What can Xavier fans expect from JP Macura this year?

JP Macura may very well be the most interesting player in the Big East.

Talent? Check. He was the Big East Sixth Man of the Year.

An uncanny ability to get under the skin of opponents and opposing fans? Check. Ask Butler fans.

An incident involving his pants and a Cincinnati watering hole? Check.

With all of that in mind, let’s dive into what Musketeers fans can expect from the Lakeville, Minnesota native.

Part of the reason Macura landed the Sixth Man of the Year Award was due to that fact that his Offensive Rating (points produced per 100 possessions) was 121.1 in Big East play, third best in the conference. While this is just one stat, it’s a good measure of how valuable Macura was to the Musketeers coming off the bench.

Additionally, Macura’s True Shooting % (60.2) and Effective Field Goal % (56.1) were sixth and eighth in the conference, respectively. Macura was also the third best free throw shooter in the Big East during conference play, going 32-37 (.865).

On the other side of the ball, Macura’s quick hands led to a 2.7% Steal %, which was in the top 10 of the conference, as well.

There’s a chance that Macura finds himself in the starting lineup this season, depending on how Chris Mack wants to do things. Edmond Sumner and Myles Davis will be the starting guards, Trevon Bluiett and RaShid Gaston will be in the lineup as well, likely as the four and five.

If the Musketeers choose to go small, which might be their only option given the lack of experienced size on the roster, Macura should start at small forward.