Mitch McGary was an enigma last season. Labeled as one of the top prospects in the 2012 recruiting class and one of the best incoming players to ever step foot in Ann Arbor, expectations were sky-high for the 6'11 center.
Mitch McGary striving for consistency, offensive growth as sophomore
McGary’s strong showing in March has some believing he’s now the best center in college basketball.
Gregory Shamus
McGary failed to meet expectations throughout all of November, December, January and February. But then March rolled around and he burst onto the national scene as the Wolverines made it to the national championship game.
As a sophomore, McGary now faces his stiffest challenge yet: going from a supporting player on a contending team to one expected to be a leader.
McGary’s most obvious flaw during his freshman campaign was his lack of aggressiveness, especially around the basket. Despite averaging 22 minutes per game in conference play, the big man reached double digits in scoring just five times, two of which required an overtime session. The numbers were worse in non-conference action, prompting some to label McGary with the worst word in the sport: bust.
Those concerns were relieved during the NCAA Tournament, as he averaged 14.3 points and 10.7 rebounds.
One of the major knocks against McGary was that he tended to disappear in big games against quality, defensive-minded big men. It was a question he answered in a definitive way during March. Going up against a veteran South Dakota State frontline, McGary scored 13 points and brought down nine boards. His next game against VCU and coach Shaka Smart’s ‘Havoc’ defense saw him rack up 21 points and 14 rebounds.
In the Sweet 16, McGary did it once again against arguably the best defensive big man in the country, Jeff Withey. As the Wolverines went on to win in thrilling overtime fashion, the southpaw led the way with a career-best 25 points and 14 boards. And after coming close to two more double-doubles against Florida and Syracuse in the Elite 8 and Final Four, some were wondering if he'd bolt for the NBA after just one year of college.
The reasons to turn pro were obvious. At 20 years old, McGary was one of the oldest freshmen in the country. Age is everything when it comes to NBA scouts, and him being old for his class could become a detriment down the road. He was also coming off the best six-game stretch of his career, finally showing why so many scouting sites had him as a top-five prospect.
Somewhat surprisingly, he elected to return to Ann Arbor for yet another season to help Michigan compete for another bid to the Final Four. The expectations will be sky-high once again.
Sporting News ranked McGary as the No. 1 returning center in college hoops next season. Early mock drafts for 2014 have him going in the middle of the first round. Following the departures of leading scorers Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr., coach John Beilein will look to his emerging sophomore to become a leader both on and off the floor.
Where the big fella can stand to improve his game the most is with his midrange game. McGary showed his improved jump shot off a bit more in the Big Dance, though he still didn’t appear comfortable with it at times.
With his height, large frame and wingspan, the points are going to come around the rim. Reports out of Ann Arbor suggest McGary has really focused on improving his strength and jumper over the summer months, and that should be a great sign for his development. If he can expand his range to 18 feet -- or even behind the three-point arc, however unlikely -- his offensive game will rise to a different level during his sophomore season.
Another key adjustment will be finding opportunities for easy points once Big Ten play begins. In a conference that always ranks as one of the best defensively, McGary will be challenged every night by the likes of Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana and Iowa, all teams expected to be ranked in the preseason top-25 polls.
In the end, though, McGary has the size, talent and work ethic to become a force on both ends of the floor. If he’s able to continually play aggressive for the Wolverines next season, there’s no reason to think another deep run in March isn’t possible. He still has a ways to go as a pro prospect, but on the collegiate level, the sky is the limit.
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