Butler Basketball: Previewing Sean McDermott’s impact for 2019-20

On the offensive end…

It is no secret that Sean McDermott is one of the best 3-point snipers in the entire nation. Over the course of the last two seasons, the 6-foot-6 wing shot a combined 120-for-289 (41.5%) from beyond the arc. He simply does a phenomenal job running around screens or spotting up for open looks from distance. McDermott’s size and quick release also allow him to get shots off with relative ease.

Although not someone who does a ton of damage off the dribble, McDermott is a constant threat when on the court. Defenses always need to take note of his positioning and movement. He has excellent range and only needs an inch of separation to get his shot off. With that said, though, his offensive game is limited to simply being a perimeter threat. McDermott exhibited just a 16.0% usage rate last season, one of the lowest among Butler’s rotation players.

Nonetheless, he can be an impact player on the offensive end without commanding the ball. McDermott constantly draws defensive attention and this opens up the floor for driving guards and post-up bigs. That is necessary for the modern game.

There were some moments last season in which McDermott flashed his driving ability but those were scarce. He is unlikely to take a major leap with his overall game during his upcoming senior campaign and will therefore likely reprise playing in a 3-point specialist capacity. Considering Butler’s offense is fairly perimeter centric, though, this will be a valuable role for the team.

Butler will likely lean on junior point guard Aaron Thompson to dictate the offense this year and he is an elite-level playmaker. I would expect that McDermott will find more open looks this season by virtue of AT’s creation. Additionally, Coach Jordan might play to McDermott’s strengths more often this season by running increased sets for open looks.