Ball above all
Basketball is life for redshirt McNees
Vincent Dorsey
Issue date: 2/5/08 Section: Sports
"The thing about him is he came in last year and got his eyes opened up," Dambrot said. "What happens is some people don't do anything about it and others do. He did something about it in the spring and summer. He's worked his tail off."
McNees said that his redshirt year not only allowed him to prepare for a successful collegiate basketball career, but also gave him a greater appreciation for the game he's played since childhood.
"Redshirting last year, it gave me a chance to sit back," he said. "It gave me a chance to improve, but it also made me appreciate the game."
McNees has played in all but one of UA's games and is averaging 6.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 21.4 minutes a game.
Dambrot described the New Castle, Pa. native as a great teammate and a player that listens to and responds to coaching
"The thing that makes him is that he is of the highest character," he said. "He's a quality guy.
"You can get on him (and) you can coach him."
Even when the Zips' coaching staff is not instructing McNees, he's still receiving advice from his father, who has been to almost all of UA's games the past two seasons.
"Still today, I talk to him every day and he's helping me," McNees said.
After UA's defeat of Eastern Michigan, 80-61 Saturday, McNees and the rest of the Zips (16-5, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) will travel to Western Michigan in a three-way tie with Kent State and Ohio University for first place in the MAC East.
McNees said that his redshirt year not only allowed him to prepare for a successful collegiate basketball career, but also gave him a greater appreciation for the game he's played since childhood.
"Redshirting last year, it gave me a chance to sit back," he said. "It gave me a chance to improve, but it also made me appreciate the game."
McNees has played in all but one of UA's games and is averaging 6.2 points, 2.2 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 21.4 minutes a game.
Dambrot described the New Castle, Pa. native as a great teammate and a player that listens to and responds to coaching
"The thing that makes him is that he is of the highest character," he said. "He's a quality guy.
"You can get on him (and) you can coach him."
Even when the Zips' coaching staff is not instructing McNees, he's still receiving advice from his father, who has been to almost all of UA's games the past two seasons.
"Still today, I talk to him every day and he's helping me," McNees said.
After UA's defeat of Eastern Michigan, 80-61 Saturday, McNees and the rest of the Zips (16-5, 6-2 Mid-American Conference) will travel to Western Michigan in a three-way tie with Kent State and Ohio University for first place in the MAC East.
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