While I understand how fragile the team dynamic is, there are also plenty of reasons to take a shot:
- He didn't really...do anything. I mean, he's guilty of being a loose cannon who can't work with others, but that probably describes half this board. On the scale of things that are redeemable, I'll take that over what has plagued Brimah and Purvis. Plus, it might not be a bad thing to bring a guy in who is a bit of an egomaniac and is willing to punch somebody out. Dudes who have trouble losing gracefully is bad in a vacuum but perhaps also indicative of some qualities that are helpful in the long run. I bet there are plenty of stories of our former players doing, um, anti-social things during losing seasons. Just thinking about that Texas team I might try to punch somebody in the face and I'm the one who'd end up with the black eye. Keep in mind that Mack followed Smart over from VCU, right? Perhaps he was never a great fit with that program.
- We don't really have a pure three on the roster. Jackson and Larrier are better suited for the four in the college game. He's perfect for that spot. Larrier is also going to be coming off an ACL injury while Mack will A) have all the incentive in the world to prove he can be a team player, and B) be ready to go from the jump. You're getting a major talent on the cheap, and if Rasheed Sulaimon can work out at Maryland, I'm certainly not putting anything past anybody else.
- Kid can play. 15 on 46/40 splits as a sophomore is no joke. Big leap between his freshman and sophomore year and if he makes another one you're potentially talking about an all-American talent.