NCAAM: Finding the next Doug McDermott

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Mar 14, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans forward Branden Dawson (22) takes a shot against Northwestern Wildcats center Alex Olah (22) in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten college basketball tournament at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Branden Dawson, Michigan State

Season	School	Conf	G	MP	FG%	2P%	3P%	FT%	TRB	AST	STL	BLK	TOV	PF	PTS
2011-12	Michigan State	Big Ten	31	20.6	.577	.586	.000	.594	4.5	0.9	0.9	0.8	1.4	1.3	8.4
2012-13	Michigan State	Big Ten	36	26.9	.531	.541	.000	.538	5.9	1.3	1.6	0.9	2.0	1.6	8.9
2013-14	Michigan State	Big Ten	28	28.3	.613	.615	.000	.656	8.3	1.6	1.3	0.9	1.3	1.5	11.2
Career	Michigan State		95	25.3	.571	.578	.000	.592	6.1	1.3	1.3	0.9	1.6	1.5	9.4

Provided by Sports-Reference.com/CBB: View Original Table
Generated 7/28/2014.

This is my long-shot pick to be next year’s version of McDermott. Unfortunately, Dawson hasn’t made a three in his whole career at Michigan State. That’s seriously troubling, but better late than never to start making threes, right?

Next season, Dawson will have to take on a much bigger role with the Spartans… and make some outside shots. Tom Izzo needs Dawson to take that leap offensively and help carry the scoring load. At 6’6”, Dawson has the size and strength to play down low and that’s great, but in the NBA, Dawson will have to be able to play small forward and make shots, at least corner threes. I fully expect Izzo has been making Dawson shoot jumper after jumper this offseason to expand his range.

The funny thing is Dawson, the Gary, Indiana product, shot better than 60 percent last season. I’m convinced he has the ability to be a capable scorer, like Draymond Green was at MSU, but Dawson needs to shoot more. If he can do that, while keeping his low post game and rebounding the same, Dawson has a great chance to make a real run at player of the year.

On the downside, Dawson only has one more season to make his mark at Michigan State and on college basketball as a whole. He’s not the scoring machine McDermott was, but Dawson can pick up the scoring next season. He’ll have to if Michigan State is going to be even somewhat successful next season.