MTSU Hoops Heading Into The Future With New Additions
There is no denying or avoiding the fact that the Nick McDevitt era has started slow out of the blocks and has taken on a rocky course.
In his debut season, the Blue Raiders only won eleven ball games, while dropping 21 games.
Going into that season, many had more than a creeping suspicion that MT was in rebuilding mode. They were bludgeoned early and often. They lost to Belmont by 19, Virginia by 22, and Butler by 31. The hits kept rolling, though. They were squashed by 28 against Vanderbilt, Toledo by 22, and Ole Miss by 18.
It was not all doom and gloom for the 2018-2019 season. They bowed up, winning three of their last four regular season conference games.
2019-2020 was tough sledding as well. The Blue Raiders were stuck in a rut, going 8-23 overall and 4-14 in league play.
The troops are on the way to Murfreesboro, though. With an influx of future talent, there does seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.
Christian Fussell is a building block
The point of this article is not to dwell on the past or be a negative Nancy. It has been clear that the roster needs to be revamped, and I think McDevitt and crew understand that. Signs are pointing to positivity at the moment.
While being the lone high school signee for the 2020 class, Christian Fussell is a centerpiece to help build the squad around. He is a big body at a height around 6'9 and a weight of over 220 pounds. Fussell is not some oaf out there. He is a high energy guy that can rebound, block shots and do some of the dirty work.
There seems to be an art to his game as well. He can step out and drill jumpers, but he is crafty when it comes to drawing contact while making difficult, contested shots.
As with any true freshman, there is likely to be an adjustment period. In the end, I think that his talent will emerge and he will flash his skill and ability.
Enter Elias King
It didn't take a rocket scientist to surmise the situation and come to the conclusion that Christian Fussell doesn't supply all of the answers. In other words, Fussell is a building block, but you need to stack more blocks on top.
Next thing you know, bam, Elias King transfers from Mississippi State to MTSU. Despite not cracking the rotation at State as a true Freshman, King oozes potential. He was a four-star player out of high school, the number 72 player nationally, and the 18th small forward coming out of the high school ranks.
Some skeptics may point to his lack of playing time early on at Mississippi State. I see it as a positive. He has had time to take a reality check, but to also hone his skills to get better.
King truly is a Swiss Army Knife on the hardwood. He is pegged to be a small forward, but he is kind of a tweener between guard and post. That is not a knock, either. It is just to say that he possesses post skills as well as guard skills.
At this juncture the waters are muddied when it comes to predicting whether King will be granted immediate eligibility. There is optimism that he may be granted immediate eligibility, but you never know with the NCAA.
Regardless, adding King is a shot in the arm and a feather in the cap for McDevitt. It is worth noting that numbers a guy has at one school are not always identical to the numbers at a different school. Take former Blue Raider Nick King for instance. As a sophomore at Memphis, he posted a smidgen over seven points a game. At Alabama, the points per game hovered around the three-point mark. King averaged 21 a game at MT.
Add a Scorer? Check!
Every team needs an alpha-dog who can score in bunches. They need a guy that can get a on a hot streak at any moment, hitting a barrage of different shots from different locations.
Dontrell Shuler is a guy that fits this mold. Shuler was an integral member of the Charleston Southern team for two years. As a Freshman, he posted 10.9 points per game. The next season he took a leap forward, posting 17.9 points per game.
Despite the uncertainty when it comes to his eligibility for this season, this is a huge addition.
Down by one with the ball, clock dwindling, you need a guy that you can trust hitting a clutch shot. Shuler is a guy that can be chosen to take and hit the crunch-time shots.
Steady Ascension
The expectation for the 2020-2021 season should be to be a competitive, formidable opponent for the teams of Conference USA. Fans shouldn't be clamoring for a sweet 16 appearance in the big dance, but at the same time, there needs to be a standard of winning and laying of the groundwork for the 2021-2022 season.