Brendan McKillop is the lone senior on the 2010-11 squad.
Depth, Versatility Should Help Wildcats Make a Run
11/9/2010 3:05:51 PM | Men's Basketball
2010-11 Men's Basketball Preview
Now in his 22nd season as Davidson's head basketball coach, Bob McKillop has seen just about everything the sport can dish out. Some of it bitter, mostly sweet. The vagaries of the college game are as compelling as they are challenging, which serves to keep McKillop fresh and in search of innovative ways to best coach each particular team.
Just in recent years, McKillop has experienced losing seven seniors to graduation only to come back the next year and go 17-1 in the Southern Conference, even though the experts in the preseason picked his team to finish fourth in the South Division. He rode a tidal wave of excitement in 2008 as Stephen Curry, Jason Richards, Thomas Sander and a strong supporting cast captured the nation's fancy by leading the Wildcats to the Elite Eight, only one measly basket from the Final Four.
Last season was the Year after Curry, and Davidson traveled a rocky road to finish 16-15 overall and 11-7 in the SoCon. It wasn't a poor season by any means, but it was frustrating. At several junctions, it appeared the team was on the verge of breaking out and doing special things only to hit a speed bump and drift back, momentum lost. The year came to a close on a lovely March afternoon in Charlotte when Elon bumped the Wildcats out of the SoCon tournament, thereby ending the program's hopes of continuing its tradition of playing basketball late into March.
The sudden end to the season left a sour taste – and a strong resolve for 2010-11. Even though Davidson lost four seniors from last year's team – Will Archambault, Bryant Barr, Steve Rossiter and Dan Nelms – there is ample excitement in the village as McKillop fields one of the deepest and potentially talented teams that he's had at Davidson.
That's on paper, of course; the games are played on hardwood.
There's only one senior on the team (Brendan McKillop), which means the team is a blend of mostly young players that have extraordinary potential.
“Because of the different skill levels of our players, I believe this is one of the deepest and most versatile teams we've had at Davidson,” McKillop said.
There are many reasons why he can say that and be comfortable with it. He has four players on the team, for instance, who could play point guard and do it well. He could put a lineup of four guards on the court at one time and feel good about its chances. His big men are athletic and skilled enough to play with their back to the basket or step out to the 3-point arc. He has enough of them that fatigue should not be a factor.
While McKillop's preferred defense is man-to-man (and that's not likely to change), he has size and quickness available that might well entice him to mix in more than a token amount of zone.
The elements are there that could make this an extraordinary team. It has to be molded, no doubt about it. To win a blue ribbon, McKillop will have to blend the ingredients perfectly. He's done it many times before, so there's no doubting on the part of his players.
Does the team have question marks? Certainly. Name a team that doesn't. The Wildcats need to stay healthy, players with vast potential must take it from the practice floor to game night, and Iowa State transfer Clint Mann and the team's freshmen must adjust quickly in order to make meaningful contributions. They're capable.
While Davidson will miss the experience, competitiveness and skills of last year's four seniors, statistically, the loss is not as severe as in some years past. For example, when Curry, Andrew Lovedale and Max Paulhus Gosselin left the program two years ago, they took with them 45.6 points and 17.1 rebounds a game. Davidson must replace 23 points and 14.6 rebounds from last year's graduating class.
In fact, three of the four leading scorers from last year's team return – Jake Cohen, JP Kuhlman, and Brendan McKillop.
“I'm excited,” Coach McKillop says, “very excited to coach this team.”
“This is the most skilled, versatile and deepest frontcourt that we've had in quite some time,” McKillop said. “Our big men are skilled and athletic enough to run in transition, play with their back to the basket or step out and score from the perimeter, as well as create points for us with their play on the offensive glass.”
McKillop loves the depth he sees for his team in the frontcourt. It will allow his “bigs” to play with the throttle wide open without worrying about fatigue. When they tire, they'll be able to get a rest and be replaced by another player with the talent and athleticism to maintain the attacking offenses and defenses that McKillop teaches.
Here's a look at Davidson's frontcourt players:
FRANK BEN-EZE: What Ben-Eze needs more than anything this season is a large dose of old-fashioned luck that would enable him to play the entire season free of injuries. He's been plagued with knee problems since coming to Davidson, but seems to be in the best health since he arrived on campus (knock on wood).
Ben-Eze is a junior – a huge one – 6-foot-10, 237 pounds, long arms, a knack for timing that makes him a good shot-blocker and a defensive intimidator in the paint. His offensive game has lagged somewhat mainly because injuries have robbed him of valuable playing experience.
After two years in Davidson's program, Ben-Eze seems much more comfortable on the court. “Frank's lack of playing experience due to his injuries set him back,” McKillop said. “But now he's learning the strengths and weaknesses of his game, which will assist him greatly in becoming a more effective player. His potential is such that he has his coaching staff excited about his possibilities.”
If he remains in good health, Ben-Eze's role on the team will be significant. He played in 27 games last season, averaged nine minutes a game and 1.5 points and 2.4 rebounds. He had 20 blocked shots in limited playing time that ranked third on the team.
