Photo by: Taylor Wolfram
Lucas: McGee takes pride in his role and opportunities
February 17, 2023 | Men's Basketball, Mike Lucas
Sophomore transfer staying ready and present with Badgers
BY MIKE LUCAS
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — As the rotation players – five starters, top two reserves – gathered around Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard during Thursday's practice, Kamari McGee walked across the floor, reversed his jersey and joined the scout team that was simulating the next opponent, Rutgers.
"You have to know your role," McGee would say afterwards, "and I take pride in it."
Forty-eight hours earlier, he was cast in a much different role, a more impactful one in a hard-fought, much-needed, 64-59, victory over Michigan at the juiced-up Kohl Center. Coming off the bench, he was a 6-foot, 180-pound bundle of energy, an X-factor who delivered some of his own juice.
While logging a season-high 13 minutes and 42 seconds – he was averaging 5.4 minutes and his previous Big Ten high had been 8:33 at Maryland – McGee didn't waste any time providing a spark. Entering the game at 11:58 of the first half, he made his first shot (a pull-up) just 25 seconds later.
The basket lifted his spirits and the Badgers into an early 16-15 lead. "When the first shot came out of my hands, it just felt good," he said. "I love my pull-ups, mid-ranges. I don't shoot them enough. I have to be more aggressive. Even if I had missed it, I felt like I would have been in a good rhythm."
What McGee drew for the most part was a good matchup, especially physically, against Michigan's point guard Dug McDaniel, a 5-11, 160-pound freshman. McDaniel was starting his 18th game in the absence of Princeton transfer Jaelin Llewellyn, who blew out his ACL in early December.
This was the same McDaniel that McGee was simulating in practice leading up to the contest. "He's a quicker guard and he can get downhill," McGee said. As it was, McDaniel had seven points, his season average. "I felt like it was a great matchup and I felt like I did a good job on him, too."
For only the second time in the last nine games, Wisconsin's bench won the scoring battle (12-6), thanks to Jordan Davis (five points), Carter Gilmore (1 point) and McGee whose six points (3-of-4 field goals) was a season high – and his most since tallying five points at Marquette in early December.
At that, it was only the sixth time in 21 appearances that McGee had even showed up in the scoring column, a far cry from his freshman year at UW-Green Bay where he started 21 times and averaged 11.6 points. Over his last five games, he had upped that average to 17.6 (50.7% FG).
"I had a different role on my team last year," said McGee who had a career-high 24 points against Wright State in early February. "I had the ball a majority of the time and I was put out there to make my team better and help us wherever we needed – if it was with an assist or a score."
In his final game for the Phoenix, a 79-62 loss to Detroit, McGee had 20 points and 9 rebounds. He also had his hands full with Antoine Davis who scored 38. Davis, the son of former Indiana coach Mike Davis, has 3,482 career points, second only in NCAA history to Pete Maravich (3,667).
For the record, Maravich played three years (83 games), Davis has played five (138). Nonetheless, McGee said of Davis, "I'm a defensive guy. I always loved a test at the other end. But that was the most (38) anyone has ever scored on me. He has the ultimate game, a great player."
McGee has tried to learn from all of his experiences, positive or not. When he got into a scoring slump at Green Bay, he did what comes naturally. "You just have to keep shooting and make sure your confidence doesn't get low, and mine didn't," he rationalized. "You have to shoot your way out of it."
Obviously, it's harder to do when you're a bench player and your minutes are limited. Matchups are critical. McGee was overmatched against Nebraska's Sam Griesel, a 6-7, 216-pound transfer from North Dakota State where he was a four-year starter. The size disparity was too much to overcome.
"That was a tough one," said McGee, who saw only three minutes of action in a 73-63 loss at Lincoln last Saturday (Feb. 11). "He could move quickly, like a guard. When he's got that size and that quickness, you really just have to try and beat him to spots … being my size."
In fairness, everybody struggled to stay in front of Griesel without fouling. He finished with 15 points (8-of-11 FT), 7 rebounds and 6 assists. McGee responded, though, when called upon against Michigan. On one defensive possession, he even battled 7-1 Hunter Dickinson on the low block.
"I had to box him out and I was really just trying to get as low as I could and win the leg battle," said McGee whose efforts were sound enough to keep the ball out of the post and Dickinson's hands. "Whenever I'm switched on to a big, I try to win the low war. I wasn't jumping with him obviously."
In the second half, McGee made two of his three shots, pulled down an offensive rebound and assisted on a Steven Crowl 3-pointer. When Crowl launched, McGee said, "I ran back to the other end. I knew it was going in. I've got confidence in Steve. We want him to shoot those open 3s."
That confidence is well-justified at the Kohl Center where Crowl is shooting 45 percent (14-of-41) from beyond the 3-point arc versus his road/neutral split (5-38, .132). Crowl took the fight to Dickinson and held his own with 11 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and only 1 turnover.
Three of Crowl's boards came on the offensive glass where the Badgers dominated with 15 overall (Tyler Wahl had five). But the second chances translated into only eight points. And it factored into Wisconsin not scoring a basket over the final 10:45. Timely free throws bailed them out.
