12-10-2004, 03:35 PM
McDonald ready to take aim at Cowboys
By CARY ESTES
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD
Five minutes into the second game of his UAB career, Marvett McDonald was called out by an opposing coach.
As McDonald stepped onto the court early in the Blazers' game against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 29, Tech coach Keith Richard spotted McDonald's No. 5 jersey and immediately began pointing and shouting to his team, "Shooter. No. 5 is a shooter."
"I was surprised at that," McDonald said recently. "I didn't think another team would know about me after two games."
But apparently McDonald's reputation precedes him about as quickly as his shot does. And for those who do not recognize him beforehand as a quick-draw artist, McDonald makes sure they know about it by game's end.
Marshall found out last Saturday, as McDonald scored 15 points and sank a key 3-pointer with 1:11 to play in UAB's 81-78 victory over the Thundering Herd. The Blazers (4-0) could use a similar effort from McDonald when they play No. 5 Oklahoma State (6-0) at 9 p.m. today in Stillwater, Okla., in a game to be televised on ESPN2.
McDonald, a transfer from Southeastern Iowa Community College and a native of Memphis, is fifth on the Blazers in minutes played this season. Among those five players, however, he has attempted the most shots per minutes.
McDonald is averaging a shot every 2.4 minutes. Only leading-scorer Donell Taylor, at a shot every 2.7 minutes, is even close. Among the rest of the starters, Demario Eddins is averaging a shot every 4.0 minutes, Marques Lewis every 4.5 and point guard Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson every 10.6.
But being a shooter does not automatically mean being a scorer.
Through the first three games, McDonald made only 6-of-24 shots from the field and 3-of-16 from 3-point range, and was averaging 7.5 points per game.
Still, such a slow start did not faze UAB coach Mike Anderson, who said he had no problem with McDonald's shot selection.
"His shots weren't off by much," Anderson said. "It was just a matter of getting some playing time and getting used to playing with some guys and finding his game rhythm."
So Anderson told McDonald to keep shooting, and McDonald was happyto oblige.
"One thing about guys who shoot the basketball, they don't shy away from it," Anderson said. "A lot of guys get gun shy. They think they're shooting too much. But that's not the case with Marvett. He's going to take shots."
The Blazers needed somebody to fill that role following the departure from last season of Morris Finley, who led the team in scoring (13.9 points per game) and 3-pointers (66). In McDonald, they received a much-taller player (6-foot-5, compared to the 5-11 Finley) who averaged 13.4 points and 3.4 assists per game last season at Southeastern Iowa.
"We lost a tremendous shooter and scorer in Mo Finley," Anderson said. "Marvett was one of the guys we brought in to hopefully pick us up in that area.
"But I think he's more than that. I think he's a good basketball player. He can put the ball on the floor. He can be the point guard to get it to people as well. Some people think he's just a shooter. He's a basketball player, and he gets to showcase that in how we play."
Finley also was the player who sank arguably the biggest clutch shot in UAB history, when his jumper in the final seconds enabled the Blazers to upset top-seeded Kentucky in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament.
Saturday's game at Marshall was the first time since then that UAB had a game decided in the final minute. This time, it was McDonald who stepped up and made the shot, a move Anderson said will greatly benefit the progress of his team.
"It helped in his confidence, and it also helped our team, knowing that there's a guy who can knock a shot down when you need a clutch basket," Anderson said. "Now that's going to put confidence in those guys to give it to him when he's got the shot."
And if McDonald has the shot, there's no doubt he's going to take it. At least, that's what people are saying.
By CARY ESTES
BIRMINGHAM POST-HERALD
Five minutes into the second game of his UAB career, Marvett McDonald was called out by an opposing coach.
As McDonald stepped onto the court early in the Blazers' game against Louisiana Tech on Nov. 29, Tech coach Keith Richard spotted McDonald's No. 5 jersey and immediately began pointing and shouting to his team, "Shooter. No. 5 is a shooter."
"I was surprised at that," McDonald said recently. "I didn't think another team would know about me after two games."
But apparently McDonald's reputation precedes him about as quickly as his shot does. And for those who do not recognize him beforehand as a quick-draw artist, McDonald makes sure they know about it by game's end.
Marshall found out last Saturday, as McDonald scored 15 points and sank a key 3-pointer with 1:11 to play in UAB's 81-78 victory over the Thundering Herd. The Blazers (4-0) could use a similar effort from McDonald when they play No. 5 Oklahoma State (6-0) at 9 p.m. today in Stillwater, Okla., in a game to be televised on ESPN2.
McDonald, a transfer from Southeastern Iowa Community College and a native of Memphis, is fifth on the Blazers in minutes played this season. Among those five players, however, he has attempted the most shots per minutes.
McDonald is averaging a shot every 2.4 minutes. Only leading-scorer Donell Taylor, at a shot every 2.7 minutes, is even close. Among the rest of the starters, Demario Eddins is averaging a shot every 4.0 minutes, Marques Lewis every 4.5 and point guard Carldell "Squeaky" Johnson every 10.6.
But being a shooter does not automatically mean being a scorer.
Through the first three games, McDonald made only 6-of-24 shots from the field and 3-of-16 from 3-point range, and was averaging 7.5 points per game.
Still, such a slow start did not faze UAB coach Mike Anderson, who said he had no problem with McDonald's shot selection.
"His shots weren't off by much," Anderson said. "It was just a matter of getting some playing time and getting used to playing with some guys and finding his game rhythm."
So Anderson told McDonald to keep shooting, and McDonald was happyto oblige.
"One thing about guys who shoot the basketball, they don't shy away from it," Anderson said. "A lot of guys get gun shy. They think they're shooting too much. But that's not the case with Marvett. He's going to take shots."
The Blazers needed somebody to fill that role following the departure from last season of Morris Finley, who led the team in scoring (13.9 points per game) and 3-pointers (66). In McDonald, they received a much-taller player (6-foot-5, compared to the 5-11 Finley) who averaged 13.4 points and 3.4 assists per game last season at Southeastern Iowa.
"We lost a tremendous shooter and scorer in Mo Finley," Anderson said. "Marvett was one of the guys we brought in to hopefully pick us up in that area.
"But I think he's more than that. I think he's a good basketball player. He can put the ball on the floor. He can be the point guard to get it to people as well. Some people think he's just a shooter. He's a basketball player, and he gets to showcase that in how we play."
Finley also was the player who sank arguably the biggest clutch shot in UAB history, when his jumper in the final seconds enabled the Blazers to upset top-seeded Kentucky in the second round of last season's NCAA Tournament.
Saturday's game at Marshall was the first time since then that UAB had a game decided in the final minute. This time, it was McDonald who stepped up and made the shot, a move Anderson said will greatly benefit the progress of his team.
"It helped in his confidence, and it also helped our team, knowing that there's a guy who can knock a shot down when you need a clutch basket," Anderson said. "Now that's going to put confidence in those guys to give it to him when he's got the shot."
And if McDonald has the shot, there's no doubt he's going to take it. At least, that's what people are saying.