BEN ALLISON: Gregarious, keen sense of humor, full of desire. Oozing with basketball potential. All of those characteristics are accurate in describing the Davidson junior from West Sussex, England.
Allison, 6-foot-9, played in all of Davidson's 31 games last season and averaged six points and 4.4 rebounds. He played the entire season with a left shoulder injury that was corrected surgically in the offseason. He reported to training camp feeling much better than he did at any point last season.
Allison's challenge is to take some absolutely brilliant moments from the practice court to games. If he does, he could be one of the best big men in the SoCon. His teammates marvel at some of the things they see him do in practice, from monster jams to rebounding, blocking shots and running the court. No one can doubt his athleticism, that's for sure.
“Ben has a chance this season to make his mark,” McKillop said. “He's as healthy as he's been while at Davidson, and now it's up to him to capitalize on this opportunity.”
“Will might well be our toughest and hardest-working player,” McKillop said. “If he's healthy, I think you'll see him get his minutes here and there.”
Reigel is so highly thought of by his teammates that he was elected along with Brendan McKillop as team co-captains. He played in 12 games last season.
CLINT MANN: No one on Davidson's team is looking forward to the season more than Mann, a 6-foot-7 sophomore.
Mann redshirted last season after transferring to Davidson from Iowa State in the Big 12. He played sparsely as a freshman at Iowa State and wasn't eligible by NCAA transfer rules to play in Davidson games last season. In other words, he hasn't played much competitive basketball since high school, and there could be some time before he's up to full speed.
That's not to suggest that Mann didn't take full advantage of his redshirt year. He practiced with the team, learned the McKillop system, meshed with his teammates on and off the court and believes that he improved his game in all areas.
Sitting out a season of competitive games made him realize how much he missed basketball. He's fired up and ready to roll.
“Clint has great potential,” McKillop said. “He was our top recruiting prospect three years ago but decided to enroll at Iowa State instead. He spent last season learning the Davidson system and handled the year quite well. He is athletically skilled and tough. He can score with his back to the basket, off offensive rebounds and can run the court. He can also step out and make the 3-point shot.
“There could be some rust on his game at the beginning of the season. He had limited playing time at Iowa State and a redshirt season last year, so it's been awhile since he's played competitively. But I expect him to be a real valuable player for us as the season progresses.”
Cohen, a 6-foot-10 sophomore, has the versatility to score both inside and outside. He spent much of last summer practicing and playing for the Israeli National Team in the European Championships where he not only improved his basketball skills but became stronger physically and more confident.
“Jake had a very successful freshman season,” McKillop said. “He is stronger, more skilled and more experienced this year and should be even more of a presence for us. He catches the ball well, can spot up and shoot the 'three' and is comfortable playing with his back to the basket. The physical banging he took in his freshman season along with the experience he gained playing for the Israeli team prepared him well for this season.”
DE'MON BROOKS: He's a freshman from Hopewell High School just down the road from Davidson. He's 6-foot-7, 223, but don't be surprised if he plays bigger than that.
Talk to anyone that has played with or against Brooks and they'll tell you that he has a motor that never stops and refuses to give up on a play.
“He has great instincts on offense and defense,” McKillop said, “and is a versatile player. He has the potential to be a special rebounder because he attacks the offensive glass ferociously. He will be a crowd favorite for our fans because they will be excited about the fire that he brings to the court. He showed the knack for learning our system quickly, and I expect him to be a part of the rotation.”
Mackay, who is from North Berwick, Scotland, played last season for the Under-20 team in England and was coached there by Tim Lewis, who coached Ben Allison and is very familiar with the Davidson program.
McKillop investigated and like what he saw in Mackay.
“He is a player who needs more development,” McKillop said. “But we've already seen enough of him to be extremely excited about his basketball future. He is tough, competitive and skilled. He is working hard in the weight room here and gained weight since arriving on campus. I think he's going to be another in a long line of European frontcourt players that have excelled in our program. It's going to be a process for him, but he's a determined young man who is willing to work hard.”
The Backcourt
Davidson has a wealth of backcourt talent and versatility. McKillop says he has at least four players on the roster who are capable of playing both point guard and shooting guard. He surveys the inventory of perimeter talent and hints that he could play a four-guard lineup effectively.
“We have the versatility and depth in our backcourt to show our opponents many different looks,” McKillop said. “Much of it will depend on the defensive abilities of our sophomore perimeter players and how quickly our freshmen learn our defensive schemes.”
BRENDAN McKILLOP: He is a highly-experienced player – the team's only senior — who has groomed himself to be the leader of the team from his point guard position and his role as co-captain. He started all of Davidson's 31 games as a junior while averaging 33 minutes a game (the most on the team), 10.2 points and four assists. He shot 38 percent from beyond the arc and 73 percent from the foul line.
He worked hard in the offseason in conditioning, lost weight and gained speed and quickness and improved his ballhandling.
“He's taken a hands-on role as a leader of the team,” Coach McKillop said. “He set the tone for the work ethic of our team by the way he worked himself in conditioning. He knows our system by heart and is willing to be the team's catalyst from his point guard position. It will be his responsibility to set the tone for us and create offensive and defensive tempo.”
