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If you’ve been following this team at all, it’s been pretty clear that CJ Massinburg is the best player. He’s been “the man” all season and is producing at such a high rate. But now, in the past three games, he’s gotten a new teammate. Wes Clark, the 5th year senior transfer from Mizzou. Clark has been a stud so far this season, and has seemed to elevate the play of this team, in something I like to call, the Wes Clark factor.
For starters, Clark has scored 19.7 PPG and even more impressive has 6.7 APG. He’s a factor on offense and has extremely quick hands on defense. In OT against NJIT, you saw him take off and pull the Bulls off of upset alert. With Clark, the Bulls have added another weapon to their loaded back court, which is going to be crucial for them in MAC play. When Dontay Caruthers returns, Clark, Jordan, Massinburg, and Caruthers will be the deadliest combo of guards in the MAC by far. No matter who is out on the court, this team will be dangerous at the top of the key.
So how does it alter other factors of the game? Clark’s ability to get to the rim is huge. As he continues to attack the basket with strong vision, you’re going to see an increase in the play of Ikenna Smart and Montell McCrae. Both of those players are best when they don’t dribble, and Clark’s ability to dish to them under the basket should create open looks for them to finish inside.
His ability to get inside is also going to have a direct boost to Jeremy Harris. From what I’ve seen, Harris does not like contested threes. Who does? But Clark’s ability to drive and dish is going to create more open looks for Harris who seems to be a great shooter when he gets clean looks off.
Overall, you’ve started to see this already, but Clark is the missing piece this team needs to get over the hump. He’s going to be a stud, even though we only get to enjoy him for a semester. If he helps lead us to a MACC and maybe even an NCAAT upset win, he will be worth every second we’ve got to enjoy him. I can’t wait to see how this team performs in the MAC with him.