Louisville basketball 2018-19: Ryan McMahon trends upward as a junior

Danielle Lerner | Courier Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Ryan McMahon speaks after Louisville's season ends Louisville guard Ryan McMahon recaps the team's season-ending loss to Mississippi State.

Ryan McMahon wears No. 30 in homage to Stephen Curry, and this season will look to cement his reputation as the University of Louisville's own Splash Brother.

The guard is known among fans for his long-range shooting and for hitting clutch shots in big moments, like in Louisville's close wins over Indiana and Florida State last season.

Entering his redshirt junior season, McMahon is one of two returning scholarship guards on the roster. His presence should provide some stability for the Cards as well as a spark off the bench.

Here's the outlook for McMahon in 2018-19:

More improvements ahead

McMahon is poised to continue trending upwards after featuring as one of Louisville's most improved players last season.

The guard missed the first seven games of the 2017-18 regular season with a rib fracture but still logged the most minutes of Louisville's reserve players, more than doubling his playing time from 2016-17.

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In fact, McMahon doubled his production in every facet of the game; he averaged 15.6 minutes, 6.1 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists last season compared to 6.3 minutes, 2.5 points. 0.5 rebounds and 0.6 assists as a freshman.

In McMahon, the Cards have a constant shooting threat and another adept ball handler. He plays with confidence and court awareness on both ends of the floor, averaging 0.9 steals per game.

Already a great perimeter player, McMahon can round out his inside game if he continues to work on his overall strength. That will help him out-muscle opponents for defensive rebounds and finish through contact at the rim to become a threat in the paint as well.

How will he fit in Mack's system?

McMahon's experience and ability to initiate offense are his biggest assets. That said, the 6-foot, 170-pound guard lacks size and athleticism compared to some teammates and will almost certainly continue to come off the bench for coach Chris Mack this season.

Mack's physical offense relies on post play and pick-and-rolls, and while McMahon would likely be the ball-handler in that situation, his catch-and-shoot ability means he has the potential to come off screens as a pick-and-pop option as well.

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However, McMahon has proven he can make an impact even without starting. He can rotate in for Louisville's starting point guard or play as an off-guard to help with ball handling.

Mack pegged McMahon as one of the players who "don't have ups and downs in terms of their effort."

"I think Ryan has been an everyday guy," Mack said. "He's done a really good job of picking up things on both ends of the floor, how we want to play, and I think he's a selfless player. I don't think that goes understated."

How much McMahon plays will ultimately be determined by how well combo guards Khwan Fore and Darius Perry mesh with Christen Cunningham, the top candidate to start at point guard.

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Although Mack said in July that he couldn't yet identify one player as the "voice of our team," he acknowledged that one of McMahon's most important roles with the Cards is his status as an experienced leader who other players look up to.

"Ry's an older guy, an experienced guy, and I think that counts for a lot," Mack said. "You want to be led by guys who have character and have belief in their teammates, and Ryan's certainly personified that."

Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; dlerner@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/daniellel.