season until the freshman class starts to excel.

Definitely does a good job hiding him n D and letting him play point without actually having pg duties other than initiating the offense. It would really be tough to do that here on D because we don’t have multiple really good perimeter defenders like Tech does.

What WVU did to Mac in the last 5 minutes, face guarding him and doubling to force him to give it up is what he would face all year here. That’s the wrinkle Huggins went to that allowed them to steal it at the end.

[paranoia2]

McDung will make some G league team very happy when they select him in the draft. If some of you guys tip an equipment worker maybe you can get some game used McDung gear that you can cherish.

[rhw485]

Jan 26, 2021 9:27:25 GMT -5 guru said:

Jan 26, 2021 7:21:31 GMT -5 rhw485 said:

While the game looks very similar, Mac's efficiency has taken a pretty sizeable leap at Texas Tech.

Sophomore year: 104.5 O Rating on 29.6% Usage
Junior year: 115.7 O Rating on 26.3% Usage

A lot of the numbers and percentages really do look similar, although Mac has upped his FT rate and is a good FT shooter so that's helping.  And his assist rate is actually down a little bit (say it aint so PG Mac), although in same ballpark.  But the difference is in the TYPE of shots he's taking (per Bart Torvik):

Sophomore year:
Close 2: 25%
Far 2: 41%
3 point: 35%

Junior year:
Close 2: 24%
Far 2: 34%
3 point: 42%

He's basically traded long 2's for 3s.  This is modern coaching 101 imo.

Now does this mean he's an NBA player? No, probably not.  But he'll probably get a legitimate G league chance or a huge marketing opportunity overseas.  No ill will here, good for him

I’m honestly not that concerned about whether he’s an NBA player. As a college player he was very valuable, both in talent and in buzz for program. He was an enormous loss for the program.

100% agreed no argument there.  Blair has actually not been a terrible replacement of Mac production.... but this version of Mac, that is eliminating low quality shots, is clearly better.  Beard said in a preseason article his discussions w Mac were around efficiency and trusting your teammates so you dont have to take bad shots.  Mac is taking to the coaching and it's coming through in his profile

[smokeyjack]

Jan 26, 2021 9:49:15 GMT -5 paranoia2 said:

McDung will make some G league team very happy when they select him in the draft. If some of you guys tip an equipment worker maybe you can get some game used McDung gear that you can cherish.

Wow, someone’s a little salty that kid moved on. I’m first one to question a kid’s abilities or decisions on court, but altering his name seems petty beyond description.

[SDHoya]

McClung looks exactly like the player Georgetown had the last two years, except with more of a supporting cast. He still forces it a bit too much, rarely looks for his teammates, takes some bad shots, and then redeems himself with something ESPN top 10 worthy. Anyone remember the end of the Providence game? Also not even Beard, considered a defensive virtuoso, can get McClung to play D (looks like they mostly try to hide McClung in their defensive sets). Beard handed the reins to McClung, and while TTU is very good, they are just 4-4 in the B12, so its not as if McClung has made them world beaters.

Either McClung or Akinjo would clearly be the best guards by a mile on this year's team. But I'm not sure any coach could have gotten those two to play nice. Ewing tried to fit two alpha-dogs onto one roster, and that failed. Hopefully the next batch of recruits are more likely to hunt in a pack.

[mdtd]

I don't understand how anyone can say Mac doesn't look significantly better. LeBlanc and Akinjo don't, as Akinjo is the same dude in a worse conference (I watched him play once, but since the Pac12 network exists nowhere, it's hard to watch him more, but his numbers say he's the same, I could be wrong), and LeBlanc gets no run.

But Mac is averaging more points on more efficient shooting. He runs the offense there, and while his assist numbers aren't better, he is a capable lead guard who runs the offense and can score. Defensively he actually looks better and not like the worst defender on the floor which is a massive upgrade. He just looks so much better.

With us, he never had a stretch where he scored 20+ in three straight games. He just did that against three Top 15 teams. With us, he never shot above 40% from the field. He's shooting 44.2% now. He's shooting the highest percentage from three right now that he ever has also. He's been so much better. I don't understand how this is disputable. The eye test and the numbers both show he's been so much better.

