Right now, Doug McDermott could very easily be in the middle of an unremarkable rookie season in the NBA. He could just as easily be having a solid year, preparing to embark on another nondescript road trip.
At the next level, icons often become ordinary. But he returned for his senior season, and starting this week — and possibly stretching for another three weeks or so — Creighton’s superstar will never stand out more.
McDermott is to Creighton what oxygen is to humans. A sublime shooter and the nation’s leading-scorer (26.9 points), he leads a historically efficient offense, though none of his teammates average more than 11 points.
On Saturday night against Providence, he scored 27 points and nearly willed the Bluejays to the Big East Championship, nailing 3-pointer after 3-pointer, each one longer than the last.
When the comeback fell short, McDermott was disappointed, but not dejected.
He couldn’t conquer New York, but he could still conquer the nation.
“I think the highlight of our season is still to come,” McDermott said after the game.
The NCAA Tournament may be the highlight of his career, a highlight to span generations.
An Iowa native who was overshadowed on his high school team by former UNC standout Harrison Barnes and wasn’t considered good enough to play for his father at Iowa State, McDermott enters the tournament as the fifth-leading scorer in NCAA history.
A man of many names, McBuckets has long been a star. And no stars are beloved like the college stars. Their fleeting nature creates folk heroes. See: Fredette, Jimmer; Curry, Stephen; Bird, Larry. The smaller the school, the more intrigue.
In Middle America, McDermott made a mid-major team a major program. He made Omaha feel worthy of Madison Square Garden.
Now, he leads one of 68 teams towards history.
There are multiple teams with better odds of winning the title, but no player more likely to sew his own cape, strap it on and carry a team, school and city to six straight wins.
The highlights come every March, reminding us it has been done before — Danny Manning at Kansas, Kemba Walker at Connecticut, David Thompson at N.C. State. Their titles stand out because they stood out.
The greatest teams don’t always endure. The greatest players and the greatest performances do.
“In my opinion, he’s the best player in college basketball,” said Providence coach Ed Cooley.
In most opinions, he is. But opinions change. Opinions fade.
There will always be more best players. There will always be more memories, eventually making McDermott feel as distant as Adam Morrison.
In 2006, Morrison was a phenomenon before his lackluster pro career made him a punch line. In his junior season, he led the nation in scoring and led Gonzaga to the edge of the Elite Eight.
How is the season remembered? With Morrison face down on the floor, ridiculed for bawling uncontrollably in his final collegiate game.
The NCAA Tournament changes everything.
McDermott may be an NBA lottery pick. In future years, he may even be an All-Star.
But he will never matter more to basketball again. And that’s OK. This time of year, nothing matters more.
“The best is yet to come for us,” said McDermott.
The best for him is the best for the tournament — the best for all of us.