As Matt McKillop navigates his third season leading Davidson (13-7, 3-4 A-10), the Wildcats find themselves in a precarious position—teetering between promise and frustration. The emergence of Reed Bailey as a star and flashes of brilliance show they can compete with the A-10’s best. Yet, inconsistency has prevented them from reaching their full potential, leaving their postseason fate hanging in the balance.
Bailey’s Breakout: A Star in the Making
Davidson’s offense runs through Reed Bailey, who has taken a massive leap in his junior year. Averaging 20.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 3.7 APG, he leads the Wildcats in all three categories while shooting an efficient 52.7% from the field and 54.2% from three. His emergence as a dominant, versatile big mirrors past Davidson greats like Peyton Aldridge and Luka Brajkovic—both of whom won A-10 Player of the Year honors as seniors while leading the Wildcats to NCAA Tournament bids.
A defining trait of Davidson’s success under both Bob and Matt McKillop has been their ability to recruit and develop skilled big men who impact the game in multiple ways. From Aldridge to Brajkovic and now Bailey, the Wildcats have thrived with forwards who not only score efficiently but also stretch the floor and facilitate. This emphasis on dynamic frontcourt players has remained a cornerstone of the program’s sustained success in the A-10.
Comparison of Junior Year Stats:
Bailey’s rise as a dominant force is a testament to Davidson’s recruiting success, but for the Wildcats to truly contend, the support around him—particularly in the form of a consistent third scorer—must emerge.
Durkin’s Rise & Davidson’s Strengths
Bobby Durkin has emerged as one of the A-10’s top three-point shooters, hitting 43.6% from deep (1st in A-10) while averaging 15+ PPG. His ability to stretch the floor is crucial to Davidson’s offense, providing a reliable secondary scoring option behind Bailey. After a career-high 28-point performance at Rhode Island, Durkin had a quiet game against St. Joe’s and a slow first half against Richmond. However, he responded well in the second half at Richmond, helping the Wildcats down the stretch—a sign of his ability to push through early struggles and make an impact late in games. His shooting has been invaluable, but Davidson must find additional scoring options to avoid over-relying on the Bailey-Durkin duo.
Beyond Bailey and Durkin, Davidson’s ability to develop players year over year remains a program staple. Freshmen Manie Joses and Roberts Blums have taken advantage of the Wildcats’ lack of guard depth, showing flashes of athleticism and defensive impact. Their emergence has been timely, as Davidson has struggled to get consistent backcourt production.
A prime example is fifth-year senior Connor Kochera, who looked excellent in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament but has since cooled off, averaging just 9.3 PPG in conference play. For Davidson to reach its full potential, Kochera must regain his early-season form and provide a much-needed scoring punch.
Another key strength for Davidson has been protecting Belk Arena, where they boast a 10-1 home record, with their only loss coming against St. Joe’s. Maintaining this home-court dominance will be crucial for securing a top conference finish. Additionally, Davidson leads the A-10 in turnovers per game (9.5), underscoring McKillop’s emphasis on ball security.
Key Weaknesses Holding the Wildcats Back
Despite their strengths, Davidson has struggled in several critical areas that have cost them games. Defensive consistency has been an issue, particularly in defending inside the arc. Opponent 2PT FG% was a major emphasis for Coach McKillop entering conference play, and while the Wildcats have made adjustments, they’ve still been vulnerable to high-percentage looks.
In response, McKillop has occasionally turned to a 1-3-1 zone, a defensive wrinkle that many opponents don’t have much experience playing against. Both Joses and Durkin have thrived at the top of the zone, using their length and athleticism to disrupt passing lanes and generate turnovers. While the zone has been effective in spurts, Davidson must find ways to sustain defensive intensity, especially against more physical teams.
Additionally, closing out halves and games has been a recurring issue, especially in losses to La Salle and Temple. Against La Salle, the Wildcats led by 17 points with four minutes left in the first half, only to collapse and lose—a defeat Zach Laput described as “one of the worst losses of a lot of our careers.” Davidson’s inability to withstand late-game pressure has hurt them multiple times this season.
Furthermore, guard depth remains a concern. Without a true primary ball-handler, Davidson has struggled at times against aggressive defensive pressure. Kochera and Mike Loughnane have done a serviceable job running the offense, but neither is a natural point guard. As a result, teams like VCU—known for their relentless defensive pressure—pose a significant challenge.
The Road Ahead
With games against George Mason and Dayton on the horizon, Davidson will need to bring their A-game. George Mason’s defensive intensity stifled Davidson in their first matchup, a 69-57 loss, and they will likely employ the same aggressive approach. Bailey has acknowledged the physicality of A-10 play, noting, “If they’re being physical with you, it’s a compliment to your game.” How Davidson responds to this physicality could determine their trajectory in the conference.
So, what should we expect moving forward? Davidson has held a double-digit lead in 15 of its 20 games, which indicates that when they are firing on all cylinders, they are a formidable opponent. With two blossoming stars, strong three-point shooting, and ball security, they are a team to watch. However, inconsistency remains a defining theme of their season—brilliant stretches followed by frustrating lapses. The future looks promising with Bailey, Durkin, and an emerging young core, but how McKillop’s third season ends is pivotal. If Davidson wants to continue its tradition of sending each graduating class to the NCAA Tournament, they’ll need to convert their potential into tangible success down the stretch.
