This preview is part of the Atlantic 10's 2020-21 Men's Basketball Tipoff, which also includes A-10 media day, the preseason poll and awards and the 2020-21 schedule. The previews, written by Patrick Stevens, began on Nov. 10 and will continue through the week. Once released, each preview can be found here.
DAVIDSON ESSENTIALS
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There’s little question where much of the attention will settle when Davidson takes the floor this winter.
On the perimeter, there’s senior Kellan Grady, who averaged 17.2 points last season while shooting 37.2 percent from 3-point range.
In the frontcourt, Luka Brajkovic made significant progress and could be in for another jump as the second half of his college career commences.
That’s a good place for any team to start. Grady should have the ball in his hands plenty this season, and he’s also been a prominent part of the Wildcats’ offseason discussions about off-the-court matters.
“All of it adds up to a confident Kellan Grady, a mature Kellan Grady and one who is challenged to make decisions and is comfortable in his own skin about making decisions, and that’s whether he’s bringing the ball up the court in our offense or calling our defense or having a team meeting in the locker room or walking through the community as a very visible representative of Davidson athletics,” coach Bob McKillop said.
As for Brajkovic, the junior returned to his native Austria during the offseason and made conditioning a priority, frequently running on a nearby track or in the streets with his father and brother. The results have stood out.
“Our frontcourt players have to run end line to baseline on every possession, then they have to set screens and then have to fight for rebounds and then they have to play post defense,” McKillop said. “They have to come inside, they have to come outside. It requires tremendous stamina. As he analyzed last year and he analyzed his freshman year, he realized he needed to develop his stamina.”
A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS:
Coach: Bob McKillop, 32nd season at Davidson, 594-364 with the Wildcats
Last year: Davidson was 16-14 overall and 10-8 in the Atlantic 10, finishing in solo seventh place in the conference. The Wildcats never got on a sustained run in either direction; their longest winning and losing streaks were both three games.
They’ll miss: The Wildcats’ one loss from their full-season rotation is a big one, Jon Axel Gudmundsson. The A-10’s player of the year in 2018-19, Gudmundsson wasn’t quite as statistically prolific as a senior but averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.3 assists and led Davidson in rebounds, assists, steals and made 3-pointers.
Impact returners: Davidson brings back three players who averaged double figures a season ago. All of them are upperclassmen.
Grady, who quickly became one of the Wildcats’ top players as a freshman before dealing with injuries his second season, had a less tumultuous junior year and is poised to finish his career with a flourish.
Brajkovic is Davidson’s top returning rebounder and shot swatter.
And senior guard Carter Collins (10.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg) is a two-year starter who ranked fifth in the league in foul shooting last season.
Newbies of note: It’s an intriguing freshman class McKillop has assembled. Emory Lanier (the son of Georgia State coach Rob Lanier) and Grant Huffman are both combo guards who will bring the ability to run the offense while also chipping in at the defensive end.
The 6-9 Sam Mennenga, who has international experience with New Zealand’s under-19 national team, spent the spring semester at Davidson and could have as much impact as any frontcourt newcomer in the league.
“They better be ready because they’re going to be needed,” McKillop said.
Reasons to be optimistic: Where to start?
Grady is a future pro and a Preseason First Team All-Conference pick. Gudmundsson’s graduation aside, there is plenty of continuity in the program. McKillop should hit the 600-win career victory mark at some point this season and has experienced as much in the sport as nearly anyone.
There is also a core group of role players who understand precisely what is expected of them, including sophomore Michael Jones (who started 21 games and averaged 5.7 points last season) and forwards Bates Jones and Nelson Boachie-Yiadom.
There is also some hidden value in the holdovers. Sophomore guard David Czerapowicz missed last year due to injury, but played in 25 games the season before. And sophomore big David Kristensen should challenge for double-digit minutes after coming off the bench in 19 games last winter.
X factor: McKillop said he’s seen year-over-year improvement from everyone in the program. But he acknowledged Hyunjung Lee, an Atlantic 10 all-rookie selection last season, could be in for a stellar sophomore season.
“Hyunjung Lee without a doubt is the one guy who immediately separated himself as having improved more dramatically than anybody,” McKillop said.
Considering he averaged 8.4 points and shot 46.7 percent as the Wildcats’ top bench option last season, that’s a good sign for the 6-7 wing.
Circle the date(s): Davidson’s original plans for the 2020-21 included a November trip to the Maui Invitational. The Wildcats will still play in the event, though it’s been relocated from Hawaii to Asheville, N.C., where Davidson played regularly in the Southern Conference tournament prior to joining the Atlantic 10.
“I have a treasure chest of memories from Asheville, some good and some bad,” McKillop said. “Nevertheless, it’s a treasure chest. I always welcome a chance to go to Asheville, personally. The people are very basketball-savvy and it’s a very beautiful area. It’s not Maui, but it’s a very, very nice tournament.”
Bottom line: Grady is a heck of a headliner for a team projected to finish in the middle of the pack. Davidson is never lacking for quality shooters, and this year should be no different. Bank on the Wildcats causing headaches for nearly everyone, and a top-four finish and a push for an NCAA tournament berth isn’t out of the question.
Patrick Stevens is a veteran freelance college basketball writer. A former sports reporter for the Washington Times, he has been a contributor to Atlantic10.com for the past seven years. Follow him on Twitter at @D1scourse.