Mac McClung

[n_huffhines]

6-2 vs 6-4...as guards. Does Olivier Nkamhoua have a better defensive body than Yves Pons because he’s 2” taller, too?

Is this a real question? Being taller isn't better in every case and it's not a trump for all the other things that go into defense. Pons' is a beast, he's not short, and his body allows him to defend more positions than just about anybody in the SEC. McClung is not a beast and he has one of the least switchable bodies in the Big 12, because he's short and this is basketball. Bailey is not a great defender and neither is McClung. With all else being equal, I'll take the guy who can switch onto a SF and not get shot over with ease and can close off more passing lanes simply by putting his arms up. It's just common hoops sense that length kills. I would bet all my money that Bailey's reach advantage is more than 2". McClung looks like he has short arms.

 

[cncchris33]

Is this a real question? Being taller isn't better in every case and it's not a trump for all the other things that go into defense. Pons' is a beast, he's not short, and his body allows him to defend more positions than just about anybody in the SEC. McClung is not a beast and he has one of the least switchable bodies in the Big 12, because he's short and this is basketball. Bailey is not a great defender and neither is McClung. With all else being equal, I'll take the guy who can switch onto a SF and not get shot over with ease and can close off more passing lanes simply by putting his arms up. It's just common hoops sense that length kills. I would bet all my money that Bailey's reach advantage is more than 2". McClung looks like he has short arms.

I just think the whole idea is much ado about nothing, but you defend it as if it were the difference in one being an NBA lottery pick and the other a 3rd rounder at the YMCA Pro-Am.

To me, any difference is a non-issue because neither guy can play a lick of defense. Who cares if they have to switch, because they won’t defend that guy, either.

 

[n_huffhines]

I just think the whole idea is much ado about nothing, but you defend it as if it were the difference in one being an NBA lottery pick and the other a 3rd rounder at the YMCA Pro-Am.

To me, any difference is a non-issue because neither guy can play a lick of defense. Who cares if they have to switch, because they won’t defend that guy, either.

No, I don't. My whole point was that the differences are not significant.

Defense led the way for both teams and the offense wasn't very good in either case. If we're trading Bailey for him, it's a wash. If we're trading anybody else for him, there will be defensive and/or ball movement consequences.

 

[cncchris33]

No, I don't. My whole point was that the differences are not significant.

If it isn’t significant, then why does this matter?

With all else being equal, I'll take the guy who can switch onto a SF and not get shot over with ease and can close off more passing lanes simply by putting his arms up. It's just common hoops sense that length kills. I would bet all my money that Bailey's reach advantage is more than 2". McClung looks like he has short arms.

Why go to such great lengths to defend the marginal difference in their respective heights, length, and ability to switch off, defensively?

If you are now saying it doesn’t matter, then I totally agree. When comparing Bailey and McClung, Bailey having a “better defensive body” definitely doesn’t matter. I’ve not once changed my stance on that idea. You’ve gone to great lengths to argue it’s validity only to circle back and now say it’s no big deal. Forgive me if I’m having trouble following the breadcrumbs, here.

 

[n_huffhines]

If it isn’t significant, then why does this matter?

Why go to such great lengths to defend the marginal difference in their respective heights, length, and ability to switch off, defensively?

If you are now saying it doesn’t matter, then I totally agree. When comparing Bailey and McClung, Bailey having a “better defensive body” definitely doesn’t matter. I’ve not once changed my stance on that idea. You’ve gone to great lengths to argue it’s validity only to circle back and now say it’s no big deal. Forgive me if I’m having trouble following the breadcrumbs, here.

It doesn't really matter is the whole point. All these dudes crying about not getting McClung and my point is it wouldn't have made a significant difference. I enjoy talking basketball. The only reason I went to "such great lengths" is you asked me about my posts.

I regret spending time on this with you because you supposedly read what I say and then conclude silly things like I act like Bailey is a lottery pick. You're just being argumentative.

Length does matter. Of course it does. Of course. How could it not? The difference between 6' 2" and 6' 4" is often a scholarship. How could anybody think it doesn't matter? What I'm saying is substituting McClung for Bailey doesn't matter to our season.

 

[Volfan1000]

Do Coach Barnes and his staff look to add McClung to the roster if he does not declare for the draft?

 

[n_huffhines]

Do Coach Barnes and his staff look to add McClung to the roster if he does not declare for the draft?

There is no chance he's declaring for the draft.

 

[cncchris33]

It doesn't really matter is the whole point. All these dudes crying about not getting McClung and my point is it wouldn't have made a significant difference. I enjoy talking basketball. The only reason I went to "such great lengths" is you asked me about my posts.

