Preview by Matt Versichelli
Picked 11th in the preseason poll, Davidson finished 10–8 in A-10 play to secure the No. 6 seed in the conference tournament. The Wildcats built their season around defense and depth, finishing first in the league in scoring defense (67.4 PPG allowed) while regularly utilizing a 10-man rotation with no player averaging more than 25.1 minutes per game. The result was Matt McKillop’s first winning A-10 season in his fourth year leading the program.
Regular Season Recap
The Wildcats’ top contributors were Roberts Blums, Josh Scovens, and Parker Friedrichsen. Blums led Davidson in scoring despite never starting a game — a rare statistical anomaly — while Friedrichsen provided consistent perimeter shooting and defensive activity on the wing. Scovens anchored the frontcourt and led the team on the glass. Davidson also received significant minutes and impact from its freshman class, with Ian Platteeuw and Devin Brown essentially becoming every-night starters while Nick Coval carved out a steady role in the rotation.
While Davidson never quite secured a signature win, several opportunities were close. The Wildcats fell to Duquesne in double overtime at Belk Arena on Stephen Curry Night, went down to the wire with VCU in a 75–69 loss, and had a ranked Saint Louis team on the ropes in the first half before ultimately falling. Davidson did some of its best work away from home, going 6–3 in A-10 road games. One statistical quirk defined the Wildcats’ season: Davidson shot 36.6 percent from three but struggled at the free throw line, finishing among the worst teams nationally at 65.8 percent — an issue that proved costly in a narrow road loss to Fordham.
Tournament Path
Davidson opens A-10 Tournament play against the winner of Richmond and Loyola Chicago. The Wildcats swept both teams during the regular season, defeating Loyola Chicago twice by double digits and earning two wins over Richmond, including a dominant 79–54 road victory in January. Still, the old adage often applies in tournament settings — it’s difficult to beat the same team three times in a season, and whoever Davidson faces will enter Thursday’s matchup with momentum after a win the day before.
If the Wildcats advance, they will face No. 3 seed Saint Joseph’s in the quarterfinals. The teams split the regular-season series, with Davidson earning a 62–56 road win in Philadelphia before falling 70–67 in the rematch at Belk Arena — a game the Wildcats played without leading scorer Roberts Blums due to illness.
Blums is expected to return for the tournament opener, and his absence in that matchup also opened the door for Sam Brown to find some offensive rhythm late in the season. Brown, who struggled at times during conference play, scored a combined 35 points over the Wildcats’ final two games. Davidson also showed its depth in the regular-season finale, rallying to defeat St. Bonaventure on the road without both Blums and Scovens to secure a winning conference record.
If Davidson advances past its opening matchup, a rubber match with Saint Joseph’s in the quarterfinals feels like a toss-up and a game the Wildcats are capable of winning. A semifinal appearance appears to be the most realistic outcome, but the ceiling is higher. Davidson defends well, shoots the ball effectively from three, and has the depth to handle the grind of multiple games in a short span. The goal for every Davidson team is to be playing its best basketball in March, and it appears Matt McKillop’s group will have that opportunity in Pittsburgh. Historically, the No. 6 seed has also been a dangerous line in this tournament, producing three champions in the last six years.