If Akinjo and LeBlanc also looked better, this would be a really bad look for us. But, they don't. Akinjo is at Arizona and looks like the same dude. He was just off shooting wise his sophomore season, so that has gone back to normal, and other than that, it's very similar. His assist to TO ratio is better, but part of that probably is his team having 9 of their 15 games against just plain bad teams. Once the season ends, we can make a better judgment on Akinjo. That and if the Pac-12 made their games watchable, I'd be able to make a better assessment. But nothing screams to me that he was being held back and is being let loose at Arizona.

[bigelephant]

He is ancient history for us. Why bother?

[drquigley]

Let's be honest here. Who cares whether Mac would have excelled if he stayed. The point is he would have put fannies in the stands (pre pandemic) and would have given the program a huge visibility boost. I've taken a lot of non Hoya fans to games over the years and the last two years the big question was, "is McClung playing?" And while we're being honest, his being a white kid on the traditionally black Hoya teams didn't hurt the hype.

[Deleted]

hoyatalk2.proboards.com/thread/30839/mac-mcclung

[hoyaduck]

Jan 26, 2021 11:49:14 GMT -5 mdtd said:

I don't understand how anyone can say Mac doesn't look significantly better. LeBlanc and Akinjo don't, as Akinjo is the same dude in a worse conference (I watched him play once, but since the Pac12 network exists nowhere, it's hard to watch him more, but his numbers say he's the same, I could be wrong), and LeBlanc gets no run.

Thanks, Larry Scott!

[Deleted]

Jan 26, 2021 11:49:14 GMT -5 mdtd said:

I don't understand how anyone can say Mac doesn't look significantly better. LeBlanc and Akinjo don't, as Akinjo is the same dude in a worse conference (I watched him play once, but since the Pac12 network exists nowhere, it's hard to watch him more, but his numbers say he's the same, I could be wrong), and LeBlanc gets no run.

But Mac is averaging more points on more efficient shooting. He runs the offense there, and while his assist numbers aren't better, he is a capable lead guard who runs the offense and can score. Defensively he actually looks better and not like the worst defender on the floor which is a massive upgrade. He just looks so much better.

With us, he never had a stretch where he scored 20+ in three straight games. He just did that against three Top 15 teams. With us, he never shot above 40% from the field. He's shooting 44.2% now. He's shooting the highest percentage from three right now that he ever has also. He's been so much better. I don't understand how this is disputable. The eye test and the numbers both show he's been so much better.

If Akinjo and LeBlanc also looked better, this would be a really bad look for us. But, they don't. Akinjo is at Arizona and looks like the same dude. He was just off shooting wise his sophomore season, so that has gone back to normal, and other than that, it's very similar. His assist to TO ratio is better, but part of that probably is his team having 9 of their 15 games against just plain bad teams. Once the season ends, we can make a better judgment on Akinjo. That and if the Pac-12 made their games watchable, I'd be able to make a better assessment. But nothing screams to me that he was being held back and is being let loose at Arizona.

You definitely ain't watching Akinjo and you made that very clear.  If you were watching him, you would know that he leads his team in points, assist and steals. 

If you've been paying attention you would know that he is top five in assist in the PAC-12 and I think he's up there in scoring. 

If you watched him, you would know that the coach considers him their best player just like I said that he would be before he even played one minute at Arizona. 

Now you're right, you're not watching him.  If you were, you would realize that he is miles ahead of Mac as far as who is so called better for their team between he and Mac.

[mdtd]

Jan 26, 2021 12:19:01 GMT -5 hoyafansinceewingera said:

Jan 26, 2021 11:49:14 GMT -5 mdtd said:

I don't understand how anyone can say Mac doesn't look significantly better. LeBlanc and Akinjo don't, as Akinjo is the same dude in a worse conference (I watched him play once, but since the Pac12 network exists nowhere, it's hard to watch him more, but his numbers say he's the same, I could be wrong), and LeBlanc gets no run.

