Guard Eric McClellan, who averaged 14.4 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game in 12 games at Vanderbilt last season before being suspended for the remainder of the 2013-14 season in early January, is expected to give Gonzaga a needed lift on the perimeter when he becomes eligible. With his ability to play both on and off the basketball, and the Bulldogs expected to redshirt Josh Perkins (broken jaw), McClellan being able to play beginning with the Bulldogs’ game against San Francisco Thursday is a big deal.
Unfortunately McClellan’s debut in a Gonzaga uniform will have to wait at least two weeks, as it was reported by Darnay Tripp of KREM 2 in Spokane that the redshirt junior has a slight bone break in his right foot. McClellan will be reevaluated in two weeks.
Eric McClellan will have to wait to make his debut. Slight bone break in foot, will be reevaluated in two weeks. pic.twitter.com/yFE4zJfZmx
— Darnay Tripp (@DarnayTripp) January 7, 2015
The biggest beneficiary of McClellan’s presence on the court will in all likelihood be Kevin Pangos, who’s logged more than 35 minutes per game this season. With the loss of Perkins the senior has been the one asked by Mark Few to initiate things offensively.
Adding McClellan to the mix will, provided he hits the ground running upon his return to the court, give Pangos more time off to play off the ball and look for his shot. While Pangos’ shooting percentages are improved from last year to this, he’s also attempting almost three shots per game fewer than he did in 2013-14.