Jay Bilas picks DMac ("a poor man's Deron Williams") as one of '"10 key basketball players with something to prove" this year. He was the 10th listed. Raymar Morgan was the only other B10 player listed. Main rap: because he can hit tough shots, he takes too many of them. He's much better now, strength-wise, at getting into the lane and is "solid defensively". If he improves his floor leadership, decisions, and "overall efficiency, he will be the difference for Illinois."

McCamey will have a great season if he stays healthy. Take it to the bank.

I think it is fair to put him in this category. All signs point to him making improvements this year. Bruce doesn't go out of his way to pat anyone on the back so I would read his praise of McCamey's offseason as a sign of good things to come.

I think people are buying into the 'much improved' McCamey meme a bit too quickly.

He's a liability shooting perimeter 3's when you look at his numbers (just 31% from three last year). I'm not sure being lighter is going to help that much. Certainly he can still contribute by improving his penetration and thus play making as our main point guard. But there will be even more pressure on him this year to shoot well and to make smart decisions with Frazier and Meacham gone. Time will tell.

Disagree, there will be a lot less pressure on him to score. Loved Mech and Frazier, but neither could create their own shot.

There were times McCamey was forced to put the ball up.

THis year we will have more scoring options. McCamey will be able to take better shots, I would expect his 3pt shooting will go up significantly. Also being in better condition gives you better legs at the end of games

I think we will see a banner year out of McCamey.

Having said that, I dont think McCamey has anything to 'prove', unless we are talking about the potential for him to be a NBA player.

Once again proving me right.....thanks Jay.

Once again, patting yourself on the back for something vague that many folks have been saying longer than you?

NOT HARDLY, most people were telling us that DM was the next Deron Williams, but I have been right

about him since he was a soph in HS. Amazing how I'm ALWAYS right isn't it?

Huh?

I have seen people compare his game to Deron's but not once have I seen someone say he WAS the next Deron.

the games are similar, but clearly Deron is a better player.

Now I think there is a real possibility that McCamey's weight loss might well give him a chance to make the next step of becoming an NBA player, lets see how high his intensity is this season, and lets see if he is a couple of steps quicker.

NOt sure I have really seen a whole lot of people, if anyone that has suggest McCamey was the 'next' Deron. and fewer telling you that you were wrong.

Settle down. Nobody said he was gonna be the next Deron.

There was a comparison made based on projected skill set more than anything else. I'm not sure I even think their games are much alike anyway.

Either way, Bilas is right about McCamey. It's a big year for him.