But Mac is averaging more points on more efficient shooting. He runs the offense there, and while his assist numbers aren't better, he is a capable lead guard who runs the offense and can score. Defensively he actually looks better and not like the worst defender on the floor which is a massive upgrade. He just looks so much better.

With us, he never had a stretch where he scored 20+ in three straight games. He just did that against three Top 15 teams. With us, he never shot above 40% from the field. He's shooting 44.2% now. He's shooting the highest percentage from three right now that he ever has also. He's been so much better. I don't understand how this is disputable. The eye test and the numbers both show he's been so much better.

If Akinjo and LeBlanc also looked better, this would be a really bad look for us. But, they don't. Akinjo is at Arizona and looks like the same dude. He was just off shooting wise his sophomore season, so that has gone back to normal, and other than that, it's very similar. His assist to TO ratio is better, but part of that probably is his team having 9 of their 15 games against just plain bad teams. Once the season ends, we can make a better judgment on Akinjo. That and if the Pac-12 made their games watchable, I'd be able to make a better assessment. But nothing screams to me that he was being held back and is being let loose at Arizona.

You definitely ain't watching Akinjo and you made that very clear.  If you were watching him, you would know that he leads his team in points, assist and steals. 

If you've been paying attention you would know that he is top five in assist in the PAC-12 and I think he's up there in scoring. 

If you watched him, you would know that the coach considers him their best player just like I said that he would be before he even played one minute at Arizona. 

Now you're right, you're not watching him.  If you were, you would realize that he is miles ahead of Mac as far as who is so called better for their team between he and Mac.

Yeah, as I said I haven't been watching. He jumped up an assist per game and he's shooting better. That's all from the numbers. But like I can't tell how he's playing within the system, is he dominating games and controlling them, or does he get forced out of control, how do the better teams guard him, etc. 

And anything Miller says is coach speak. The Arizona roster is solid, but I can't point to anyone who I think is amazing or who actually is the best player on that team (best player doesn't always score the most points per game), again because I haven't watched him play consistently. 

But Mac scoring 20+ against WVU, Baylor, and Texas, three top 11 teams is much more impressive than anything James has done this season. Mainly because, again, he hasn't played against great competition. Miller's noncon schedule was full of cupcakes (probably why they gave themselves a post season ban, since they would've been penalized massively because of this joke of a schedule and would have to really overperform in conference to make the Big Dance). 

As Hoyas, I thought James was the better player. Right now, I'm taking Mac. I can read a box score (Akinjo's numbers are pretty similar to what they were here), but that doesn't say everything about a game. Mac looks so much better at TTU. I can't say the same for Akinjo. I don't see any significant improvement there, where I see tons for Mac. 

[hoya9797]

Jan 26, 2021 12:19:01 GMT -5 hoyafansinceewingera said:

Jan 26, 2021 11:49:14 GMT -5 mdtd said:

I don't understand how anyone can say Mac doesn't look significantly better. LeBlanc and Akinjo don't, as Akinjo is the same dude in a worse conference (I watched him play once, but since the Pac12 network exists nowhere, it's hard to watch him more, but his numbers say he's the same, I could be wrong), and LeBlanc gets no run.

But Mac is averaging more points on more efficient shooting. He runs the offense there, and while his assist numbers aren't better, he is a capable lead guard who runs the offense and can score. Defensively he actually looks better and not like the worst defender on the floor which is a massive upgrade. He just looks so much better.

With us, he never had a stretch where he scored 20+ in three straight games. He just did that against three Top 15 teams. With us, he never shot above 40% from the field. He's shooting 44.2% now. He's shooting the highest percentage from three right now that he ever has also. He's been so much better. I don't understand how this is disputable. The eye test and the numbers both show he's been so much better.

If Akinjo and LeBlanc also looked better, this would be a really bad look for us. But, they don't. Akinjo is at Arizona and looks like the same dude. He was just off shooting wise his sophomore season, so that has gone back to normal, and other than that, it's very similar. His assist to TO ratio is better, but part of that probably is his team having 9 of their 15 games against just plain bad teams. Once the season ends, we can make a better judgment on Akinjo. That and if the Pac-12 made their games watchable, I'd be able to make a better assessment. But nothing screams to me that he was being held back and is being let loose at Arizona.