Droughts and runs have become commonplace in college basketball. Thursday night, No. 17 Saint Mary's went the final 10:20 without a basket, and the final 7:05 without points and yet held on for a 62-59 win against San Diego. The Gaels are 23-5 overall and 12-1 in the West Coast Conference.
Meanwhile, Purdue has lost back-to-back games. Northwestern closed out the Boilers on a 17-3 run, while Maryland stunned them with a 29-4 run. On Wednesday, the Wildcats jumped out to a 21-point lead over Indiana on the strength of a 21-3 run before giving it all back and barely surviving.
There are no givens, no guarantees, from half-to-half. It definitely applies, from game-to-game, for reserves like McGee. "Even if I can keep putting the work in on the practice court, on the scout team," he said, "most likely I'll be moved to that side (the scouts) again. So I just have to keep working."
Not only does McGee understand his role, he embraces it fully. "If the scout team is rolling," he reasoned, "it means the starters and other players in the rotation have to step it up. And if we can get them to step it up in practice, we're getting them prepared for the game."
McGee didn't play more than five minutes in any of the five games prior to Michigan. How did he stay ready to contribute without doubting himself? "I've got great people in my corner who support me no matter what," said McGee, a state champion at Racine St. Catherine's High School.
"They keep me motivated and it makes me want to continue to work even if the results don't show right away. I just have great people that help me and continue to push me. My family, my mom especially. She sends messages. My dad does. Even my great grandpa sends me a nice little message."
McGee had a cousin at Tuesday's game. "My mom wanted to come but it was a late game (8 p.m. tipoff) and she had to work in the morning," he said, sighing. "But everybody was excited. It felt good (afterwards). I've had that feeling before. And it felt good to have that feeling again."
After Thursday's practice, McGee shook hands and chatted with Will Ryan, who was a spectator on the sidelines. Ryan coached McGee last season in Green Bay. But he was dismissed in late January from a position that he held for just 2 and a half years (Ryan was formerly on the UW staff).
Before making his way to the locker room, McGee also took the time to talk about his favorite NBA player, Kyrie Irving, who was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. "It surprised me," McGee admitted, "because they already have Luka (Doncic') and they're both ball dominant.
"I'm ready to see how it works out."
As he is with his next playing assignment, however long, Saturday against Rutgers. Although Michigan brought back that "feeling again" for McGee, he didn't hesitate to add some context, "That was the last game. I can't live off that game. Now it's on to the next game. I have to keep going."
UWBadgers.com Senior Writer
MADISON, Wis. — As the rotation players – five starters, top two reserves – gathered around Wisconsin head coach Greg Gard during Thursday's practice, Kamari McGee walked across the floor, reversed his jersey and joined the scout team that was simulating the next opponent, Rutgers.
"You have to know your role," McGee would say afterwards, "and I take pride in it."
Forty-eight hours earlier, he was cast in a much different role, a more impactful one in a hard-fought, much-needed, 64-59, victory over Michigan at the juiced-up Kohl Center. Coming off the bench, he was a 6-foot, 180-pound bundle of energy, an X-factor who delivered some of his own juice.
While logging a season-high 13 minutes and 42 seconds – he was averaging 5.4 minutes and his previous Big Ten high had been 8:33 at Maryland – McGee didn't waste any time providing a spark. Entering the game at 11:58 of the first half, he made his first shot (a pull-up) just 25 seconds later.
The basket lifted his spirits and the Badgers into an early 16-15 lead. "When the first shot came out of my hands, it just felt good," he said. "I love my pull-ups, mid-ranges. I don't shoot them enough. I have to be more aggressive. Even if I had missed it, I felt like I would have been in a good rhythm."
Our man Kam brought the JUICE! 🧃⚡️@KamariMcGee scored a season-high 6 points vs. Michigan and played his most minutes as a Badger, logging 13:42
— Wisconsin Basketball (@BadgerMBB) February 15, 2023
He made every second count 💯 pic.twitter.com/WGhTw1OyP3
What McGee drew for the most part was a good matchup, especially physically, against Michigan's point guard Dug McDaniel, a 5-11, 160-pound freshman. McDaniel was starting his 18th game in the absence of Princeton transfer Jaelin Llewellyn, who blew out his ACL in early December.
This was the same McDaniel that McGee was simulating in practice leading up to the contest. "He's a quicker guard and he can get downhill," McGee said. As it was, McDaniel had seven points, his season average. "I felt like it was a great matchup and I felt like I did a good job on him, too."
For only the second time in the last nine games, Wisconsin's bench won the scoring battle (12-6), thanks to Jordan Davis (five points), Carter Gilmore (1 point) and McGee whose six points (3-of-4 field goals) was a season high – and his most since tallying five points at Marquette in early December.
At that, it was only the sixth time in 21 appearances that McGee had even showed up in the scoring column, a far cry from his freshman year at UW-Green Bay where he started 21 times and averaged 11.6 points. Over his last five games, he had upped that average to 17.6 (50.7% FG).
"I had a different role on my team last year," said McGee who had a career-high 24 points against Wright State in early February. "I had the ball a majority of the time and I was put out there to make my team better and help us wherever we needed – if it was with an assist or a score."
