Louisville Basketball: Program records that would’ve fallen in 2020 NCAA Tournament

Ryan McMahon’s three-point shooting

At least this time no greats from before the three-point era will be excluded, but it does not make breaking this particular record any less impressive. In 2005, Taquan Dean connected on 7 of 17 three-pointers to break aforementioned DeJuan Wheat’s three-pointers made in a single-game record. It stands to reason that after 15 years that record would be set to fall to the waste side. The individual who would have surpassed that record was going to be Ryan McMahon. The odds would be against McMahon, as he averaged seven fewer minutes and four fewer three-point attempts than Dean, but the stats indicate he can.

Throughout his college career at Louisville, McMahon has made five threes in a game a handful of times, and as a senior, he hit seven versus NC State in February. In order to make those seven, he only needed ten shots. Now, McMahon’s percentage from the arc of 43% does not guarantee him of knocking down eight in a game, but tournament play indicates that he will average more than his 24 minutes a game.

The main reason is that McMahon would get the lion’s share of the minutes he currently divides with fellow senior guard Lamar Kimble. McMahon can hit a three substantially better, which helps spread the floor for Jordan Nwora, but  Kimble shoots an unimpressive 68% from the free-throw line. The added minutes in conjunction with added responsibility would only lead to more three-point attempts, thus priming Ryan McMahon to set a record for three-point field goals made in a tournament game.