AJ ATKINSON: He's a 6-foot-6 junior who played in five games last season, a statistic that doesn't come close to measuring his importance to the team which comes from his positive leadership and ability and willingness to work hard in practice to push the starters to become better players.
“A.J. plays a vital role for us and has improved his basketball step by step since joining our team two years ago,” McKillop said. “He has grasped our system and always pushes himself in his attempt to become part of our rotation.”
JP KUHLMAN: Coach McKillop expected Kuhlman to have a standout freshman season. “I thought he was good, but he far exceeded our expectations,” the coach said. “He had a magnificent freshman year.”
Kuhlman, a 6-foot-4 sophomore, was second on the team in scoring at 12.6 points a game. He demonstrated the skill and physical attributes to score by driving to the rim, shooting the 3-pointer or showing off his strong game from the foul line area. He played in all 31 Davidson games as a freshman and seems to be vastly improved this year.
“He spent his off-season working hard to improve his skills and strength,” McKillop said. “He is much improved over last year and has the size and skill to play three positions for us – the point, shooting guard, or small forward. His confidence continues to grow as he understands how valuable he is to our team. He's well on his way to becoming one of the great guards in Davidson history.”
NIK COCHRAN: He earned his stripes last year as a freshman by being a relentless and fearless player. He's a 6-foot-3 sophomore, who saw his playing time increase as the season went along. He averaged 3.9 points while playing in 28 games.
He excels as a defender and wins praise from coaches and teammates for his consistent hustle in chasing down long rebounds and getting loose balls.
“Nik has a great attitude,” McKillop said. “He is tough, competitive and unafraid. He carved out playing time for himself last year because of the way he played. We didn't miss a beat when he went on the court. He attacks relentlessly, is versatile enough to play three positions and is always dangerous with the ball because of his ability to create.”
TOM DRONEY: He was a highly-recruited player from Sewickley Academy in Pittsburgh where he averaged 21.6 points and 7.1 rebounds as a senior. Standing 6-foot-6, this freshman fits into this year's mold of Davidson players who have great versatility.
“He was highly recruited and showed why in our preseason practices where he was impressive,” McKillop said. “He is big, skilled and versatile and should see time this season at the point as well as the wing. He's big enough to cause opposing point guards trouble on defense as well as being able to post them up. He will certainly be in our rotation as a freshman.”
JORDAN DOWNING: He was a star player along with De'Mon Brooks at Hopewell High. He is 6-foot-5, has long arms, and lives and breathes basketball. He guarded all five positions as a high school player.
“He showed in high school and also in our practices that he has a special knack for scoring,” McKillop said. “He can shoot the jumper, slash to the basket, and he can post up and score. His size, strength and athleticism afford him an opportunity to become a great perimeter defender. As he becomes more acquainted with our system, he'll earn playing time. The talent is there for him to make our rotation as a freshman.”
“He has tremendous size and strength for a wing,” McKillop said. “He's very competitive and had an excellent early fall practice. He had hip surgery in the fall that will keep him out of our lineup until mid-December. His presence on the court would allow us to go to the four-guard lineup as a change of pace. I believe he will be an impact player for us.”
The Davidson Way
Bob McKillop surveys the Southern Conference and says succinctly: “There will be no easy games for us. I think from top to bottom the Southern Conference is the strongest that it's been since I've been here.”
McKillop always tries to build his non-conference schedule in a way that gives his players a chance to play against every style imaginable while putting them in hotly-competitive situations. He believes in having his team tested on the road against good teams in hostile environments.
It's the best way, he believes, to have his team ready to navigate the regular-season SoCon schedule and conference tournament on a journey that quite often winds up with Davidson playing postseason basketball.
“We wanted our schedule to put us in position to compete against excellent teams,” McKillop said. “We certainly accomplished that. And we wanted our players to have a chance to play in some famous, historic arenas. We accomplished that, too, as we travel to Madison Square Garden, the Palestra and Vanderbilt's Memorial Gym.”
The schedule will test the Wildcats, that for sure. They play in the Puerto Rico Tipoff against an extremely strong field and open there versus West Virginia, which made the Final Four last season. There will be road games at Pennsylvania, Vanderbilt, Rhode Island and against St. John's in the opening round of the Holiday Festival in Madison Square Garden. There will be a road game in ESPN's BracketBuster series on Feb. 19 against an opponent to be named later.
The Davidson-Charlotte rivalry will be renewed on Dec. 11 at Davidson after a two-year recess.
McKillop's preferred style is to attack offensively and defensively. But he might have the weapons this season to throw a multitude of different things at opponents, sort of like a star baseball pitcher with a wide assortment of pitches, some fast, some slow, some medium speed. It's hard for batters to get a read on what's coming next.
“Because of our depth we ought to be able to play 40 minutes with a great deal of energy,” McKillop said. “We want to run and push the tempo on offense. Because of our size, we can put a big team on the court defensively if we choose, so we might work more zone into our repertoire this season than usual. Of course, the depth and athleticism also makes it possible for us to press all over the court. This is a very versatile team, maybe the most versatile we've had at Davidson.”
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