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

McDermott’s overall season outlook

Sean McDermott is poised to reprise a similar role compared to the last two seasons. He is unlikely to be a top-tier offensive option for the Dawgs but should be a reliable threat from beyond the arc. Kamar Baldwin is a guarantee to lead the scouting report for Butler while Jordan Tucker is the one on the verge of a major breakout campaign. This will leave McDermott as a tertiary scoring option for the Dawgs.

Nonetheless, this is a very important role as McDermott will open up the offense with his 3-point shooting. Neither of Butler’s incoming frontcourt transfers (Bryce Nze and Derrik Smits) is known as floor-spacers and are mostly confined to operating the paint. Additionally, starting point guard Aaron Thompson is much more effective when driving as opposed to scoring. Because of how these three operate, McDermott’s shooting will be pivotal for Butler’s offensive attack.

On the defensive end of the floor, McDermott should be vastly improved this season by virtue of defending players of his own size. Nze and Smits look poised to hold down the starting frontcourt spots, or at least major roles, and McDermott will slide to small forward as a result. This position reversion is definitely something to take note of as it could greatly improve the entire team defense.

McDermott is the type of player that will rarely light the scoreboard on fire but is a great contributor. He could easily be a double-digit scoring threat this season as either a starter or key reserve.

This was the seventh part of an offseason series that will involve breaking down each member of the Butler basketball roster for this coming season. Stay tuned for more in the coming weeks.