You definitely ain't watching Akinjo and you made that very clear.  If you were watching him, you would know that he leads his team in points, assist and steals. 

If you've been paying attention you would know that he is top five in assist in the PAC-12 and I think he's up there in scoring. 

If you watched him, you would know that the coach considers him their best player just like I said that he would be before he even played one minute at Arizona. 

Now you're right, you're not watching him.  If you were, you would realize that he is miles ahead of Mac as far as who is so called better for their team between he and Mac.

Looks like Mac has better efficiency numbers with a higher usage, better, eFG%, turns it over less, and gets to the line more (where he shoots it better). He does not have as good an assist rate.

[the_way]

Jan 26, 2021 11:56:39 GMT -5 @nychoya94 said:

hoyatalk2.proboards.com/thread/30839/mac-mcclung

Best post in here.

[hoyainla]

Jan 26, 2021 7:21:31 GMT -5 rhw485 said:

While the game looks very similar, Mac's efficiency has taken a pretty sizeable leap at Texas Tech.

Sophomore year: 104.5 O Rating on 29.6% Usage
Junior year: 115.7 O Rating on 26.3% Usage

A lot of the numbers and percentages really do look similar, although Mac has upped his FT rate and is a good FT shooter so that's helping.  And his assist rate is actually down a little bit (say it aint so PG Mac), although in same ballpark.  But the difference is in the TYPE of shots he's taking (per Bart Torvik):

Sophomore year:
Close 2: 25%
Far 2: 41%
3 point: 35%

Junior year:
Close 2: 24%
Far 2: 34%
3 point: 42%

He's basically traded long 2's for 3s.  This is modern coaching 101 imo.

Now does this mean he's an NBA player? No, probably not.  But he'll probably get a legitimate G league chance or a huge marketing opportunity overseas.  No ill will here, good for him

This is not how to compare ratings. It's an awful comparison when doing it for a new team or a new year and he has both. He should be compared to his teammates and overall team rating. TTU O/D rating is 109.3/89.3. By contrast last year we were 104.3/103.2. Mac is a 119/94.2 so he is better than the team on offense and worse on defense. His D rating is actually the worse on the team of the rotation guys. His overall rating is behind all the upper class rotation players except Burton. His jump shot has improved while his other offensive stats are down slightly. He certainly did not go to TTU to play PG. I think pretending like he has made some huge leap is just because he is on a better team. He did make the correct move for him though.

[professorhoya]

Jan 26, 2021 11:44:03 GMT -5 SDHoya said:

McClung looks exactly like the player Georgetown had the last two years, except with more of a supporting cast. He still forces it a bit too much, rarely looks for his teammates, takes some bad shots, and then redeems himself with something ESPN top 10 worthy. Anyone remember the end of the Providence game? Also not even Beard, considered a defensive virtuoso, can get McClung to play D (looks like they mostly try to hide McClung in their defensive sets). Beard handed the reins to McClung, and while TTU is very good, they are just 4-4 in the B12, so its not as if McClung has made them world beaters.

Either McClung or Akinjo would clearly be the best guards by a mile on this year's team. But I'm not sure any coach could have gotten those two to play nice. Ewing tried to fit two alpha-dogs onto one roster, and that failed. Hopefully the next batch of recruits are more likely to hunt in a pack.

No Akinjo plus Mac's 3pt shooting has gotten alot more consistent and better with another year of practicing which makes him harder to guard.

[professorhoya]

Jan 26, 2021 12:19:01 GMT -5 hoyafansinceewingera said:

Jan 26, 2021 11:49:14 GMT -5 mdtd said:

I don't understand how anyone can say Mac doesn't look significantly better. LeBlanc and Akinjo don't, as Akinjo is the same dude in a worse conference (I watched him play once, but since the Pac12 network exists nowhere, it's hard to watch him more, but his numbers say he's the same, I could be wrong), and LeBlanc gets no run.