I regret spending time on this with you because you supposedly read what I say and then conclude silly things like I act like Bailey is a lottery pick. You're just being argumentative.

Length does matter. Of course it does. Of course. How could it not? The difference between 6' 2" and 6' 4" is often a scholarship. How could anybody think it doesn't matter? What I'm saying is substituting McClung for Bailey doesn't matter to our season.

Accusing me of being argumentative while simultaneously arguing, yourself, over the least notable quality of either player is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, if you ask me. But you didn’t ask me, so I’ll sign off on the topic by saying that I totally agree with your last sentence, and I’ve said as much on more than one occasion in this very thread.

 

[Creeker]

Vescovi has a better A/TO ration as well... people would turn on McClung after he had a few bad turnovers just like they did Vescovi.

Nah, they wouldn’t turn on him. They would blame Barnes for his turnovers, pretend he was always elite as a PG before he got here and say Barnes coaching has led to all of his turnovers and lack of assists.

 

[VolArmy74]

Still can't get over people saying an All Big 12 First team guy who averaged 17ppg in league play wouldn't make any difference here, especially since the glaring Grand Canyon sized hole on the team was getting points.

If that is so and he and Bailey are the same guy, who or what is keeping Bailey from being All-SEC?

McClung was a basically legacy recruit from our backyard that has been All Conference at two different P5 schools while nearly half the kids we've recruited since we passed on him have been complete busts.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Still can't get over people saying an All Big 12 First team guy who averaged 17ppg in league play wouldn't make any difference here, especially since the glaring Grand Canyon sized hole on the team was getting points.

If that is so and he and Bailey are the same guy, who or what is keeping Bailey from being All-SEC?

McClung was a basically legacy recruit from our backyard that has been All Conference at two different P5 schools while nearly half the kids we've recruited since we passed on him have been complete busts.

No he wasn’t

 

[VOLINVONORE]

There is no chance he's declaring for the draft.

So you answer to the question is????

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Still can't get over people saying an All Big 12 First team guy who averaged 17ppg in league play wouldn't make any difference here, especially since the glaring Grand Canyon sized hole on the team was getting points.

If that is so and he and Bailey are the same guy, who or what is keeping Bailey from being All-SEC?

McClung was a basically legacy recruit from our backyard that has been All Conference at two different P5 schools while nearly half the kids we've recruited since we passed on him have been complete busts.

If we allowed Bailey to take 4 more shots a game his PPG would be either identical to McClung or quite possibly even beat McClung...yet our fans say Bailey shoots too much, so which is it?

I don’t think many are arguing vehemently that Bailey is so much better than McClung, simply stating that they are very similar players and the stats back that up. This past years team wasn’t lacking a guy that could take shots, it was lacking a PG that could break things down, and any sort of post presence at all...McClung wouldn’t have solved either of those issues.

 

[n_huffhines]

So you answer to the question is????

Doesn't seem likely he will leave unless he doesn't have to sit out a year, and I'm not sure how he can pull that off again.

 

[AngryButchJones]

I personally think I'd take McClung over Bailey at this point, but I truly don't think it would be THAT much of a difference. Look at their efficiencies.

McClung shot 41.9% overall, 46.8% from 2, 34.3% from 3, and 79.3% on FTs this season
Bailey shot 40.2% overall, 49% from 2, 33.8% from 3, and 82.8% on FTs this season

Difference was, McClung averaged over 3 more FG attempts a game and had over double the amount of FTs attempted. He also played an average of 5 more minutes a game than Bailey. Neither were great rebounders or assisters, and neither were providing a ton of steals or blocks.

McClung would've made a difference and could this season, but he's not some super efficient player. McClung had 7 games with 0 threes, Bailey had 5. Bailey shot less than 40% over all in 12 of his 27 games, McClung shot less than 40% overall in 13 of his 29 games.

 

[VolArmy74]

No he wasn’t

"Mac McClung, a junior transfer from Georgetown, was named to The Associated Press All-Big 12 First Team a day after he was selected as the Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and was named to the All-Big 12 Second Team and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team as selected by the league's head coaches."

 

[AngryButchJones]

McClung and Bailey's Per 40 Minutes and Per 100 Possessions stats are also very close. So, again, McClung's numbers just look better because he shot more and played more minutes. He isn't much more efficient than Bailey, if at all.

 

[VolArmy74]

McClung and Bailey's Per 40 Minutes and Per 100 Possessions stats are also very close. So, again, McClung's numbers just look better because he shot more and played more minutes. He isn't much more efficient than Bailey, if at all.

