NC State Basketball
Maverick Rowan’s Expanding Game
In the second half aginst Rider, Maverick Rowan showcased how he is starting to expand his game. He is becoming more than just a jump shooter and is contributing beyond scoring points.
Improvements on defense:
On one particular defensive stop, Maverick jumped the passing lane and stole the ball taking it coast to coast. Not only did he anticipate, but he showed excellent ball handling and body control. Overall, the 6’8 wing has shown the ability to stay in front of his man and play good help side defense when needed. This is a big step for Mav who was seen as somewhat of a liability on the defensive end last season. Maybe it’s the conditioning, or maybe it’s just a little bit more want-to. Either way, Rowan’s defense has been much better this year.
Improvements in Versatility:
A missed shot from the perimeter led to a thunderous tip-slam that saw Maverick come out of nowhere to clean up the miss and finish with authority. Known primarily as a shooter, Rowan is slowly but surely showcasing his ability to score in a variety of way. He’s scored in the post, on the drive, off the pull-up, and beyond the arc.
Improvements in Efficiency:
Another area that Rowan is showing improvement is in his patients on the offensive end. Coming off of his freshman season we all know that Maverick can score with the best of them; however, he needed to improve his efficiency. Shot selection has improved this season as he is shooting 46% from the field. Opposing teams must respect Maverick’s shooting which helps everyone have more space to operate.
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Maverick has only played six games thus far as he missed games due to a concussion, but it is apparent that he is looking to affect the game in more ways than scoring. He is starting to use his size to mix it up on the glass as he is much stronger. Rowan is also competing on defense and is leveraging his length to contest shots. As the season marches on Maverick Rowan will get better as he becomes more comfortable coming off the bench and gains more rhythm after missing games due to injury.
Mav is an OK player. Great that he is expanding his game. I see him as the 8th or ninth off the bench this year.
Great article Tyler. Packinsider has become my #1 source for wolfpack news and opinion. Check for spelling errors though!
Maverick has definitely come into his own and I just pray he plans to graduate from state.
I like how Mav is not just settling for 3 point shots. As he mixes up his offense the defense will have to either sit back or play tight and I believe Mav has enough bb IQ to make the right decision based on the D he see’s. His defense will never be anything to write home about but his new size and strength should help him bang bodies and grab rebounds.