But Mac is averaging more points on more efficient shooting. He runs the offense there, and while his assist numbers aren't better, he is a capable lead guard who runs the offense and can score. Defensively he actually looks better and not like the worst defender on the floor which is a massive upgrade. He just looks so much better.

With us, he never had a stretch where he scored 20+ in three straight games. He just did that against three Top 15 teams. With us, he never shot above 40% from the field. He's shooting 44.2% now. He's shooting the highest percentage from three right now that he ever has also. He's been so much better. I don't understand how this is disputable. The eye test and the numbers both show he's been so much better.

If Akinjo and LeBlanc also looked better, this would be a really bad look for us. But, they don't. Akinjo is at Arizona and looks like the same dude. He was just off shooting wise his sophomore season, so that has gone back to normal, and other than that, it's very similar. His assist to TO ratio is better, but part of that probably is his team having 9 of their 15 games against just plain bad teams. Once the season ends, we can make a better judgment on Akinjo. That and if the Pac-12 made their games watchable, I'd be able to make a better assessment. But nothing screams to me that he was being held back and is being let loose at Arizona.

You definitely ain't watching Akinjo and you made that very clear.  If you were watching him, you would know that he leads his team in points, assist and steals. 

If you've been paying attention you would know that he is top five in assist in the PAC-12 and I think he's up there in scoring. 

If you watched him, you would know that the coach considers him their best player just like I said that he would be before he even played one minute at Arizona. 

Now you're right, you're not watching him.  If you were, you would realize that he is miles ahead of Mac as far as who is so called better for their team between he and Mac.

It's unfortunate that Akinjo and Arizona are banned from March Madness this year. Would've like to see how he would have done.

[professorhoya]

Jan 26, 2021 12:26:58 GMT -5 mdtd said:

Jan 26, 2021 12:19:01 GMT -5 hoyafansinceewingera said:

You definitely ain't watching Akinjo and you made that very clear.  If you were watching him, you would know that he leads his team in points, assist and steals. 

If you've been paying attention you would know that he is top five in assist in the PAC-12 and I think he's up there in scoring. 

If you watched him, you would know that the coach considers him their best player just like I said that he would be before he even played one minute at Arizona. 

Now you're right, you're not watching him.  If you were, you would realize that he is miles ahead of Mac as far as who is so called better for their team between he and Mac.

Yeah, as I said I haven't been watching. He jumped up an assist per game and he's shooting better. That's all from the numbers. But like I can't tell how he's playing within the system, is he dominating games and controlling them, or does he get forced out of control, how do the better teams guard him, etc. 

And anything Miller says is coach speak. The Arizona roster is solid, but I can't point to anyone who I think is amazing or who actually is the best player on that team (best player doesn't always score the most points per game), again because I haven't watched him play consistently. 

But Mac scoring 20+ against WVU, Baylor, and Texas, three top 11 teams is much more impressive than anything James has done this season. Mainly because, again, he hasn't played against great competition. Miller's noncon schedule was full of cupcakes (probably why they gave themselves a post season ban, since they would've been penalized massively because of this joke of a schedule and would have to really overperform in conference to make the Big Dance). 

As Hoyas, I thought James was the better player. Right now, I'm taking Mac. I can read a box score (Akinjo's numbers are pretty similar to what they were here), but that doesn't say everything about a game. Mac looks so much better at TTU. I can't say the same for Akinjo. I don't see any significant improvement there, where I see tons for Mac. 

Both look much improved to me. And alot of that has to do with not having to be on the court with each other.

[professorhoya]

The two areas I see improvement in Mac are his 3pt shooting/range and his Arryvdas Sabonis like passing improvement in feeding the post.

[reformation]

TTech-WVA game overall was very exciting. I wouldn't have tuned in if Mac wasn't playing, but I can't really say I'm going to follow him either. He has definitely improved and is also playing with and against better competition. He has improved his overall shooting, decision making and ability to finish. He is still not any kind of lock for the NBA as he still needs to work on ball distribution, defense mid range shooting etc, but he has shown improvement in those areas. From a purely basketball standpoint he certainly has benefitted from the transfer and I would imagine being on a competitive team is exciting. Still not sure he is an NBA pick, but he's at least closer.