In his final game for the Phoenix, a 79-62 loss to Detroit, McGee had 20 points and 9 rebounds. He also had his hands full with Antoine Davis who scored 38. Davis, the son of former Indiana coach Mike Davis, has 3,482 career points, second only in NCAA history to Pete Maravich (3,667).
For the record, Maravich played three years (83 games), Davis has played five (138). Nonetheless, McGee said of Davis, "I'm a defensive guy. I always loved a test at the other end. But that was the most (38) anyone has ever scored on me. He has the ultimate game, a great player."
McGee has tried to learn from all of his experiences, positive or not. When he got into a scoring slump at Green Bay, he did what comes naturally. "You just have to keep shooting and make sure your confidence doesn't get low, and mine didn't," he rationalized. "You have to shoot your way out of it."
Obviously, it's harder to do when you're a bench player and your minutes are limited. Matchups are critical. McGee was overmatched against Nebraska's Sam Griesel, a 6-7, 216-pound transfer from North Dakota State where he was a four-year starter. The size disparity was too much to overcome.
"That was a tough one," said McGee, who saw only three minutes of action in a 73-63 loss at Lincoln last Saturday (Feb. 11). "He could move quickly, like a guard. When he's got that size and that quickness, you really just have to try and beat him to spots … being my size."
In fairness, everybody struggled to stay in front of Griesel without fouling. He finished with 15 points (8-of-11 FT), 7 rebounds and 6 assists. McGee responded, though, when called upon against Michigan. On one defensive possession, he even battled 7-1 Hunter Dickinson on the low block.
"I had to box him out and I was really just trying to get as low as I could and win the leg battle," said McGee whose efforts were sound enough to keep the ball out of the post and Dickinson's hands. "Whenever I'm switched on to a big, I try to win the low war. I wasn't jumping with him obviously."
In the second half, McGee made two of his three shots, pulled down an offensive rebound and assisted on a Steven Crowl 3-pointer. When Crowl launched, McGee said, "I ran back to the other end. I knew it was going in. I've got confidence in Steve. We want him to shoot those open 3s."
That confidence is well-justified at the Kohl Center where Crowl is shooting 45 percent (14-of-41) from beyond the 3-point arc versus his road/neutral split (5-38, .132). Crowl took the fight to Dickinson and held his own with 11 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and only 1 turnover.
Three of Crowl's boards came on the offensive glass where the Badgers dominated with 15 overall (Tyler Wahl had five). But the second chances translated into only eight points. And it factored into Wisconsin not scoring a basket over the final 10:45. Timely free throws bailed them out.
Droughts and runs have become commonplace in college basketball. Thursday night, No. 17 Saint Mary's went the final 10:20 without a basket, and the final 7:05 without points and yet held on for a 62-59 win against San Diego. The Gaels are 23-5 overall and 12-1 in the West Coast Conference.
Meanwhile, Purdue has lost back-to-back games. Northwestern closed out the Boilers on a 17-3 run, while Maryland stunned them with a 29-4 run. On Wednesday, the Wildcats jumped out to a 21-point lead over Indiana on the strength of a 21-3 run before giving it all back and barely surviving.
There are no givens, no guarantees, from half-to-half. It definitely applies, from game-to-game, for reserves like McGee. "Even if I can keep putting the work in on the practice court, on the scout team," he said, "most likely I'll be moved to that side (the scouts) again. So I just have to keep working."
Not only does McGee understand his role, he embraces it fully. "If the scout team is rolling," he reasoned, "it means the starters and other players in the rotation have to step it up. And if we can get them to step it up in practice, we're getting them prepared for the game."
McGee didn't play more than five minutes in any of the five games prior to Michigan. How did he stay ready to contribute without doubting himself? "I've got great people in my corner who support me no matter what," said McGee, a state champion at Racine St. Catherine's High School.
"They keep me motivated and it makes me want to continue to work even if the results don't show right away. I just have great people that help me and continue to push me. My family, my mom especially. She sends messages. My dad does. Even my great grandpa sends me a nice little message."
McGee had a cousin at Tuesday's game. "My mom wanted to come but it was a late game (8 p.m. tipoff) and she had to work in the morning," he said, sighing. "But everybody was excited. It felt good (afterwards). I've had that feeling before. And it felt good to have that feeling again."
After Thursday's practice, McGee shook hands and chatted with Will Ryan, who was a spectator on the sidelines. Ryan coached McGee last season in Green Bay. But he was dismissed in late January from a position that he held for just 2 and a half years (Ryan was formerly on the UW staff).
Before making his way to the locker room, McGee also took the time to talk about his favorite NBA player, Kyrie Irving, who was traded from the Brooklyn Nets to the Dallas Mavericks. "It surprised me," McGee admitted, "because they already have Luka (Doncic') and they're both ball dominant.
"I'm ready to see how it works out."
As he is with his next playing assignment, however long, Saturday against Rutgers. Although Michigan brought back that "feeling again" for McGee, he didn't hesitate to add some context, "That was the last game. I can't live off that game. Now it's on to the next game. I have to keep going."
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