Why did he play more minutes on a better team than Bailey? Maybe if Bailey played more minutes his efficiency would have suffered. McClung could get to the free throw line when his shot wasn't going down. That made a big difference in his game. He generates points. Texas Tech was 58th in the nation in offensive efficiency, Tennessee was 111th.

 

[n_huffhines]

I personally think I'd take McClung over Bailey at this point, but I truly don't think it would be THAT much of a difference. Look at their efficiencies.

McClung shot 41.9% overall, 46.8% from 2, 34.3% from 3, and 79.3% on FTs this season
Bailey shot 40.2% overall, 49% from 2, 33.8% from 3, and 82.8% on FTs this season

Difference was, McClung averaged over 3 more FG attempts a game and had over double the amount of FTs attempted. He also played an average of 5 more minutes a game than Bailey. Neither were great rebounders or assisters, and neither were providing a ton of steals or blocks.

McClung would've made a difference and could this season, but he's not some super efficient player. McClung had 7 games with 0 threes, Bailey had 5. Bailey shot less than 40% over all in 12 of his 27 games, McClung shot less than 40% overall in 13 of his 29 games.

Mac is at his best with the ball in his hands and next year we're going to (hopefully) want Chandler dominating ball. I feel like if he's as good as advertised, Bailey's going to look a lot better off-ball next year.

 

[bleedingTNorange]

Why did he play more minutes on a better team than Bailey? Maybe if Bailey played more minutes his efficiency would have suffered. McClung could get to the free throw line when his shot wasn't going down. That made a big difference in his game. He generates points. Texas Tech was 58th in the nation in offensive efficiency, Tennessee was 111th.

A better team? We had the better record and got the higher NCAAT seed, they won 1 game in the dance, not sure calling them the better team is accurate.

McClung’s efg% was actually lower than the teams average, thus he was one of TTU’s lesser efficient players.

 

[Vol49er]

Accusing me of being argumentative while simultaneously arguing, yourself, over the least notable quality of either player is a bit of the pot calling the kettle black, if you ask me. But you didn’t ask me, so I’ll sign off on the topic by saying that I totally agree with your last sentence, and I’ve said as much on more than one occasion in this very thread.

That conversation made me laugh

I am in agreement with you, as I've said before in this thread. Wish we had gotten him instead of Bailey (I realize we took Bailey before Mac was available as a transfer), but definitely don't need both, and ideally VB's role on the 2021-22 team is reduced considerably anyhow. Mac would have been a lot more of a plus for us this last season than he theoretically would this upcoming season

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Is this a real question? Being taller isn't better in every case and it's not a trump for all the other things that go into defense. Pons' is a beast, he's not short, and his body allows him to defend more positions than just about anybody in the SEC. McClung is not a beast and he has one of the least switchable bodies in the Big 12, because he's short and this is basketball. Bailey is not a great defender and neither is McClung. With all else being equal, I'll take the guy who can switch onto a SF and not get shot over with ease and can close off more passing lanes simply by putting his arms up. It's just common hoops sense that length kills. I would bet all my money that Bailey's reach advantage is more than 2". McClung looks like he has short arms.

McClung is listed at 6’2 but that is generous. He is likely 6’1. However he has potential as someone who can anticipate and make steals and blocks off the ball even if he is sometimes overpowered one on one because of his lack of size. He really needs to put about 20-25 pounds of solid muscle on. He doesn’t look any bigger this past year than he was in H.S.

 

[n_huffhines]

McClung is listed at 6’2 but that is generous. He is likely 6’1. However he has potential as someone who can anticipate and make steals and blocks off the ball even if he is sometimes overpowered one on one because of his lack of size. He really needs to put about 20-25 pounds of solid muscle on. He doesn’t look any bigger this past year than he was in H.S.

Yeah, if he could turn himself into a guy who is really strong on the ball, it could be a game-changer. He's not going to get any longer but he can definitely get broader in his early 20's.

 

[VolArmy74]

A better team? We had the better record and got the higher NCAAT seed, they won 1 game in the dance, not sure calling them the better team is accurate.

McClung’s efg% was actually lower than the teams average, thus he was one of TTU’s lesser efficient players.

I'm comfortable in calling them the better team. Both teams won 18 games. TTU finished 22nd in the final top 25 poll, we got I think 1 vote. Texas Tech played the 12th toughest schedule, we played the 40th toughest. They advanced in the NCAA T and we did not. So same number of wins vs tougher schedule, advanced further in the NCAA T and finished ranked higher.

 

[CAVPUT]

At this point, I'm not against bringing him in. Hell, if we can't find a defender for the paint, add more offense. You can never have too many shooters.