Roster Review: Janel McCarville

Kyle Ratke
Web Editorial Associate
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Editorï¿½s Note: Every Tuesday, Kyle Ratke will be reviewing a member of the Minnesota Lynx. We will review the playerï¿½s best games, offseason plans and more. On Thursday, there will be a photo gallery to match the weekï¿½s featured player.

Janel McCarville, C

Age:31

Years Pro: 6

College: Minnesota

When the Minnesota Lynx traded Candice Wiggins in a 3-team trade that ultimately landed them Janel McCarville, there were plenty of questions.

McCarville, of course, played for the University of Minnesota womenï¿½s basketball team back in 2004 during the teamï¿½s big Final Four push. Her and Lindsay Whalen became household names and helped put Minnesota womenï¿½s basketball on the map.

But coming into the season, though, McCarville hadnï¿½t played in the WNBA since 2010.

The center quickly answered any and all questions. As she got into shape during Training Camp, her knack for finding open teammates became obvious and it seemed like she was perfect for a team with offensive threats like Whalen, Seimone Augustus and Maya Moore. Throughout the season, her role became extremely important for the Lynx and she averaged a career-high 2.9 assists per game while helping the Lynx win the 2013 title in her first season with the squad.

The thing that made McCarville so effective was that she didnï¿½t need to score to be effective. Sheï¿½s like a point guard, only one that can play the post and rebound as well. It was nice for fans to see her shooting improve throughout the season. At the beginning of the season, fans questioned her 3-point shots. By the end of the season, fans were urging her to shoot more.

This offseason, McCarville will likely work more on her shooting and if she does indeed improve in that area, sheï¿½ll help the Lynx stretch the floor and could become and even more valuable piece to the puzzle in 2014.

Regular Season Stats:

32 games, 32 starts, 21.9 minutes per game, 6.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds per game, 2.9 assists per game (career-high), 0.7 blocks per game, one steal per game, 48.8 FG%, 42.9 3P% (career-high), 90.4 FT%

Playoff Stats:

7 games (career-high), 7 starts (career-high), 24.6 minutes per game, 5.7 points per game, five rebounds per game, 3.4 assists per game, 1.1 blocks per game, 1.1 steals per game, 48.6 FG%, 50 3P% (career-high), 62.5 FT%

Best Game:

McCarville stepped up big when her team needed her most. On Oct. 8 during Game 2 of the WNBA Finals against the Atlanta Dream at the Target Center, McCarville finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, four assists and a steal. What was most impressive was how efficient McCarville was in her 26 minutes. The center shot 5-of-7 from the field. She outplayed opposing center Erika de Souza, who finished with eight points and eight rebounds. McCarvilleï¿½s four assists also matched Angel McCoughtryï¿½s mark that led her entire team. McCarville had a +/- of +33, which was a game high.

Offseason Plans:

McCarville is playing for CCC Polkowice (Poland), part of BLK and the Euroleague. In six BLK matchups, McCarville is averaging 16.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists. Sheï¿½s playing 26.7 minutes per game, while shooting an impressive 60 percent from the field, 50 percent from the 3-point line and 78.6 percent free-throw line. In six EuroCup games, sheï¿½s averaging 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds over 27.5 minutes per game. Sheï¿½s shooting 30 percent from the 3-point line, 45.6 percent from the field and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line. McCarvilleï¿½s last game came on Dec. 7 and she scored 16 points (6-11 FG, 2-4 3FG, 2-2FT) to go along with five rebounds. Her team fell 69-61 to AZS Gorzow.

They Said It:

"For Janel it's cool because this is what she worked for all year. This is why she worked so hard all season, this is one of the reasons why she came back, to put herself in this situation to be in the playoffs to play on a really good team, so now it comes down to it, now it's time to play." ï¿½ Lynx guard Lindsay Whalen on McCarville getting back to the postseason. Whalen and McCarville were also teammates at the University of Minnesota.

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